what is the meaning of obadiah in the bible

Obadiah means ‘the servant of *Yahweh’. Or it means ‘the person who gives honour to *Yahweh’. There are many people with this name in the *Old Testament

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Full Answer

What is the meaning of the Book of Obadiah in the Bible?

The Book of Obadiah, the fourth book of the Twelve (Minor) Prophets, contains only 21... The book announces that the Day of Judgment is near for all nations, when all evil will be punished and the righteous renewed. The final verses prophesy the restoration of the Jews to their native land.

Who was Obadiah and what did he do?

Obadiah is a character in 1 Kings in the Hebrew Bible. He was a majordomo in charge of Ahab's palace. According to 1 Kings 18:4, Obadiah hid a hundred prophets of God in two caves, fifty in each, to protect them from Jezebel, Ahab's wife.

What do we learn from the Book of Obadiah?

Obadiah reminds the Edomites that God did not turn a blind eye towards the wicked deeds His children had suffered. He was not absent in the cruelty they had endured. The second comfort for the people of God is found at the end of the sentences with words like “misfortune, distress, disaster, calamity, and ruin”.

Why did God choose Obadiah?

He is identified with the Obadiah who was the servant of Ahab, and it is said that he was chosen to prophesy against Edom because he was himself an Edomite.

Why was God angry with Edom?

In v. 10 the main reason for God's wrath and judgment on Edom is given: "For the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever." Thus, as Boice notes, Edom's specific sin was an aggravated lack of brotherhood.

Who was the wife of Obadiah in the Bible?

HIS WIFE, JEZEBEL, IS ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS NAMES IN THE BIBLE, EVEN APPEARING AGAIN IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. TOGETHER, THEY WERE THE ULTIMATE WICKED POWER COUPLE. A MAN NAMED OBADIAH, WHO WAS A DEVOTED FOLLOWER OF THE LORD, WAS EMPLOYED IN THIS EVIL PALACE AS A SERVANT TO THE WICKED KING AHAB.

What is Obadiah in the Bible?

Bible Dictionaries - Smith's Bible Dictionary - Obadiah. A man whose sons are enumerated in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah. ( 1 Chronicles 3:21 ) (B.C. 470.) A descendant of Issachar and a chief man of his tribe. ( 1 Chronicles 7:3 ) (B.C. 1014.)

Who held Obadiah in great honour?

Ahab seems to have held Obadiah in great honour, although he had no sympathy with his piety (5,6,7). The last notice of him is his bringing back tidings to Ahab that Elijah, whom he had so long sought for, was at hand (9-16).

Who is the steward of Ahab?

OBADIAH . (1) The steward or prime minister of Ahab, who did his best to protect the prophets of Yahweh against Jezebel's persecution. He met Elijah on his return from Zarephath, and bore to Ahab the news of Elijah's reappearance ( 1 Kings 18:3-16 ). (2) The prophet ( Obadiah 1:1 ).

Who was the Merarite Levite?

A Merarite Levite in the reign of Josiah, and one of the overseers of the workmen in the restoration of the temple. ( 2 Chronicles 34:12 ) (B.C.623.) [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible. [E] indicates this entry was also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary.

Who is the servant of the Lord?

servant of the Lord. An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab ( 1 Kings 18:3 ). Amid great spiritual degeneracy he maintained his fidelity to God, and interposed to protect The Lord's prophets, an hundred of whom he hid at great personal risk in a cave (4,13). Ahab seems to have held Obadiah in great honour, ...

Where did the name "Obadiah" come from?

The name "Obadiah" was common in Israel from the days of David to the close of the Old Testament. An ancient Hebrew seal bears the inscription "Obadiah the servant of the King.". John Richard Sampey. Copyright Statement.

Who published the Bible in 1897?

published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely. [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible. [H] indicates this entry was also found in Hitchcock's Bible Names. [S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary. Bibliography Information.

What is the meaning of the name Obadiah?

The first part of the name Obadiah comes from the root עבד ( 'abad ), meaning servant or to serve: Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary. עבד.

How many Obadiahs are there in the Bible?

Besides the prophet who probably lived in the 9th century BC and who wrote the Book of Obadiah, there are up to twelve Obadiahs mentioned: King Ahab's chief housekeeper (1 Kings 18:3) ; A descendant of Solomon (1 Chronicles 3:21) ; A descendant of Issachar (1 Chronicles 7:3) ;

What does "abad" mean in Greek?

The verb עבד ( 'abad) means to work or serve, and the noun עבד ( 'ebed) denotes someone who works: from a slave to a hired expert. The Greek equivalent of this noun is δουλος ( doulos ). — See the full Dictionary article —.

Who wrote the book?

In this, the shortest book of the Old Testament, it seems the prophet Obadiah considered each word a high-priced commodity. Apparently, he was unable to afford any words describing himself or his family in any way. Therefore, while twelve other men named Obadiah appear in Scripture, Old Testament scholars cannot identify with certainty any of them as the author of this book. Though the ultimate identity of this prophet is shrouded in mystery, Obadiah’s emphasis on Jerusalem throughout this prophecy of judgment on the foreign nation of Edom, allows us at least to presume that Obadiah came from somewhere near the holy city in the southern kingdom of Judah.

Where are we?

Dating the book of Obadiah accurately is nearly impossible due to the scant historical information contained in the book. While several options have been proposed by scholars, the best argument places Obadiah in the 840s BC, making him the earliest writing prophet, a few years prior to Joel, and a contemporary of Elisha. The biggest piece of evidence for this early date comes from Obadiah 1:10–14, which indicates an Edomite invasion of Jerusalem. While Edom was too weak a nation to ever invade Judah on its own, Edom no doubt participated with other nations when the winds of change blew in its favor.

What does Obadiah 1:10-14 mean?

While 2 Chronicles does not indicate the Edomites’ participation in the invasion, Obadiah 1:10–14 pictures the violent behavior that the Edomites carried out on their neighbors, waiting on nearby roads to cut down those fleeing from the invaders within Jerusalem.

What does Obadiah mean?

Obadiah’s name, meaning “worshipper of Yahweh,” offers an interesting counterpoint to the message of judgment he pronounced on Edom, Judah’s neighbor to the southeast. 1 As a worshipper of Yahweh, Obadiah placed himself in a position of humility before the Lord; he embraced his lowly place before the almighty God.

Where did Obadiah come from?

Though the ultimate identity of this prophet is shrouded in mystery, Obadiah’s emphasis on Jerusalem throughout this prophecy of judgment on the foreign nation of Edom, allows us at least to presume that Obadiah came from somewhere near the holy city in the southern kingdom of Judah.

What is Obadiah's prophecy?

Obadiah’s prophecy focuses on the destructive power of pride. It reminds us of the consequences of living in a self-serving manner, of following through on our own feelings and desires without considering their impact on those around us.

Who invaded Judah in the 840s?

While Edom was too weak a nation to ever invade Judah on its own, Edom no doubt participated with other nations when the winds of change blew in its favor. In the 840s, when Edom rebelled against King Jehoram of Judah, the Philistines and the Arabians also invaded Jerusalem ( 2 Kings 8:20–22; 2 Chronicles 21:16–17 ).

How Can We Apply These Lessons to Our Lives?

As faithful people, it is easy to see Obadiah’s prophesy as issued against those whom we would consider our enemies. We read the words regarding the future destruction of Edom and see it as a warning against those who rebuke us for our faith or rejoice over our misfortune. There is an element of this, but we should not be too quick to exalt ourselves over others. After all, this is exactly what Edom did.

Why is Obadiah overshadowed by Ezekiel?

This is partly due to a lack of knowledge about Obadiah himself. It is certain that this Obadiah is not the same person who was a contemporary of Elijah, as seen in 1 Kings 18. Scholarship dates the book of Obadiah to shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem, well past Elijah’s day. Beyond this, nothing is known about this enigmatic prophet.

What is the shortest book of the Old Testament?

Adding to Obadiah ’s obscurity is the fact that it is the shortest book of the Old Testament. Tucked between Amos and Jonah, it is easily missed. Yet this small, compact, prophesy deserves to be known. Obadiah’s vision speaks profoundly to many issues facing Christian people today. His words are provocatively contemporary. Here are 3 important lessons Obadiah teaches.

Did Edom justify their boasting?

It can be easy to rationalize our gloating. It is a good bet that Edom justified their boasting under the rhetoric of justice. After all, Edom had a long history of conflict with Israel. Battles were fought, insults were hurled. Both sides of the conflict looked upon the other with disdain and dislike. Thus, when Israel was conquered Edom probably felt that Israel, finally, had “gotten what they deserved.” Such prideful boasting can be easy to adopt, personally and nationally.

Who did Obadiah speak against?

Obadiah speaks against the Edomites, who were continually at odds with Israel. What began as a sibling rivalry between Jacob and Esau continues between the nations they establish. During their journey to the Promised Land, for example, the Edomites refused to allow Israel passage through their territory. Edom even threatened to attack Israel lest they get too close to their border ( Numbers 20:20 ). Israel is made to take an alternative route which immediately finds them attacked by the Canaanite king of Arad. The hostility between these two nations grows from then on. Saul, David, and Solomon, all lead military campaigns against the Edomites.

Who is Kyle Norman?

Reverend Kyle Norman is the Rector of the Anglican Parish of Holy Cross in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He has a doctorate in Spiritual Formation and is often asked to write or speak on the nature of the Christian community, and the role of Spiritual disciplines in Christian life. His personal blog can be found here.

Who is Edom?

Edom is another name for Esau ( Genesis 25:30 ). Esau’s descendants grew into a nation and dwelt in the region of Mount Seir ( Genesis 36:8-9) with Petra as their chief city. In modern times this area is known as southern Jordan.

What is the enmity between Edom and Israel?

The enmity between Israel and Edom can be traced back to the incident where Jacob convinced Esau his brother to sell him his birthright ( Genesis 25:29-34 ). From that time, animosity between the two brothers and their descendants continued (aside from brief respites—see Genesis 33:1-16; 35:27-29 ). For example, Edom refused passage to Moses and the children of Israel during their travels to the land of Canaan ( Numbers 20:14-21 ). King Saul fought against Edom ( 1 Samuel 14:47 ), and David brought Edom under his control ( 2 Samuel 8:13-14 ).

What tribes were in Edom?

One of the chief tribes of Edom was Teman ( Obadiah 1:9 ), named after Esau’s grandson ( Genesis 36:10, 15 ). As the people of Teman began to multiply and expand, they occupied the area south and east of the Dead Sea, which became known as the land of Teman or the “land of Temani” ( Genesis 36:34 ).

What does the Bible say about pride?

Pride leads to destruction. The Bible states that pride in nations or individuals will lead them down a path of destruction. The Edomites felt secure in their mountain stronghold. Mount Seir was the highest mountain in their nation ( Obadiah 1:3-4 ), making them feel superior to Mount Zion and Judah.

What does God say about Edom?

God will not forget the treachery of Edom toward Judah during her time of tribulation, distress and captivity. Notice Ezekiel 25:12-13: “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,’ therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cut off man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman.’”

What is Edom condemned for?

Verses 10-14: Edom condemned for brotherly hatred and cruelty.

What were the Edomites hoping for?

The Edomites were hoping for the destruction of the ‘foundations’ of Yahweh’s rule on earth. This interpretation receives its validation in Obadiah’s prophecy against Edom.”. This helps explain the Bible’s scathing condemnation for the nation of Edom.

What is the purpose of Obadiah?

Purpose of Writing: Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, is only 21 verses long. Obadiah is a prophet of God who use s this opportunity to condemn Edom for sins against both God and Israel. The Edomites are descendants of Esau and the Israelites are descendants of his twin brother, Jacob. A quarrel between the brothers has affected their ...

What does Obadiah say about the day of the LORD?

Obadiah verse 15, "The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.". Brief Summary: Obadiah’s message is final and it is sure: the kingdom of Edom will be destroyed completely.

What does the book of Obadiah end with?

The book ends with the promise of the fulfillment and deliverance of Zion in the Last Days when the land will be restored to God’s people as He rules over them. Foreshadowings: Verse 21 of the Book of Obadiah contains a foreshadowing of Christ and His Church.

What does Obadiah verse 12 mean?

Obadiah verse 12, "You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. ". Obadiah verse 15, "The day of the LORD is near for all nations.

How many verses are in the Book of Obadiah?

Purpose of Writing: Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, is only 21 verses long.

Who are the Edomites?

The Edomites are descendants of Esau and the Israelites are descendants of his twin brother, Jacob. A quarrel between the brothers has affected their descendants for over 1,000 years. This division caused the Edomites to forbid Israel to cross their land during the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt.

What is the shortest book in the Old Testament?

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, with only one chapter of 21 verses. In just a few words, it delivers a warning of judgment on Edom, one of Israel's oldest enemies. This passage also warns every nation that defies God that there will be a reckoning.

What is the book Obadiah about?

Obadiah chapter 1. Book Summary. Obadiah is an excellent introduction to Old Testament prophecy. In just 21 verses, it covers all of the typical contents found in the prophets. Themes of wrongdoing, imminent judgment, God's mercy, and His restoration are all found in this short book.

When was Obadiah's prophecy written?

Obadiah's prophecy was probably written around 586 BC, during an especially dark time for Israel. Around 588 or 587 BC, the Babylonian empire, under Nebuchadnezzar, attacked for the third time in as many decades (Daniel 1:1–4; 2 Kings 24:8–20; 2 Kings 25:1–7). This time, they not only took many of the people as captives, they also sacked Jerusalem and burnt the temple. Edom did not come to help their "brother" nation. In fact, they actually helped the Babylonians. Edom blocked the road and caught Jewish fugitives, handing them over to Babylon. In payment, they were allowed to loot Jerusalem along with the other invaders. Most of the specific accusations made in the book of Obadiah revolve around this incident.

Where did the Edomites live?

Edomites who survived this invasion settled south of Hebron, where they faded into obscurity. Known later as Idumeans, they were bullied by most other nations, including Israel, and later Rome. Herod the Great, who tried to have Jesus killed as an infant (Matthew 2:16–18), was Idumean—an Edomite. The remaining Edomites joined with Jews in rebellion against Rome in AD 70, and were essentially obliterated. As a nation, they became extinct.

Who Wrote The Book?

Where Are We?

Why Is Obadiah So Important?

What's The Big Idea?

• Obadiah’s name, meaning “worshipper of Yahweh,” offers an interesting counterpoint to the message of judgment he pronounced on Edom, Judah’s neighbor to the southeast.1As a worshipper of Yahweh, Obadiah placed himself in a position of humility before the Lord; he embraced his lowly place before the almighty God. That God sent a man named “worshippe...

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