Obadiah 1:8
Will I not on that day, declares the LORD, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God declares He will remove Edom's wisdom, not just its people or leaders, highlighting that true understanding ultimately comes from Him. This isn't just about losing intellect, but about God withdrawing His enabling grace, demonstrating that all perceived human shrewdness is a gift from Him.
This prophecy is addressed to Edom, a nation descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, and highlights their betrayal of Judah during a time of crisis. Obadiah declares that God will bring down Edom, stripping them of their supposed wisdom and understanding, which they relied on for counsel and defense. This judgment signifies that even human intelligence, which Edom boasted of, is ultimately subject to God's sovereign will and can be removed when He intends to bring about destruction.
Edom was known for its wisdom, a reputation even celebrated in ancient literature. But Obadiah warns that this wisdom will utterly vanish. How can something so inherent to a people be so completely removed?
The prophecy against Edom isn't just about losing advisors; it's about the complete removal of the capacity for wisdom itself. God declares He will 'destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau.'
A Unique Divine Action
This isn't simply the natural consequence of war or political upheaval. It's a targeted divine judgment. The ancient commentators noted a common saying: 'whom God willeth to destroy, he first dements.' God, as the source of all wisdom, has the sovereign right to withdraw it.
Edom's Reputation
Edom, descendants of Esau, was historically recognized for its sagacity. Figures like Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, hailed from this region, representing a peak of human wisdom. Their reputation was so strong that later texts like Baruch highlighted them as exemplars of understanding.
The Ultimate Consequence
When God withdraws wisdom, human plans crumble. The very resources that Edom would desperately need in their time of crisis—counsel, foresight, and understanding—would be gone. It highlights that true wisdom is a gift from God, not an inherent human possession that can be taken for granted.
Edom prided itself on its wisdom, but God's judgment means that this vaunted knowledge will be stripped away. What does this tell us about the nature of wisdom and our reliance on God?
The prophecy in Obadiah 1:8 serves as a stark reminder that wisdom is not an independent human faculty, but a precious gift from God. Edom, like other nations (and perhaps even individuals), may have believed their understanding and counsel were self-sustaining assets.
The Source of All Insight
God declares, 'Will I not... destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?' This isn't just about losing skilled advisors; it's about God actively removing the very capacity for wise thought and sound counsel. It underscores that human intellect and strategic thinking are dependent on God's provision.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenantal name of the God of Israel. It represents the self-existent, faithful, and personal Creator who remains eternally committed to His redemptive promises.
chakam · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those noted for their intellectual or strategic insight. In the context of divine judgment, worldly wisdom is frequently contrasted with the fear of the Lord, proving useless when facing God’s sovereignty.
Har Esau · Hebrew Proper Noun
Refers to the rugged, mountainous terrain of Edom, serving as a symbol of their pride and perceived impregnability. Often used synonymously with Edom itself.
Obadiah's sharp pronouncement about the destruction of Edom's wisdom highlights a common theme in ancient prophecy: God's judgment often targets the very things nations or peoples boast about, especially when those boasts lead to arrogance and cruelty towards His people.
c. 10th century BC
Edom's Reputation for Wisdom
During this period and earlier, Edom (also called Mount Esau) was known for its wise counselors and understanding, as evidenced by figures like Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, and references in 1 Kings and Baruch.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation of Judah
Nebuchadnezzar's forces deported skilled Judeans, including Daniel, to Babylon. This event marked the beginning of Judah's exile and began a period of conflict and strained relations between Judah and Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining Judeans. Edom's people sided with the Babylonians during this conquest, attacking and mistreating Judean refugees.
c. 585-580 BC
Jeremiah's Prophecies Against Edom
The prophet Jeremiah prophesied against Edom, referencing their pride and the impending judgment, and also questioning their famed wisdom, echoing themes found in Obadiah.
This verse describes God turning wisdom into foolishness for those who are proud and reject Him, mirroring Obadiah's prophecy that Edom's wisdom will be destroyed.
Jeremiah 49:7Jeremiah echoes Obadiah's words, questioning if wisdom has truly vanished from Teman (a region of Edom), highlighting Edom's historical reputation for wisdom that God will indeed remove.
These passages directly reference Teman and Edom as places where wisdom was sought but not found, reinforcing the idea that Edom was known for wisdom that God would ultimately withdraw.
This verse mentions the wisdom of the 'children of the East,' which scholars note likely included Edomites, showing a broader cultural context for Edom's reputation for wisdom.
Job 2:11Eliphaz, one of Job's friends and a 'Temanite,' represents human wisdom in the book of Job, providing a specific example of the kind of wisdom associated with Edom that Obadiah predicts will be destroyed.
barnesObadiah 1:8: "Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?"
Shall I not in that day even destroy the wise out of Edom? - It was then no common, no recoverable, loss of wisdom, for God, the Author of wisdom, had destroyed it. The pagan had a proverb, "whom God willeth to destroy, he first dements." So Isaiah foretells of Judah Isaiah 29:14 , "The wisdom of their wise shall perish, and the understanding of their pruden…
clarkeObadiah 1:8: "Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?"
Shall I not - destroy the wise men - It appears, from Jeremiah 49:7 , that the Edomites were remarkable for wisdom, counsel, and prudence. See on the above place.
God declares He will remove Edom's wisdom, not just its people or leaders, highlighting that true understanding ultimately comes from Him. This isn't just about losing intellect, but about God withdrawing His enabling grace, demonstrating that all perceived human shrewdness is a gift from Him.
This prophecy is addressed to Edom, a nation descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, and highlights their betrayal of Judah during a time of crisis. Obadiah declares that God will bring down Edom, stripping them of their supposed wisdom and understanding, which they relied on for counsel and defense. This judgment signifies that even human intelligence, which Edom boasted of, is ultimately subject to God's sovereign will and can be removed when He intends to bring about destruction.
This prophecy is addressed to Edom, a nation descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, and highlights their betrayal of Judah during a time of crisis. Obadiah declares that God will bring down Edom, stripping them of their supposed wisdom and understanding, which they relied on for counsel and defense. This judgment signifies that even human intelligence, which Edom boasted of, is ultimately subject to God's sovereign will and can be removed when He intends to bring about destruction.
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When God Withholds Understanding
Commentators noted the ancient proverb, 'whom God willeth to destroy, he first dements.' When God withdraws His gift of understanding, even the most brilliant plans can devolve into foolishness. This can manifest as inexplicable oversights, fatally flawed strategies, or an overconfidence that blinds individuals to impending disaster.
A Lesson for Us
This divine action challenges any notion that we possess wisdom independently. Our ability to think, plan, and understand is a trust from God. When we fail to acknowledge the Source, or when we presumptuously rely on our own intellect above Him, we risk experiencing a similar withdrawal.
c. 550-400 BC
Composition of the Book of Obadiah
The prophet Obadiah delivered his prophecy against Edom, likely in the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction, condemning Edom's actions and predicting their downfall.
c. 4th century BC
Persian Period and Edom's Decline
Under Persian rule, Edom gradually lost its distinct identity, with many Edomites migrating westward into southern Judah, a territory that became known as Idumea.
"Will I not on that day, declares the LORD, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau?" — God declares He will remove Edom's wisdom, not just its people or leaders, highlighting that true understanding ultimately comes from Him. This isn't just about losing intellect, but about God withdr…
