Obadiah 1:4
What does Obadiah 1:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Obadiah 1:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Obadiah 1:4 means
Jehovah answers Edom’s boast with absolute certainty: even if Edom could soar like an eagle and build a nest among the stars, God Himself would bring them down. No height—political, military, or topographical—can outstrip the Lord’s reach. The imagery intensifies the point of verse 3: what seems unassailable to humans is no obstacle to God. The promise, “I will bring thee down,” is personal and direct, making clear that Edom’s fall is not random misfortune but divine action. This verse comforts the humble and warns the proud: the Lord alone determines rise and fall. Exalting oneself against Him invites a sure descent, however high one first ascends.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Though you go up on high like an eagle, though your house is placed among the stars, I will make you come down from there, says the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862If thou dost go up high as an eagle, And if between stars thou dost set thy nest, From thence I bring thee down, An affirmation of Jehovah.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Though thou be exalted as an eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars: thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith Jehovah.
Context
Following the exposure of Edom’s pride, this verse gives God’s counter-decree. It balances Edom’s inward claim (“Who can bring me down?”) with Jehovah’s outward answer (“I will bring thee down”). With that settled, the prophecy turns to describe the manner of the fall—its thoroughness surpassing ordinary theft and harvest (verses 5–6), and the betrayal by supposed friends (verse 7). The reader moves from the principle of God’s sovereignty to the practical outworking of judgment.
v.3The pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
v.4This passage
v.5If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night (how art thou cut off!), would they not steal only till they had enough? if grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 51:53
Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall destroyers come unto her, saith Jehovah.
- Job 20:6
Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds;
- Jeremiah 49:16
As for thy terribleness, the pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.
- Habakkuk 2:9
Woe to him that getteth an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!
- Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations!
- Job 39:27
Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high?