Obadiah 1:3

Authorized King James Version

The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, 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?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
זְד֤וֹן
The pride
arrogance
#2
בְּלִבּ֔וֹ
in his heart
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
#3
הִשִּׁיאֶ֔ךָ
hath deceived
to lead astray, i.e., (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce
#4
שִׁבְתּ֑וֹ
thee thou that dwellest
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
#5
בְחַגְוֵי
in the clefts
a rift in rocks
#6
סֶ֖לַע
of the rock
a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
#7
מְר֣וֹם
is high
altitude, i.e., concretely (an elevated place), abstractly (elevation, figuratively (elation), or adverbially (aloft)
#8
שִׁבְתּ֑וֹ
thee thou that dwellest
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
#9
אֹמֵ֣ר
that saith
to say (used with great latitude)
#10
בְּלִבּ֔וֹ
in his heart
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
#11
מִ֥י
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
#12
יוֹרִדֵ֖נִי
Who shall bring me down
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
#13
אָֽרֶץ׃
to the ground
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Analysis

Within the broader context of Obadiah, this passage highlights salvation through universal language and absolute statements. The theological weight of divine revelation connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine revelation, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by establishing foundational concepts crucial to Obadiah's theological argument.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Obadiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection