Obadiah 1:8
What does Obadiah 1:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Obadiah 1:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Obadiah 1:8 means
Jehovah announces a specific act of judgment: He will destroy the wise men out of Edom and remove understanding from the mount of Esau. Edom’s reputation for wisdom—especially in places like Teman—will not save them. When God takes away sound counsel, nations stumble, misread threats, and make ruinous choices. This is justice tailored to pride: those who trusted in their insight will be confounded. The verse teaches that wisdom is a gift God can withdraw. Without it, even strong defenses and loyal troops are misdirected. The fall begins in the mind before it is visible on the field, and the Lord is sovereign over both intellect and outcome.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Shall I not in that day, saith Jehovah, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Shall I not in that day, saith Jehovah, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Will I not, in that day, says the Lord, take away the wise men out of Edom, and wisdom out of the mountain of Esau?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Is it not in that day--an affirmation of Jehovah, That I have destroyed the wise out of Edom, And understanding out of the mount of Esau?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Shall not I in that day, saith the Lord, destroy the wise out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Shall I not in that day, saith Jehovah, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
Context
This statement follows the exposure of treacherous allies by identifying a deeper cause: God removes the leaders’ discernment. It anticipates the next verse, where the mighty themselves lose heart and fall by slaughter (verse 9). Together, verses 7–9 depict the unmaking of Edom’s society—alliances fail, counsel fails, and courage fails. This prepares for the shift in verses 10–14 from how judgment comes to why it comes—Edom’s violence against their brother Jacob.
v.7All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee on thy way, even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread lay a snare under thee: there is no understanding in him.
v.8This passage
v.9And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 5:12
He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:
- Isaiah 19:3
And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst of it; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek unto the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.
- Isaiah 19:13
The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Memphis are deceived; they have caused Egypt to go astray, that are the corner-stone of her tribes.
- Psalms 33:10
Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
- Isaiah 29:14
therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.