Obadiah 1:12
What does Obadiah 1:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Obadiah 1:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Obadiah 1:12 means
The prophet issues triple prohibitions—do not gaze with satisfaction, do not rejoice, do not speak proudly—on the day of Judah’s disaster. These commands imply Edom did the opposite. God condemns hearts that gloat over a brother’s fall and tongues that boast in another’s distress. Such attitudes betray contempt for the people God claims as His own. The verse emphasizes the moral quality of their response: it was not only their hands but their eyes and words that were twisted. The “day” language heightens the cruelty—when Judah most needed compassion, Edom fed its pride with Judah’s pain, revealing a heart far from righteousness and mercy.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Do not see with pleasure your brother's evil day, the day of his fate, and do not be glad over the children of Judah on the day of their destruction, or make wide your mouth on the day of trouble.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And--thou dost not look on the day of thy brother, On the day of his alienation, Nor dost thou rejoice over sons of Judah, In the day of their destruction, Nor make great thy mouth in a day of distress.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But thou shalt not look on in the day of thy brother, in the day of his leaving his country: and thou shalt not rejoice over the children of Juda, in the day of their destruction: and thou shalt not magnify thy mouth in the day of distress.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor have opened wide thy mouth in the day of distress.
Context
After describing Edom’s stance of indifference, this verse confronts their inward and verbal sins—gloating and arrogant speech. It prepares for the next steps (verse 13–14), which move from attitude to action: entering the gate, looting, blocking fugitives, and delivering survivors. The repeated phrase “in the day” ties each item to the specific crisis, reinforcing the gravity of taking advantage of Judah’s calamity and justifying the severe judgment announced earlier.
v.11In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
v.12This passage
v.13Enter not into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, look not thou on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither lay ye hands on their substance in the day of their calamity.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 17:5
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; Andhe that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
- Job 31:29
If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him
- Luke 19:41
And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,
- Psalms 54:7
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble; And mine eye hath seen my desire upon mine enemies.
- James 3:5
So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
- Proverbs 24:17
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown;