Obadiah 1:16
For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The prophecy here isn't just about punishment, but about the complete erasure of those who stand against God's people. The phrases "drink continually" and "swallow down" convey an absolute, unending consumption, leaving them not just defeated, but utterly non-existent, as if they had never been.
The prophecy opens with a declaration of war against Edom for their cruel betrayal and mistreatment of Judah during Jerusalem's destruction. This verse pivots to a broader judgment, explaining that just as Edom profaned God's holy mountain with their revelry over Judah's downfall, so all the nations who oppose God will face a continuous, overwhelming judgment that will utterly erase them from existence.
Imagine a party where everyone is forced to drink from the same cup. Some take a sip, while others are made to chug it down until it's all gone. This verse paints a similar picture, but the 'cup' here isn't about celebration, it's about consequence.
The core of this verse is about divine retribution, using the powerful imagery of drinking a cup.
The Edomites' Revelry
In the context of Obadiah, Edom had rejoiced and even participated in the plundering of Jerusalem when Babylon attacked Judah. They acted as if they had won a victory on God's "holy mountain." This was a profane act of celebration over God's chosen people's suffering. They "drank" in their sin, reveling in their perceived triumph.
The Nations' Judgment
But Obadiah declares that just as Edom "drank" in their sinful exultation, so too "all the nations shall drink continually." This isn't a pleasant drink; it's the "cup of wrath" poured out by God. Unlike Judah's temporary exile and suffering, which had a planned end, the nations' drinking would be continuous, leading to their utter annihilation. They would "drink and swallow" until they were "as though they had never been." This speaks of complete destruction and erasure.
The final phrase, 'as though they had never been,' is chilling. It’s more than just defeat; it’s complete obliteration. What does this ultimate end signify?
The end of the verse, 'they shall be as though they had never been,' points to the finality and totality of God's judgment against those who defy Him.
Utter Annihilation
This isn't merely about military defeat or temporary loss of power. It signifies a complete erasure from existence, not just as a nation but potentially even as a memory. It’s the ultimate consequence for opposing God and His people.
The Contrast with God's People
While the nations are "swallowed down" into oblivion, God’s judgment on His own people, though severe, is always redemptive and temporary. Judah's suffering was a discipline meant to bring them back, not to obliterate them. The nations, however, face an end that leaves no trace, highlighting the stark difference in God's dealings with those who reject Him versus those who are His.
Understand the original words
har qodshi / har tziyon · Hebrew Noun
The mount where God’s presence dwells and His kingdom is established; it serves as a symbol of the spiritual center of God’s rule and the future gathering place of His people.
goyim · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the surrounding cultures or non-Israelite peoples. In prophetic literature, they are often characterized by their opposition to God’s people and sovereignty, eventually being subject to divine judgment.
shatah · Hebrew Verb
Often associated with God’s judgment, the act of drinking the cup of wrath signifies experiencing the full measure of divine judgment and its devastating effects.
Obadiah's prophecy against Edom is deeply rooted in the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction by Babylon. The 'drinking' in this verse refers to both the joyous revelry of Edomites celebrating Judah's downfall and the subsequent, utter destruction they themselves would face from God's judgment.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah and deports some of its elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the end for the Kingdom of Judah.
c. 597 BC
Jerusalem Captured, Second Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem again, deports King Jehoiachin and many more citizens, including Ezekiel, to Babylon.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
After a prolonged siege, Nebuchadnezzar utterly destroys Jerusalem and its Temple. The remaining population is exiled to Babylon, fulfilling prophecies of judgment.
c. 582 BC
Third Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar conducts a final deportation from Judah, scattering the remnants of the population.
This passage parallels Obadiah's imagery of a 'cup' of wrath poured out on nations, starting with Jerusalem and extending to others, emphasizing a universal judgment for sin.
Similar to Obadiah, these verses describe Jerusalem, God's 'holy mountain,' as having drunk the cup of God's wrath, highlighting the divine judgment faced by His people and the nations.
This passage speaks of the utter devastation of Mount Seir (Edom's land), stating 'as you rejoiced at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be a desolate waste.' This directly reflects the theme of Edom's destruction and disappearance prophesied in Obadiah.
Psalm 37:36This verse's description of an evildoer passing away and being 'gone' or 'as though he had never been' directly echoes the finality of judgment described in Obadiah 1:16 for the nations.
barnesObadiah 1:16: "For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been."
For as ye have drunk - Revelry always followed pagan victory; often, desecration. The Romans bore in triumph the vessels of the second temple, Nebuchadnezzar carried away the sacred vessels of the first. Edom, in its hatred of God's people, doubtless regarded the destruction of Jerusalem, as a v…
clarkeObadiah 1:16: "For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been."
For as ye have drunk - This address is to the Jews. As ye have been visited and punished upon my holy mountain in Jerusalem, so shall other nations be punished in their respective countries. See Jeremiah 49:12 .
The prophecy here isn't just about punishment, but about the complete erasure of those who stand against God's people. The phrases "drink continually" and "swallow down" convey an absolute, unending consumption, leaving them not just defeated, but utterly non-existent, as if they had never been.
The prophecy opens with a declaration of war against Edom for their cruel betrayal and mistreatment of Judah during Jerusalem's destruction. This verse pivots to a broader judgment, explaining that just as Edom profaned God's holy mountain with their revelry over Judah's downfall, so all the nations who oppose God will face a continuous, overwhelming judgment that will utterly erase them from existence.
The prophecy opens with a declaration of war against Edom for their cruel betrayal and mistreatment of Judah during Jerusalem's destruction. This verse pivots to a broader judgment, explaining that just as Edom profaned God's holy mountain with their revelry over Judah's downfall, so all the nations who oppose God will face a continuous, overwhelming judgment that will utterly erase them from existence.
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Historical Fulfillment
Historically, the Edomites, who so cruelly treated the returning exiles, faded into obscurity, eventually being absorbed by other peoples. Their distinct national identity was lost, fulfilling this prophecy in a profound way. This echoes through history whenever nations or groups actively work against God's purposes.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ending Babylonian dominance and paving the way for Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem.
c. 450 BC
Malachi Prophesies Against Edom
The prophet Malachi continues the condemnation of Edom, noting their land is desolate and their heritage ruined by God.
"For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been." — The prophecy here isn't just about punishment, but about the complete erasure of those who stand against God's people. The phrases "drink continually" and "swallow down" convey an absolute, unendin…
