Obadiah 1:9
And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.
Original Language Analysis
וְחַתּ֥וּ
shall be dismayed
H2865
וְחַתּ֥וּ
shall be dismayed
Strong's:
H2865
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (literally) by violence, or (figuratively) by confusion and fear
גִבּוֹרֶ֖יךָ
And thy mighty
H1368
גִבּוֹרֶ֖יךָ
And thy mighty
Strong's:
H1368
Word #:
2 of 9
powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant
תֵּימָ֑ן
men O Teman
H8487
תֵּימָ֑ן
men O Teman
Strong's:
H8487
Word #:
3 of 9
teman, the name of two edomites, and of the region and descendant of one of them
לְמַ֧עַן
H4616
לְמַ֧עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
4 of 9
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
יִכָּֽרֶת
may be cut off
H3772
יִכָּֽרֶת
may be cut off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
5 of 9
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
אִ֛ישׁ
to the end that every one
H376
אִ֛ישׁ
to the end that every one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
6 of 9
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
מֵהַ֥ר
of the mount
H2022
מֵהַ֥ר
of the mount
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
7 of 9
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Cross References
Amos 1:12But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.Ezekiel 25:13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.Jeremiah 49:22Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.Genesis 36:11And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.Job 2:11Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.Jeremiah 49:20Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.Jeremiah 49:7Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?
Historical Context
Edom's warriors were formidable—mountain fighters defending nearly impregnable positions. Yet military prowess couldn't prevent gradual displacement, conquest, and eventual extinction. Teman, specifically named, was utterly destroyed—archaeological excavations show abandonment and decline. This fulfilled prophecy exactly: Edom's mighty men were dismayed and cut off. The same pattern appears throughout history: militarily powerful nations (Assyria, Babylon, Rome) eventually fell. True security rests not in military might but in covenant relationship with the Almighty.
Questions for Reflection
- What forms of human strength (military, economic, technological, physical) do people trust for security that will ultimately fail?
- How does God's judgment expose the futility of confidence in human power rather than divine grace?
- In what ways does Christ demonstrate true strength through apparent weakness (the cross), overcoming through self-sacrifice rather than military might?
Analysis & Commentary
And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. After destroying wisdom (v. 8), God targets military might. "Thy mighty men" (גִּבּוֹרֶיךָ, gibborekha) refers to warriors, heroes, champions. "Teman" (תֵּימָן, Teman) was a prominent Edomite city, grandson of Esau (Genesis 36:11), symbolizing Edom's strength and wisdom. "Shall be dismayed" (יֵחַתּוּ, yechattu) means terrified, shattered, broken in courage—not just defeated but psychologically destroyed before battle.
The purpose clause "to the end that" (לְמַעַן, lema'an) reveals God's intention: comprehensive destruction. "Every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter" (יִכָּרֶת־אִישׁ מֵהַר עֵשָׂו מִקָּטֶל, yikkaret-ish mehar Esav miqqatel)—total annihilation through violence. The verb כָּרַת (karat) means to cut off, destroy, eliminate. This isn't partial defeat but complete obliteration. The principle: when God judges, neither wisdom (v. 8) nor military strength (v. 9) provides escape. Psalm 33:16-17 declares: "There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is vain thing for safety." Only God saves (Psalm 3:8).