Obadiah 1 6

Obadiah 1:6 kjv

How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!

Obadiah 1:6 nkjv

"Oh, how Esau shall be searched out! How his hidden treasures shall be sought after!

Obadiah 1:6 niv

But how Esau will be ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged!

Obadiah 1:6 esv

How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out!

Obadiah 1:6 nlt

Every nook and cranny of Edom
will be searched and looted.
Every treasure will be found and taken.

Obadiah 1 verses

Obadiah 1 6 Meaning

Obadiah 1:6 pronounces a profound prophetic judgment against the nation of Edom (Esau), declaring that their most securely hidden wealth and secret storages, in which they deeply trusted, will be utterly discovered and plundered. This signifies the complete stripping bare of Edom’s resources and the devastating exposure of their supposed invulnerability, vividly demonstrating God's ultimate power over even the most formidable human defenses.

Obadiah 1 6 Context

Obadiah chapter 1 stands as the shortest book in the Old Testament, functioning as a concentrated prophetic oracle entirely dedicated to proclaiming the judgment of God against the nation of Edom. This judgment is not arbitrary but arises from Edom's egregious and fraternal betrayal of Judah. Specifically, the prophecy addresses their violent actions, including actively participating in the plundering of Jerusalem, hindering Jewish fugitives, and rejoicing over Judah's downfall, likely during the Babylonian destruction around 586 BC. Descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, Edom shared a historical kinship with Israel, yet often exhibited hostility. Edom's pride was deeply rooted in their perception of having an impregnable territory—the mountainous region of Mount Seir—with its deep gorges and hidden strongholds, coupled with their accumulated wealth, leading to a profound sense of false security. Obadiah 1:6 directly challenges this deep-seated pride and false confidence, declaring with emphatic certainty that their most secure and hidden treasures will be utterly exposed and taken, underscoring the completeness of their divine retribution for their violence (Obadiah 1:10) and gleeful participation in Judah's distress (Obadiah 1:11-14).

Obadiah 1 6 Word analysis

• How (אֵיךְ – ’êk): This particle functions as an exclamation expressing profound astonishment, shock, or lament. In this context, it sets an emphatic tone, introducing a rhetorical question that powerfully underscores the absolute inevitability and completeness of Edom's unexpected and catastrophic ruin. It conveys a dramatic sense of dismay at what they believed was impossible.

• Esau (עֵשָׂו – ‘Ēśāw): Here, "Esau" serves as a metonymy, representing the entire nation of Edom, the descendants of the biblical Esau. This term encompasses their collective identity, their pride stemming from their lineage, their material wealth, and their perceived military and geographical strength anchored in the mountainous terrain of Mount Seir. The name itself is steeped in a history of Esau’s disdain for his birthright (Gen 25:29-34), metaphorically foreshadowing Edom's later abandonment of brotherly obligation.

• will be searched out (נֶחְפָּשׂוּ – neḥpāsū): This is the passive form of the Hebrew verb ḥāpaś (חפש), which means "to search, examine, investigate, explore thoroughly." The passive voice highlights that the action is carried out upon Esau by an external force—ultimately God's instruments. It conveys a diligent, meticulous, and exhaustive uncovering process, implying that no effort will be spared in finding everything concealed, directly challenging Edom's reliance on their hidden places.

• His hidden treasures (מַצְפֻּנָיו – maṣpunāw): Derived from the root ṣāphan (צפן), meaning "to hide, conceal, store up," this term refers specifically to valuable assets, riches, or provisions kept in secret, secure locations. For the Edomites, these likely included valuable goods from extensive trade, spoils of war, and their own valuable natural resources, meticulously stored in the intricate network of caves, rock formations, and fortified strongholds characteristic of their land (e.g., Petra). This hidden wealth was a significant source of their national pride and perceived security.

• sought out (נִבְקְעוּ – nivk‘a'u): This is the passive form of the verb bāqa‘ (בקע), meaning "to cleave, split, burst open, break through, erupt." The use of this verb introduces an element of forceful entry, aggression, and complete revelation. It implies that even the most deeply recessed, impenetrable, or seemingly impregnable hidden places will be violently breached and exposed. This word underscores that nothing will remain untouched or concealed; every secret place will be "burst open," intensifying the thoroughness implied by "searched out."

• Words-group analysis:

  • "How Esau will be searched out!": This opening phrase is a dramatic exclamation of certainty and impending doom. The rhetorical "how" expresses deep astonishment that the seemingly unassailable Edom will be completely vulnerable. The passive voice ("will be searched out") underscores that an irresistible, overwhelming force, under divine command, will meticulously scour every part of Edom, ensuring no escape or concealment.
  • "His hidden treasures sought out!": This clause stands in striking parallelism to the first, powerfully amplifying the message. It specifically targets the source of Edom's pride and security—their material wealth concealed in fortified places. The strong verb "sought out" (meaning violently "burst open" or "cleaved") signifies a complete, aggressive, and undeniable disclosure and confiscation of exactly what they considered most safe. The combination of "searched out" and "sought out" depicts a comprehensive and inescapable plundering, leaving nothing undiscovered or intact.

Obadiah 1 6 Bonus section

• The double passive voice used in "will be searched out" (neḥpāsū) and "sought out" (nivk‘a'u) emphasizes the external agency of the judgment. It’s not a self-inflicted wound but an act perpetrated upon Edom, undoubtedly orchestrated by God, though carried out by other nations. This points to divine wrath ensuring absolute completeness.
• "His hidden treasures" might extend beyond literal material wealth to include Edom's "hidden wisdom" or cunning, which they boasted about (Obadiah 1:8). The judgment suggests that even their perceived intellectual or strategic advantages will be "searched out" and exposed as foolish, providing no real security.
• This verse represents a significant point of poetic justice. Having participated in the looting and "searching out" of Judah's treasures during Jerusalem's fall, Edom would face the very same experience, amplified and inescapable. This reflects a consistent biblical principle that the deeds done to God's people often come back upon the aggressors (Obadiah 1:15).

Obadiah 1 6 Commentary

Obadiah 1:6 serves as a climactic declaration of Edom's coming destruction, precisely targeting the bedrock of their self-assurance: their supposed invulnerability derived from their inaccessible mountainous terrain and their meticulously hoarded wealth. The prophet confronts their false sense of security head-on, asserting that no rock-hewn stronghold or hidden vault, however clever, will withstand the divine judgment. The meticulous "searching out" combined with the violent "breaking open" (sought out) ensures that Edom will be utterly stripped bare, exposing their material poverty as well as their spiritual barrenness and the futility of their trust in worldly things. This prophecy functions as a stark lesson: human ingenuity and accumulated riches offer no defense against the sovereign God's determined judgment, especially when that judgment is righteous retribution for pride, violence, and unbrotherly hatred. Edom's gleeful plundering of Jerusalem (Obadiah 1:13) will be precisely mirrored by their own, far more devastating, plundering.