Obadiah 1:15
What does Obadiah 1:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Obadiah 1:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Obadiah 1:15 means
The scope widens: the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations. Edom is a case in point, but the principle is universal—what a nation does will return upon its own head. God’s justice operates by righteous reciprocity. This is both warning and comfort: oppressors will meet their deeds again, and the afflicted can trust that God notices and will act. Nearness stresses urgency; divine judgment is not remote theory but approaching reality. The verse reframes Edom’s story within the larger moral order under God’s reign. No nation is exempt; all are accountable to Jehovah, whose day settles every account by perfect and fitting recompense.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For the day of the Lord is coming quickly on all nations: as you have done it will be done to you; the reward of your acts will come on your head.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862For near <FI>is<Fi> the day of Jehovah, on all the nations, As thou hast done, it is done to thee, Thy deed doth turn back on thine own head.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the day of the Lord is at hand upon all nations: as thou hast done, so shall it be done to thee: he will turn thy reward upon thy own head.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy recompence shall return upon thine own head.
Context
Having detailed Edom’s sins, the prophet declares a general rule: God’s day and God’s justice encompass every nation. This transition prepares the reader for two parallel outcomes—continuing judgment for the proud and deliverance for Zion. Verse 16 illustrates judgment with the image of drinking, while verse 17 introduces the contrasting promise of escape and holiness on mount Zion. The flow thus moves from particular guilt to universal reckoning, and then to the gracious restoration of God’s people.
v.14And 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.
v.15This passage
v.16For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yea, they shall drink, and swallow down, and shall be as though they had not been.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 49:12
For thus saith Jehovah: Behold, they to whom it pertained not to drink of the cup shall assuredly drink; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink.
- Habakkuk 2:8
Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.
- Joel 3:7
behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head;
- Joel 3:11
Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah.
- Matthew 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.
- Ezekiel 30:3
For the day is near, even the day of Jehovah is near; it shall be a day of clouds, a time of the nations.