Obadiah 1:21
What does Obadiah 1:21 mean?
A plain-English look at Obadiah 1:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Obadiah 1:21 means
The final word looks to governance and ultimate sovereignty. “Saviours” (deliverers) will ascend mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau—leaders raised by God to administer justice and secure the restored order. Yet the climax is higher: “the kingdom shall be Jehovah’s.” Human instruments serve, but God reigns. The prophecy lands on the universal lordship of God manifest from Zion. For readers of the New Testament, this anticipates the consummation of God’s kingdom in Christ, who brings deliverance, judges righteously, and reigns forever. Obadiah’s end assures that beyond Edom’s fall and Israel’s restoration stands the unshakable reality: all rule and authority finally belong to Jehovah.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be Jehovah’s.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be Jehovah’s.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And those who have been kept safe will come up from Mount Zion to be judges of the mountain of Esau; and the kingdom will be the Lord's.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And gone up have saviours on mount Zion, To judge the mount of Esau, And the kingdom hath been to Jehovah!'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And saviours shall come up into mount Sion to judge the mount of Esau: and the kingdom shall be for the Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And saviours shall come up on mount Zion, to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be Jehovah's.
Context
After detailing judgment, restoration, and return, the book culminates with the rise of deliverers on Zion and the affirmation of God’s kingdom. This conclusion ties together the themes: Edom’s pride is humbled, Zion is made holy, Israel is unified and expanded, and divine rule is publicly recognized. It leaves the reader with hope that transcends one nation’s fate—the certainty that Jehovah’s just and saving reign will stand over all peoples and places, now and in the end.
v.20And the captives of this host of the children of Israel, that are among the Canaanites, shall possess even unto Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, that are in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the South.
v.21This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- James 5:20
let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.
- Micah 5:4
And he shall stand, and shall feed his flock in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God: and they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
- Luke 22:30
that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Daniel 2:35
Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
- Psalms 22:28
For the kingdom is Jehovah’s; And he is the ruler over the nations.
- Zechariah 9:11
As for thee also, because of the blood of thy covenant I have set free thy prisoners from the pit wherein is no water.