Obadiah 1 4

Obadiah 1:4 kjv

Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

Obadiah 1:4 nkjv

Though you ascend as high as the eagle, And though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," says the LORD.

Obadiah 1:4 niv

Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD.

Obadiah 1:4 esv

Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.

Obadiah 1:4 nlt

But even if you soar as high as eagles
and build your nest among the stars,
I will bring you crashing down,"
says the LORD.

Obadiah 1 verses

Obadiah 1 4 Meaning

Obadiah 1:4 declares God's certain judgment against Edom. Despite Edom's perceived strength, geographical security in high places, and proud self-exaltation—likened to an eagle soaring to the highest heights or making its nest among the stars—the Lord God will infallibly bring them down from that lofty position of presumed safety and power. This verse directly counters Edom's pride with the absolute sovereignty of God.

Obadiah 1 4 Context

Obadiah chapter 1 is the shortest book in the Old Testament, consisting of a single chapter. It is a prophetic oracle delivered by the prophet Obadiah, primarily announcing the downfall of Edom, the descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob. The judgment against Edom is due to their participation and gloating when Jerusalem fell to foreign invaders, specifically their failure to assist Judah (their kinsmen), their standing idly by, joining in the plunder, and even cutting off escapees (Obadiah 1:10-14).

Verse 4 is a powerful declaration of God's response to Edom's profound pride and self-assurance. Edom historically lived in fortified mountain strongholds like Sela (later Petra), which were considered militarily impenetrable. This geographical advantage fostered an extreme sense of security and arrogance, leading them to believe they were untouchable. The imagery in verse 4 directly confronts this deep-seated pride and physical invincibility. It emphasizes that no matter how high Edom lifts itself, physically or spiritually in its own eyes, God’s power is absolute and will certainly bring them down.

Obadiah 1 4 Word analysis

• Though (אם - ’im): "If," or "though," introducing a hypothetical yet extreme scenario. It acknowledges Edom's perceived formidable height and security, setting up a powerful contrast with God's superior power.

• you soar aloft (תַּגְבִּיהַּ - tagbiah): From the Hebrew root גבה (gavah), meaning "to be high, exalted." It speaks of ascending, lifting oneself up, or being made high. This word carries a strong connotation of pride and haughtiness, implying self-exaltation. It describes Edom's internal disposition, not just physical elevation.

• like the eagle (כַּנֶּשֶׁר - ka-nesher): The eagle (נֶּשֶׁר - nesher) is a powerful bird, famed for its incredibly high flight, sharp vision, and its ability to build nests in inaccessible, lofty places. It symbolizes strength, dominance, and a seemingly unassailable position. This simile emphasizes the extreme heights of security and presumed invincibility Edom thought it had attained.

• though your nest (וְאִם־תָּשִׂים קִנֶּךָ - v’im tasim kinneka):

  • nest (קִנֶּךָ - kinneka): Refers to a bird's dwelling place, often associated with safety, offspring, and refuge. In the context of Edom, this metaphorically refers to their fortified cities and dwellings, built into the high, rocky cliffs of their mountainous territory, like Sela (Petra). This reinforced their feeling of impenetrable security.

• is set among the stars (בֵּין כּוֹכָבִים - bein kokhavim): This is hyperbole, exaggerating the extreme height and inaccessibility of their perceived dwelling. It symbolizes an ultimate level of self-exaltation and perceived invulnerability, placing themselves beyond any earthly reach or threat. This "star" imagery is often associated with divine or celestial powers, further highlighting Edom's immense pride and almost deistic view of themselves.

• from there (מִשָּׁם - mishsham): From that very peak, that supposedly unassailable vantage point. This phrase intensifies the divine counter-action; not just from a high place, but from the highest conceivable point, their fall is decreed.

• I will bring you down (אוֹרִידְךָ - oridcha): From the root ירד (yarad), meaning "to descend, go down, be brought low." This is a definitive, forceful, and absolute declaration from God ("I"). It directly opposes every aspect of Edom's pride and ascent. It signifies a complete reversal of their fortunes, a divine act of debasement and judgment. The personal pronoun "I" emphasizes God's direct involvement and omnipotence.

• declares the Lord (נְאֻם־יְהוָה - ne’um YHWH): A prophetic formula confirming that the preceding statement is an authoritative oracle directly from Yahweh, the sovereign God. It guarantees the certainty and infallibility of the judgment pronounced.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars": This composite imagery effectively paints a picture of extreme human arrogance, self-sufficiency, and a misplaced sense of security rooted in physical advantages and pride. It represents the pinnacle of Edom's hubris and perceived invulnerability, establishing the maximal extent of their attempted exaltation.
  • "from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord": This clause provides the immediate and certain divine response. It showcases God's ultimate sovereignty and power over all human presumption. No height or perceived security can withstand His will. This phrase unequivocally asserts that God, and God alone, is the arbiter of who rises and who falls. It also emphasizes the absolute certainty and divine origin of the pronouncement.

Obadiah 1 4 Bonus section

The metaphor of the eagle's nest "among the stars" highlights a type of self-deification characteristic of severe pride. This aligns with themes seen in other biblical judgments against arrogant powers (like Babylon's king in Isaiah 14 or Tyre's prince in Ezekiel 28), who in their hearts sought to elevate themselves to divine status. Obadiah 1:4 powerfully asserts that such cosmic aspirations of pride will be met with divine dethronement, reinforcing God's exclusive claim to ultimate sovereignty and His opposition to all forms of human hubris.

Obadiah 1 4 Commentary

Obadiah 1:4 succinctly captures the core message of the entire prophecy against Edom: pride leads to an inevitable downfall. Edom, deriving a sense of security from its naturally fortified mountainous region, had become arrogant. Their strategic position and rugged terrain made them feel unassailable, almost "eagle-like" in their high and inaccessible strongholds. This verse, through powerful hyperbole, emphasizes that even if their "nest" were built among the stars—a place humanly impossible to reach and seemingly untouchable—God’s power would effortlessly dismantle their security and bring them low.

This declaration serves as a universal principle about God's dealings with the proud. Edom's geographical advantage, which bred their pride, became the very symbol used to describe their coming humiliation. God directly challenges the notion that any human or national strength can defy His decrees. The personal declaration, "I will bring you down," underscores God's active, sovereign role in history, orchestrating the fall of nations and individuals who exalt themselves against Him or His people. This prophecy reminds all generations that true security comes only from God, not from human accomplishments, fortifications, or perceived strength.