Obadiah 1:17

Authorized King James Version

But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּבְהַ֥ר
But upon mount
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
#2
צִיּ֛וֹן
Zion
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
#3
תִּהְיֶ֥ה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#4
פְלֵיטָ֖ה
shall be deliverance
deliverance; concretely, an escaped portion
#5
וְהָ֣יָה
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#6
קֹ֑דֶשׁ
and there shall be holiness
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
#7
וְיָֽרְשׁוּ֙
shall possess
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish
#8
בֵּ֣ית
and the house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#9
יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב
of Jacob
jaakob, the israelitish patriarch
#10
אֵ֖ת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#11
מוֹרָֽשֵׁיהֶם׃
their possessions
a possession; figuratively, delight

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing holiness contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood holiness. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection