Obadiah 1:17
What does Obadiah 1:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Obadiah 1:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Obadiah 1:17 means
In contrast to the nations’ judgment, mount Zion will be a place where survivors escape. Zion will be holy again—separated unto God, cleansed from defilement. The house of Jacob will “possess their possessions,” regaining what was lost and entering into their rightful inheritance. This signals restoration, not just survival. God reverses the fortunes of His covenant people, asserting His claim over Zion and reestablishing them in the land. The verse holds out hope: while God judges pride and cruelty, He preserves and restores a people to Himself. Holiness is central; deliverance is not merely political but spiritual, as Zion becomes the sacred center once more.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But in Mount Zion some will be kept safe, and it will be holy; and the children of Jacob will take their heritage.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And in mount Zion there is an escape, And it hath been holy, And the house of Jacob have possessed their possessions.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And in mount Sion shall be salvation, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess those that possessed them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But upon mount Zion shall there be deliverance, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
Context
Following the image of nations drinking judgment, this verse presents the contrasting hope for God’s people. It prepares for the next promise (verse 18) that the united houses of Jacob and Joseph will be God’s instrument to consume the house of Esau. The sequence moves from deliverance (escape and holiness) to victory (judgment on enemies), then to detailed territorial restoration (verses 19–20). This frames the end of the book, culminating in God’s kingdom established on Zion (verse 21).
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.
v.17This passage
v.18And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for Jehovah hath spoken it.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 44:28
And they that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose word shall stand, mine, or theirs.
- Joel 3:19
Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
- Revelation 21:27
and there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
- Zechariah 14:20
In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLY UNTO JEHOVAH; and the pots in Jehovah’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
- Isaiah 46:13
I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
- Isaiah 4:3
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem;