Obadiah 1 9

Obadiah 1:9 kjv

And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.

Obadiah 1:9 nkjv

Then your mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, To the end that everyone from the mountains of Esau May be cut off by slaughter.

Obadiah 1:9 niv

Your warriors, Teman, will be terrified, and everyone in Esau's mountains will be cut down in the slaughter.

Obadiah 1:9 esv

And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.

Obadiah 1:9 nlt

The mightiest warriors of Teman
will be terrified,
and everyone on the mountains of Edom
will be cut down in the slaughter.

Obadiah 1 verses

Obadiah 1 9 Meaning

Obadiah 1:9 declares the complete and irreversible destruction of Edom, specifically targeting its most formidable warriors. The mighty men of Teman, a significant Edomite city known for its strength and wisdom, will be dismayed and incapacitated by divine judgment. This preordained fear and shattering of their military prowess is the means by which every single man from Mount Esau—the entirety of Edom—will be utterly cut off and destroyed through slaughter, ensuring no survivors. It emphasizes the totality of God's righteous judgment against Edom for their past treachery and violence against Judah, their brother nation.

Obadiah 1 9 Context

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, a singular oracle almost entirely devoted to proclaiming judgment against Edom. The prophecy likely dates to a period after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC, during which Edom either participated in or, more notably, stood by and gloated while Judah suffered, even assisting the enemies and capturing Jewish fugitives.

The broader context of Obadiah chapter 1 paints a vivid picture:

• Verses 1-4: Edom's pride and the divine call for its downfall, despite its seemingly impregnable mountain strongholds. God declares He will bring Edom down from its high dwelling.
• Verses 5-7: The completeness of Edom's impending ruin, even more devastating than typical robbery, and betrayal by its own allies.
• Verse 8: Teman's famed wisdom will fail, demonstrating the futility of human intellect against divine judgment.
• Verse 9 (the focus): Connects the failure of wisdom to the failure of military strength. The once mighty warriors will be overwhelmed by fear and utterly destroyed.
• Verses 10-14: Details the specific crimes of Edom against Judah during Jerusalem's calamity: standing aloof, rejoicing in Judah's misfortune, plundering, and seizing refugees. These acts constitute the basis for the severity of the coming judgment.
• Verses 15-21: The Day of the Lord, a universal judgment against all nations that oppressed Israel, and the restoration of Israel with Mount Zion (Judah) being a sanctuary and ultimately ruling over Edom (Mount Esau).

Therefore, verse 9 is a pivotal statement within this oracle, sealing Edom's fate by assuring the absolute cessation of its strength and existence as an independent entity, a direct consequence of its wicked actions against its brother, Judah.

Obadiah 1 9 Word analysis

• וְחַתּוּ (wəḥattū): From the Hebrew verb חָתַת (ḥāṯaṯ), meaning "to be broken," "to be dismayed," "to be terrified," "to lose courage." The Niphal imperfect form implies an involuntary action: they will be dismayed.
  • Significance: This isn't just about military defeat; it's a psychological collapse. Edom's warriors will lose their will to fight, paralyzed by terror or divine intervention. Their courage, their primary asset, will utterly fail them. This is often a sign of divine judgment or overwhelming power at work, as seen with Israel's enemies being dismayed (e.g., in Josh 2:9-11).
• גִּבּוֹרֶיךָ֙ (gibbôreḵā): From גִּבּוֹר (gibbôr), meaning "mighty man," "hero," "warrior." The suffix -ךָ indicates "your" (masculine singular, referring to Teman).
  • Significance: It emphasizes that even Edom's most potent military assets—their renowned strong men—will be affected. This is not a judgment against the weak or marginalized, but against their elite, indicating the thoroughness of the destruction. It mocks their misplaced trust in human power.
• תֵּימָן (têman): Teman, a major city or region in Edom, located in its southern part. Known not only for military strength but also for wisdom (Jer 49:7).
  • Significance: Naming Teman specifically, rather than just "Edom," points to a strategic or emblematic target. If Teman's warriors, the pride of Edom, are dismayed, then the rest of Edom has no hope. This adds specificity and gravity to the judgment. It shows that even their intellectual and military elites are powerless against God.
• לְמַעַן (ləmaʿan): A prepositional phrase meaning "in order that," "so that," "for the sake of," indicating purpose or result.
  • Significance: This establishes a clear cause-and-effect relationship. The dismay of Teman's warriors is not random; it serves a divine purpose: the total eradication of Edom. It reveals God's deliberate, pre-ordained plan behind the events.
• יִכְרֶת־אִ֥ישׁ (yiḵrēṯ-ʾîš): יִכְרֶת is from כָרַת (kāraṯ), "to cut off," "to exterminate," "to destroy." אִ֥ישׁ (ʾîš) means "man," "individual." So, "every man will be cut off."
  • Significance: "To cut off" signifies utter destruction and often refers to the termination of a lineage or people, preventing survival. The inclusion of אִ֥ישׁ ("man") implies comprehensiveness, emphasizing that not a single male will be left to perpetuate the nation, ensuring its absolute end.
• מֵהַר עֵשָֽׂו׃ (mēhar ʿēśāw): "From the mountain of Esau." מֵֽ (me) means "from," הַר (har) means "mountain," and עֵשָֽׂו (ʿēśāw) is Esau, the patriarch of the Edomites.
  • Significance: This identifies Edom's entire territory. Edom was characterized by its rugged, mountainous terrain, offering natural defense (Obad 1:3). "Mount Esau" encapsulates their whole realm, indicating that no place within their land, no matter how fortified, will provide escape or safety from the impending judgment.
• מִקָּֽטֶל׃ (miqqāṭel): From קָטַל (qāṭal), "to kill," "to slay," here a noun meaning "slaughter" or "killing." The prefix מִן (min) means "from" or "by." So, "by slaughter."
  • Significance: This specifies the means of destruction. It will be violent and lethal, indicating death by the sword or combat. This isn't just about scattering or famine; it's a deliberate and comprehensive execution by direct force, fitting the "cut off" declaration. It reflects divine retribution mirroring Edom's own violence.

Grouped-words analysis:

• וְחַתּוּ גִּבּוֹרֶיךָ֙ תֵּימָן (And your mighty men, Teman, will be dismayed): This phrase targets the very essence of Edomite strength—its formidable military and its proud capital. Their spiritual and physical courage will be broken, demonstrating the impotence of human might against God's decree. The prophecy isn't a vague threat but specifies who will be targeted (the strong) and where (Teman), giving it potent impact. This humiliation prepares for the subsequent devastation.
• לְמַעַן יִכְרֶת־אִ֥ישׁ מֵהַר עֵשָֽׂו׃ מִקָּֽטֶל (in order that every man from the Mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter): This segment reveals the ultimate, comprehensive goal of God's judgment. The dismay of the warriors is not an end in itself but a means to an absolute extermination. "Every man" underscores totality, and "from the Mount of Esau" highlights the territorial eradication. The method, "by slaughter," emphasizes the decisive, violent nature of this divine act, ensuring no remnants and a complete end to Edomite sovereignty and distinct identity.

Obadiah 1 9 Bonus section

The prophesied destruction of Edom is a powerful demonstration of God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, Israel, and His opposition to those who persecute them. While the physical Edom as a distinct nation largely faded into history, the theme of "Mount Esau" (the proud, anti-God entity) being "cut off" while "Mount Zion" (God's redeemed people) is restored and rules, carries typological significance. This signifies the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom and His people over all their spiritual adversaries in the end times. The very complete nature of Edom's destruction (יִכְרֶת־אִ֥ישׁ מִקָּֽטֶל) sets a precedent for how divine judgment operates when justice demands complete removal of evil. It assures that all who oppress the Lord's chosen or defy His righteous standards will face similar, inevitable dismantling of their power and ultimate extinction of their defiance.

Obadiah 1 9 Commentary

Obadiah 1:9 encapsulates the terrifying finality of God's judgment on Edom. Having previously announced the utter humbling of their pride and the failure of their wisdom (vv. 3, 8), this verse moves to their military might. Edom trusted in its impregnable fortresses and valiant warriors, epitomized by Teman, but these will be rendered useless, filled with panic. This is not merely a human army's defeat, but a divinely orchestrated "dismay" (ḥāṯat) that paralyzes their strength from within. This psychological defeat leads directly to their physical extermination. The phrase "cut off every man from Mount Esau by slaughter" leaves no room for escape, no remnant. It underscores the severity of God's retribution for Edom's covenantal betrayal and violent glee during Judah's destruction.

This verse serves as a profound theological statement: no human strength, wisdom, or geographic security can withstand God's judgment when His righteous wrath is unleashed. It emphasizes His sovereignty over nations and their destinies. Edom's historical disappearance from the scene, eventually assimilated by other peoples, stands as a testimony to this prophecy.

• Practical usage: This verse reminds believers that relying on human power, prestige, or security—whether military, financial, or intellectual—is futile against God's will. Trust in worldly strengths will ultimately lead to dismay and ruin when tested by divine decree. It also illustrates the principle of sowing and reaping; Edom’s violence returned upon its own head.