Obadiah 1:15

Authorized King James Version

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For 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.

Original Language Analysis

כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 1 of 14
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
קָר֥וֹב is near H7138
קָר֥וֹב is near
Strong's: H7138
Word #: 2 of 14
near (in place, kindred or time)
יוֹם For the day H3117
יוֹם For the day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 3 of 14
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
יְהוָ֖ה of the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֖ה of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 4 of 14
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 5 of 14
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 6 of 14
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹיִ֑ם upon all the heathen H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֑ם upon all the heathen
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 7 of 14
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 8 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יֵעָ֣שֶׂה as thou hast done H6213
יֵעָ֣שֶׂה as thou hast done
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 9 of 14
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
יֵעָ֣שֶׂה as thou hast done H6213
יֵעָ֣שֶׂה as thou hast done
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 10 of 14
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
לָּ֔ךְ H0
לָּ֔ךְ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 11 of 14
גְּמֻלְךָ֖ unto thee thy reward H1576
גְּמֻלְךָ֖ unto thee thy reward
Strong's: H1576
Word #: 12 of 14
treatment, i.e., an act (of good or ill); by implication, service or requital
יָשׁ֥וּב shall return H7725
יָשׁ֥וּב shall return
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 13 of 14
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ׃ upon thine own head H7218
בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ׃ upon thine own head
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 14 of 14
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

Cross References

Habakkuk 2:8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.James 2:13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.Matthew 7:2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.Ezekiel 30:3For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.Micah 5:15And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.Psalms 137:8O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.Jeremiah 50:29Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.Jeremiah 49:12For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.Joel 1:15Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.Ezekiel 35:15As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Analysis & Commentary

This verse announces the universal scope of divine judgment and establishes the principle of divine retribution. "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen" (ki-qarov yom-YHWH al-kol-hagoyim) introduces the Day of the LORD—a key prophetic theme describing God's decisive intervention in history to judge evil and vindicate righteousness. The phrase "upon all the heathen" (al-kol-hagoyim, literally "upon all the nations") expands judgment beyond Edom to encompass all nations that oppose God and oppress His people.

"As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee" (ka'asher asita ye'aseh lak) articulates the lex talionis principle—measure-for-measure justice. The Hebrew emphasizes exact correspondence: Edom's treatment of Judah during Jerusalem's destruction will be precisely replicated in Edom's own judgment. This isn't arbitrary vengeance but divinely ordered justice ensuring that punishment fits the crime. "Thy reward shall return upon thine own head" (gemulka yashuv be'rosheka) uses "reward" (gemul) which can mean either recompense for good or retribution for evil. Here it's clearly retributive—Edom's deeds will boomerang back upon them.

This principle of divine justice appears throughout Scripture. Galatians 6:7 warns "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Jesus taught that the measure we use will be measured back to us (Matthew 7:2). Revelation 18:6 applies this to Babylon: "Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works." Yet while God's justice is perfect and inescapable, the gospel offers an astonishing reversal: Christ bore the retribution our sins deserved, allowing mercy to triumph over judgment for all who believe.

The "day of the LORD" terminology connects Obadiah to the broader prophetic tradition. Joel, Amos, Zephaniah, and Malachi all speak of this day when God will judge the world and establish His kingdom. It has both imminent historical fulfillment (Edom's destruction) and ultimate eschatological fulfillment (Christ's return and final judgment). For Edom, the day came when Nabatean Arabs displaced them and they gradually disappeared from history. For all nations, that day still awaits.

Historical Context

Obadiah prophesied against Edom, descendants of Esau (Jacob's twin brother), who inhabited the rocky region southeast of the Dead Sea. The historical context likely involves Edom's participation in or rejoicing over Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. When Judah faced catastrophic defeat, Edom—their kinsmen who should have shown compassion—instead gloated, looted, and even cut off fleeing refugees (verses 10-14).

This betrayal was especially heinous given the blood relationship between Israel and Edom. Moses had commanded Israel not to abhor Edomites "for he is thy brother" (Deuteronomy 23:7), yet Edom repeatedly demonstrated hostility: refusing Israel passage during the Exodus (Numbers 20:14-21), raiding during the monarchy period, and finally celebrating Judah's destruction. Psalm 137:7 captures Jewish anguish: "Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof."

Edom's judgment came gradually. The Nabateans displaced them from their territory, forcing migration to southern Judea (Idumea). By the Maccabean period, they were forcibly converted to Judaism. After Jerusalem's destruction in AD 70, Edom disappears from history—utterly fulfilling prophecies of their obliteration. Their fate demonstrates that God keeps His word: nations that curse Israel will be cursed (Genesis 12:3), and those who oppose God's purposes face certain judgment.

Questions for Reflection