OBA front intro jrz8 0 # Introduction to Obadiah<br>## Part 1: General Introduction<br><br>### Outline of the Book of Obadiah<br><br>1. Yahweh will judge Edom (1:1-16)<br>- Yahweh will destroy Edom (1:1–9)<br>- Why Yahweh will destroy Edom (1:10–14)<br>1. Yahweh will judge the nations (1:15–16)<br>1. Yahweh will deliver his people (1:17–21)<br><br>### What is the Book of Obadiah about?<br><br>After Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, the Edomites captured fleeing Jews. Then they gave these Jews over to Babylon. The Book of Obadiah is about Yahweh judging the Edomites for harming his people. This book would be comforting to the exiled people of Judah.<br><br>### How should the title of this book be translated?<br><br>This book is traditionally titled “The Book of Obadiah” or just “Obadiah.” Translators may decide to use a clearer title such as “The Sayings of Obadiah.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])<br><br>### Who wrote the Book of Obadiah?<br><br>The prophet Obadiah probably wrote this book. We know nothing more about Obadiah. His name in Hebrew means “Servant of Yahweh.”<br><br>## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts<br><br>### What was Edom’s relationship to Israel?<br><br>Obadiah referred to Edom as Israel’s brother. This is because the Edomites descended from Esau, and the Israelites descended from Jacob. Jacob and Esau were brothers. This made Edom betraying Israel much worse.<br><br>## Part 3: Important Translation Issues<br><br>### How do I translate the concept of “pride”?<br><br>The Book of Obadiah speaks of the pride of Edom. This meant that the Edomites thought their enemies or Yahweh could not defeat them. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/proud]])<br>
OBA 1 1 xm1w 0 The vision of Obadiah This is the title of the book. Here “vision” is used in the general sense of a message from Yahweh, rather than to indicate how Obadiah received the message. Alternate translation: “The message of Obadiah” or “The prophesy of Obadiah”
OBA 1 1 sv9x 0 The Lord Yahweh says this concerning Edom This tells the reader that the entire book is a message about Edom.
OBA 1 1 s7if 0 Yahweh This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. See the translationWord page about Yahweh concerning how to translate this.
OBA 1 1 r27r figs-activepassive 0 an ambassador has been sent This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Yahweh has sent an ambassador” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
OBA 1 1 pez6 0 Rise up “Stand up.” This phrase is used to tell people to get ready.
OBA 1 1 c9e2 figs-metonymy 0 rise up against her Here “her” refers to Edom. This is a metonym for the people of Edom, so it could also be translated as “them.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
OBA 1 2 npn6 0 Behold This alerts the reader to pay special attention to what follows. Alternate translation: “Look” or “Pay attention to what I am about to tell you”
OBA 1 2 l6dc figs-parallelism 0 I will make you small among the nations, you will be greatly despised These two phrases mean similar things and are used to emphasize that Edom will lose its important status. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])
OBA 1 2 ec8m figs-metaphor 0 I will make you small among the nations Something that is insignificant is spoken of as if it is of small size, and can easily be overlooked. Alternate translation: “I will make you insignificant among the nations” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
OBA 1 2 ch1u figs-activepassive 0 you will be greatly despised This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the people of other nations will hate you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
OBA 1 3 i96n 0 General Information: Obadiah’s vision concerning Edom continues.
OBA 1 3 qpw7 figs-metonymy 0 The pride of your heart has deceived you The “heart” was associated with emotions. The Edomites’ pride caused them to be deceived about their security. Alternate translation: “Your pride has deceived you” or “Your pride causes you think you are safe” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
OBA 1 3 q6sz 0 in the clefts of the rock “in the cracks in the rock.” This here has the sense of a place that is protected because it is surrounded by rocks.
OBA 1 3 k9sw 0 in your lofty home “in your home that was built in a high place”
OBA 1 3 r5zj figs-idiom 0 say in your heart Here “in your heart” is an idiom that means “to yourself.” Alternate translation: “say to yourselves” or “think” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
OBA 1 3 i2hx figs-rquestion 0 Who will bring me down to the ground? This question expresses that the Edomites were proud and felt safe. Alternate translation: “No one can bring me down to the ground.” or “I am safe from all attackers.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
OBA 1 4 xn9f figs-hyperbole 0 Though you soar high like the eagle and though your nest is set among the stars Both of these exaggerations say that Edom is built in a very high place by saying it is built much higher than possible. Alternate translation: “And I tell you that even if you had wings and could fly higher than eagles fly, and if you could make your homes among the stars” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])
OBA 1 4 bbu3 figs-idiom 0 I will bring you down from there Pride is associated with height while humility is associated with being low. To “bring down” is an idiom that means to humble someone. Alternate translation: “I will humble you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
OBA 1 5 w86v figs-rquestion 0 If thieves came to you…would they not steal only as much as they needed? This question is used to imply that Yahweh’s punishment of Edom would be worse than what thieves would do when they steal. This can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “If thieves came to you…they would only steal as much as they needed, but I will take everything from you!” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
OBA 1 5 q1pg figs-hendiadys 0 If thieves came to you, if robbers came by night These two phrases mean the same thing and are used to emphasize people who steal. They can be combined. Alternate translation: “When thieves break into someone’s house during the night” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]])
OBA 1 5 w64v 0 if robbers came by night “or if robbers came during the night”
OBA 1 5 b93f 0 how you will be ruined! Yahweh adds this phrase in the middle of another sentence to express that the punishment of Edom is shocking. Alternate translation: “you are completely destroyed!”
OBA 1 5 k12c figs-rquestion 0 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave the gleanings? This question is used to imply that Yahweh’s punishment of Edom would be more thorough than what grape gatherers would do when they harvest grapes. This can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “If grape gatherers came to you, they would leave some grapes, but I will take everything from you!” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
OBA 1 6 zsf7 figs-activepassive 0 How Esau has been ransacked, his hidden treasures will be searched out This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Ah, enemies have stolen everything from Esau; they have found his hidden treasure” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
OBA 1 6 m9p3 0 Esau The people of Edom were the descendants of Esau. Therefore, in this book “Edom” and “Esau” refer to the same group of people.
OBA 1 6 lf9t 0 has been ransacked This means the enemies have search through Esau’s things, taken everything valuable, and left everything else in a mess or damaged.
OBA 1 7 a612 0 All the men of your alliance…The men who were at peace with you…They who eat your bread All three of these phrases refer to Edom’s allies.
OBA 1 7 n3t6 0 your alliance The word “your” refers to the nation of Edom.
OBA 1 7 cr88 0 will send you on your way to the border “will send you out of their land.” The people of Edom will try to take refuge in the land of their allies, but their allies will not let the people of Edom stay in their land.
OBA 1 7 rc1i 0 There is no understanding in him. Possible meanings are 1) the allies say this about Edom. Alternate translation: “They say, ‘Edom does not understand anything.’” or 2) this is a statement about the betrayal of the allies. Alternate translation: “No one can understand why they did this.”
OBA 1 8 i4rg figs-rquestion 0 Will I not on that day,” says Yahweh, “destroy…mountain of Esau? Yahweh uses this question to emphasize the certainty of the destruction of Edom. Alternate translation: “‘On that day,’ says Yahweh, ‘I surely will destroy…mountain of Esau.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
OBA 1 9 ljv4 figs-activepassive 0 so that every man may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “so that there will be no more people in the mountains of Esau because enemies killed them” or “so that they will slaughter every person in the mountain of Esau” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
OBA 1 10 ui6g figs-metonymy 0 your brother Jacob Here “Jacob” represents his descendants. Because Jacob was the brother of Esau, the people of Edom are spoken of as if they were the brothers of the descendants of Jacob. Alternate translation: “your relatives who are the descendants of Jacob” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
OBA 1 10 f8g6 figs-idiom 0 you will be covered with shame To be covered with something is an idiom for fully experiencing it. Alternate translation: “you will be completely ashamed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
OBA 1 10 a113 figs-activepassive 0 will be cut off forever This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “will never exist again” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
OBA 1 11 w6hj 0 stood aloof “watched and did nothing to help”
OBA 1 11 rtj8 0 his wealth The word “his” refers to “Jacob,” which is another way of referring to the people of Israel.
OBA 1 11 i8sr figs-explicit 0 cast lots for Jerusalem This phrase means “they cast lots to decide who would get the valuable things that they took from Jerusalem.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
OBA 1 11 s4y1 figs-explicit 0 you were like one of them “it was as though you were one of these strangers and foreigners.” This implies that they did not help the Israelites. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “you were like one of the enemies and did not help Israel” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
OBA 1 12 axp9 0 General Information: Yahweh continues giving Obadiah his message to Edom. Verses 12-14 consist of a series of negative commands that Yahweh gives to tell the people of Edom how not to treat the Israelites.
OBA 1 13 wg54 0 calamity…disaster…ruin These are all different translations of the same word. If your language has one word that can translate all three of these ideas, you could use it here.
OBA 1 15 bb23 0 General Information: Yahweh concludes his message to Edom in verse 15. In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.
OBA 1 15 fa9m 0 For the day of Yahweh is near…will return on your own head Bible experts are not certain whether verse 15 goes with verse 14 as the end of the previous section, or goes with verse 16 as the beginning of the new section.
OBA 1 15 e5t7 0 For the day of Yahweh is near upon all the nations “Soon the time will come when Yahweh will show all the nations that he is Lord”
OBA 1 15 rd8g figs-activepassive 0 As you have done, it will be done to you This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “I will do to you the same things that you did to others” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
OBA 1 15 djk9 figs-idiom 0 your deeds will return on your own head Here “return on your own head” means they will be punished for those things. Alternate translation: “you will suffer the consequences for the things you have done” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
OBA 1 16 nf6s 0 For as you The word “you” is plural and probably refers to the people of Judah.
OBA 1 16 fu2y figs-metaphor 0 as you have drunk The punishment that Judah received from the enemy nations is spoken of as if a bitter liquid that they drank. Alternate translation: “as you have drunk suffering” or “as I have punished you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
OBA 1 16 qz7p figs-metaphor 0 so will all the nations drink continually Yahweh’s punishment of the other nations is spoken of as if it was a bitter liquid that he will cause them to drink continually. Alternate translation: “so all the nations will drink in suffering continually” or “so I will punish all of the nations without stopping” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
OBA 1 16 a8v3 figs-metaphor 0 They will drink and swallow and it will be as though they had never existed Yahweh continues the metaphor of drinking punishment. Here “swallow” expresses that they will fully experience the punishment, with the result that it will destroy them completely. Alternate translation: “They will drink in my punishment fully until they cease to exist” or “I will continue to punish them fully until I completely destroy them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
OBA 1 17 zi69 0 General Information: In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.
OBA 1 17 cc36 figs-explicit 0 those that escape These are the people of Jerusalem that are still alive after Yahweh has finished punishing the city. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “some of the Israelites who escape the punishment of Yahweh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
OBA 1 17 y9pz 0 it will be holy The word “it” refers to “mount Zion.”
OBA 1 17 b4sh figs-metonymy 0 the house of Jacob The word “house” is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Jacob’s descendants. Alternate translation: “descendants of Jacob” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
OBA 1 18 rm2e figs-metaphor 0 house of Jacob will be a fire…Joseph a flame Yahweh speaks of the houses of Jacob and Joseph as if they were fire because they will destroy Esau like a fire that quickly and completely burns up straw. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
OBA 1 18 bte3 0 and they The word “they” refers to the house of Jacob and the house of Joseph.
OBA 1 18 jk84 0 will burn them The word “them” refers to the descendants of Esau, who are the nation of Edom.
OBA 1 18 wf4e 0 There will be no survivors to the house of Esau “Not one person of the house of Esau will survive”
OBA 1 18 yt8j figs-metonymy 0 the house of Esau The word “house” is a metonym for the family that lives in the house. In this case it refers to Esau’s descendants. Alternate translation: “descendants of Esau” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
OBA 1 18 c5jr 0 for Yahweh has spoken it This is an oath formula that means it will certainly happen because Yahweh said it.
OBA 1 19 d241 0 General Information: In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.
OBA 1 19 m7qk 0 those of the Shepelah This refers to Israelites in the western foothills of Israel who will capture the land of the Philistines in battle.
OBA 1 20 b7al 0 General Information: In verses 16-21, Yahweh speaks through Obadiah to tell the people of Judah that they will possess the land of Edom.
OBA 1 20 xw8x 0 The exiles of this host of the people of Israel Possible meanings are 1) this refers to the exiles taken to Assyria from the northern kingdom of Israel or 2) this refers to the people of Judah who lived outside of Jerusalem and were taken to exile in Babylon.
OBA 1 20 r8cn translate-names 0 as far as Zarephath Zarephath was a Phoenician city north of Israel on the coast of the Mediterranean between Tyre and Sidon. Alternate translation: “as far north as Zarephath” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
OBA 1 20 u5t1 0 The exiles of Jerusalem This group is contrasted with either the Israelites from the northern kingdom, or with the people of Judah who lived outside of Jerusalem.
OBA 1 20 x6yt translate-names 0 Sepharad This is the name of a place whose location is unknown. Some experts suggest it refers to the city of Sardis in the region of Lydia. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
OBA 1 21 j7nf 0 Deliverers will go up to Mount Zion to rule over the hill country of Esau “Deliverers will go up to Jerusalem and rule over Edom from there”
OBA 1 21 hyg2 0 Deliverers Possible meanings are 1) this refers to various Israelite military leaders whom God will use to defeat the nation of Edom or 2) the text should read “Those who will be delivered” and refers to the returning Jewish exiles.
OBA 1 21 wy7x 0 the kingdom will belong to Yahweh This phrase emphasizes that Yahweh will personally rule over the kingdom. Alternate translation: “Yahweh will be their king”
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