Obadiah 1:14
What does Obadiah 1:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Obadiah 1:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Obadiah 1:14 means
The climax of Edom’s wrongdoing is here: they stationed themselves at crossroads to cut down fugitives and handed over survivors in the day of distress. This is not mere opportunism but active complicity in the destruction of Judah’s people. The verse condemns betrayal at the moment of greatest need—blocking escape and delivering lives into enemy hands. Such conduct exposes deep hostility toward a brother nation and contempt for God’s justice. It also seals Edom’s fate; by becoming an instrument against Judah, they set themselves against Jehovah, who now vows to repay. The moral arc of verses 11–14 reaches its darkest point here.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And do not take your place at the cross-roads, cutting off those of his people who get away; and do not give up to their haters those who are still there in the day of trouble.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Nor stand by the breach to cut off its escaped, Nor deliver up its remnant in a day of distress.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Neither shalt thou stand in the crossways to kill them that flee: and thou shalt not shut up them that remain of him in the day of tribulation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and thou shouldest not have stood on the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape, nor have delivered up those remaining of him in the day of distress.
Context
With this final charge, the catalog of Edom’s sins is complete—passivity, gloating, looting, and now violent betrayal. The prophecy will pivot from Edom’s specific guilt to a broader principle: the day of Jehovah comes upon all nations with retributive justice (verse 15). From there, the focus expands to include universal judgment and, in contrast, Israel’s restoration and triumph (verses 16–21). Understanding this culmination makes the transition to the universal horizon coherent and compelling.
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.
v.14This passage
v.15For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Obadiah 1:12
But 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.
- Amos 1:9
Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Tyre, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole people to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant.
- Genesis 35:3
and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
- Psalms 31:8
And thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a large place.
- Isaiah 37:3
And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
- Amos 1:6
Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole people, to deliver them up to Edom.