Obadiah 1:10-11
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The core of Edom's judgment isn't just any violence, but violence specifically against their "brother Jacob." This isn't just an abstract crime; it's a betrayal of kinship, a deep offense against the very bond God intended to exist between them. This familial treachery is what seals their fate, promising not just punishment, but utter shame and permanent eradication.
Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes at the beginning of Obadiah's prophecy, where God delivers a judgment against the nation of Edom. The Edomites, descendants of Esau (Jacob's twin brother), had violently attacked and rejoiced over the suffering of their kin, the people of Jacob (Israel), especially during the fall of Jerusalem. Obadiah declares that this act of treachery against a brother will bring lasting shame and destruction upon Edom itself.
Why does the Bible repeatedly emphasize that Edom's sin was against their 'brother Jacob'? Discover the deep spiritual and historical weight behind this relationship.
Obadiah's prophecy hinges on a crucial point: Edom's violence against Jacob was not just any act of aggression, it was an attack on a sibling.
A Shared Heritage
Esau and Jacob were twin brothers, founders of nations that were meant to be related. The command given to Israel was clear: 'You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother' (Deuteronomy 23:7).
The Betrayal of Kinship
Edom not only ignored this divine mandate but actively worked against their brother nation. This wasn't just political rivalry; it was a profound betrayal of shared lineage and God's established order. When Edom rejoiced over Jerusalem's destruction and even participated in its plunder, they committed a sin that cut deeper than mere hostility.
A Divine Reckoning
God took this familial treachery incredibly seriously. The violence against Jacob was the 'great aggravation,' a sin that drew a severe and final judgment because it violated the very bonds God intended.
What does it mean to be 'covered with shame' and 'cut off forever'? Explore the profound and permanent nature of God's judgment on Edom.
The judgment pronounced on Edom in Obadiah 1:10 is stark and absolute: 'shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.' This isn't a temporary setback; it speaks to ultimate consequences.
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The Unavoidable Shame
'Shame' here is more than embarrassment. It's the deep disgrace that comes from exposed wickedness and failed ambitions. It's the public exposure of their cruelty and their ultimate downfall, leaving them despised and without honor. This shame isn't a fleeting feeling but a lasting state.
The Finality of Being Cut Off
'Cut off forever' signifies total eradication – not just the end of their nationhood, but an eternal separation from God's presence and favor. While the land of Edom was eventually inhabited again, the prophetic declaration points to a complete and final judgment that transcends temporal existence, especially in their persistent opposition to God's people.
A Warning for All Time
This judgment, though specific to Edom, serves as a potent warning. It illustrates that actions, especially those violating divine commands and kinship, have eternal repercussions. God’s justice is thorough, ensuring that wickedness, particularly when directed against His chosen people, will ultimately meet with irreversible consequence.
Understand the original words
chamas · Hebrew Noun
In the Hebrew Bible, this term describes unjust, cruel, and oppressive behavior, often accompanied by physical force. It is a defining characteristic of those who act against God's moral order.
Ya'aqob · Hebrew Proper Noun
Refers to the son of Isaac, the father of the twelve tribes, and the recipient of the Abrahamic covenant. He serves as the representative of the chosen people of God.
bushah · Hebrew Noun
A state of humiliation, dishonor, and disgrace brought on by sin or divine judgment. It describes the inevitable outcome for those who exalt themselves against God or His people.
yom · Hebrew Noun
In Scripture, this refers to a specific time of divine intervention, judgment, or visitation, often associated with the culmination of history or a decisive moment of justice. It denotes the time when God manifests His sovereignty against wickedness and establishes His purposes.
nokri · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
People outside the covenant community of Israel, often implying an lack of spiritual or familial loyalty. In a negative context, it refers to those who are hostile toward God’s people or indifferent to His covenant.
goral · Hebrew Noun
To throw pieces of wood or stone with markings to determine fate or divide spoils. In Scripture, this often represents an attempt to exert control over something that belongs to God or a disrespectful disregard for the sacredness of a people or city.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The city of Jerusalem, the chosen dwelling place of God’s name and the center of Old Testament worship. It symbolizes the spiritual inheritance and the presence of God among His people.
Obadiah's prophecy against Edom is rooted in a long history of animosity, but it finds its sharpest focus in Edom's cruel actions and gloating during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. The verse condemns not just the violence, but the betrayal of a shared heritage and the wicked joy taken in a brother's deepest suffering.
c. 9th-8th centuries BC
Longstanding Edomite Hostility
From early on, the Edomites, descendants of Esau (Jacob's twin brother), displayed a hostile attitude towards the Israelites, descendants of Jacob. This animosity, though sometimes suppressed by Israelite dominance (like under David), simmered with Edom seeking opportunities for revenge.
c. 845 BC
Rebellion During Jehoram's Reign
During the reign of King Jehoram of Judah, the Edomites rebelled against Judah, asserting their independence. In this conflict, they were successful and even took control of key territories.
c. 8th Century BC
Philistine and Arabian Raids
Under King Jehoram of Judah, Judaea faced attacks from Philistines and Arabians. The Edomites joined these invaders, attacking Jerusalem, taking captives, and plundering the land, even entering Jerusalem's gates.
587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon
The Babylonians (Chaldeans) conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled much of the population. The Edomites are noted for their active participation and malicious rejoicing during this catastrophic event for Judah.
Post-Exilic Period
Edom's Dispossession
In later centuries, particularly during the Maccabean period, the Edomites faced significant judgment and were eventually dispossessed of their lands by Jewish forces, fulfilling prophecies of their downfall.
This passage describes Esau's bitter hatred towards Jacob after Jacob received the blessing, directly foreshadowing the animosity and violence between their descendants that Obadiah condemns.
Deuteronomy 23:7God commanded the Israelites not to abhor the Edomites because they were their brothers, highlighting the severe sinfulness of Edom's violence against their kin.
Psalm 137:7This psalm echoes Obadiah's charge by referencing the Edomites' cruel rejoicing and complicity in the destruction of Jerusalem, amplifying the 'violence against your brother Jacob'.
Ezekiel 35:5Ezekiel prophesies against Edom for their 'perpetual enmity' and violence against Israel, reinforcing the theme of God's judgment for treachery against His people.
Jeremiah 49:7-11Jeremiah also pronounces judgment on Edom for their pride and violence, directly linking their downfall to their actions against Jacob and the concept of being cut off.
cambridgeObadiah 1:10: "For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever."
10 . Thy brother Jacob ] This was the great aggravation of the violence. “Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite, for he is thy brother,” was the command of God to the Jews ( Deuteronomy 23:7 ). Treachery from friends and allies was the meet punishment of such a sin. thou shalt be cut off for ever ] As the sin of Edom is concisely expressed in this verse by the one word violence, the…
barnesObadiah 1:10: "For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever."
For thy violence against thy brother Jacob - To Israel God had commanded: ( Deuteronomy 23:7-8 ( Deuteronomy 23:8 , Deuteronomy 23:9 in the Hebrew text)), "Thou shalt not abbor an Edomite, for he is thy brother. The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the Lord in their third generation." Edom did the contrary to all this. "Violence" includes…
The core of Edom's judgment isn't just any violence, but violence specifically against their "brother Jacob." This isn't just an abstract crime; it's a betrayal of kinship, a deep offense against the very bond God intended to exist between them. This familial treachery is what seals their fate, promising not just punishment, but utter shame and permanent eradication.
This passage comes at the beginning of Obadiah's prophecy, where God delivers a judgment against the nation of Edom. The Edomites, descendants of Esau (Jacob's twin brother), had violently attacked and rejoiced over the suffering of their kin, the people of Jacob (Israel), especially during the fall of Jerusalem. Obadiah declares that this act of treachery against a brother will bring lasting shame and destruction upon Edom itself.
This passage comes at the beginning of Obadiah's prophecy, where God delivers a judgment against the nation of Edom. The Edomites, descendants of Esau (Jacob's twin brother), had violently attacked and rejoiced over the suffering of their kin, the people of Jacob (Israel), especially during the fall of Jerusalem. Obadiah declares that this act of treachery against a brother will bring lasting shame and destruction upon Edom itself.
"Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners enter…" — The core of Edom's judgment isn't just any violence, but violence specifically against their "brother Jacob." This isn't just an abstract crime; it's a betrayal of kinship, a deep offense against t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
