Read & explore together
The Deliverance of Israel
Obadiah 1:15–21 announces that the day of Yahweh is near for all nations. The passage speaks about judgement, escape on Mount Zion, the defeat of Esau, and the final statement that the kingdom belongs to Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, Obadiah speaks as prophecy and teaching. The passage moves from a message to all nations, to a contrast for Mount Zion, then to specific statements about Jacob, Joseph, Esau, returning captives, and Mount Zion. It ends by declaring Yahweh’s rule.
Obadiah 1:15–21Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh judges according to deeds, preserves escape on Mount Zion, and declares that the kingdom is Yahweh’s.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The day of Yahweh is nearThe passage begins with a broad announcement: the day of Yahweh is near "all the nations".
Explanation
The passage begins with a broad announcement: the day of Yahweh is near "all the nations". The line, "As you have done, it will be done to you", explains the justice being described. Their own deeds return upon them, so judgement is presented as a fitting response to what they have done.
02A contrast between nations and Mount ZionVerse 16 continues the warning with the picture of drinking continually and becoming "as though they had not been".
Explanation
Verse 16 continues the warning with the picture of drinking continually and becoming "as though they had not been". Then verse 17 turns with "But in Mount Zion". There, some will escape, the place will be holy, and the house of Jacob will possess possessions. The prophecy holds judgement and deliverance side by side.
03Jacob, Joseph, and EsauThe house of Jacob is called a fire and the house of Joseph a flame, while the house of Esau is like stubble.
Explanation
The house of Jacob is called a fire and the house of Joseph a flame, while the house of Esau is like stubble. This image shows complete defeat for Esau, confirmed by the words, "Indeed, Yahweh has spoken." The force of the statement rests on Yahweh’s own declaration, not on human strength.
04Possession, return, and Yahweh’s kingdomThe final verses list places and people who will possess them, including the South, the lowland, Benjamin, and captives of Israel and Jerusalem.
Explanation
The final verses list places and people who will possess them, including the South, the lowland, Benjamin, and captives of Israel and Jerusalem. The passage ends with "Saviors" going up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the climactic truth that "the kingdom will be Yahweh’s".
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does verse 15 explain the justice of the coming day of Yahweh?
Look at the words about deeds returning on a person’s own head and explain how the verse connects actions with judgement.
02What changes in the passage when it says, "But in Mount Zion"?
Compare the outcome for the nations in verse 16 with the escape, holiness, and possession described in verse 17.
03What is the final big truth the passage ends with?
Notice how the place names and acts of judging lead to the closing statement about who the kingdom belongs to.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Obadiah 1:15–21
15For the day of Yahweh is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head.
16For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations will drink continually. Yes, they will drink, swallow down, and will be as though they had not been.
17But in Mount Zion, there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. The house of Jacob will possess their possessions.
18The house of Jacob will be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble. They will burn among them and devour them. There will not be any remaining to the house of Esau.” Indeed, Yahweh has spoken.
19Those of the South will possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the lowland, the Philistines. They will possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria. Benjamin will possess Gilead.
20The captives of this army of the children of Israel, who are among the Canaanites, will possess even to Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, who are in Sepharad, will possess the cities of the Negev.
21Saviors will go up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will be Yahweh’s.