Obadiah

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew ʿObadyāh (“servant of Yahweh”), identifying devotion to Israel’s covenant God
• Period/Era: Divided Kingdom / Exilic (date uncertain; oracle addresses Edom’s violence toward Judah)
• Main References: Obadiah 1–21
• Key Connections: Edom (descendants of Esau) and Judah/Jerusalem in the context of inter-nation hostility

Who was Obadiah?

Obadiah is the named prophet associated with the shortest book in the Old Testament.
His personal biography and place of ministry are not given in the text.
He delivered an oracle condemning Edom for violence and gloating over Judah’s calamity.
The book presents his message as “the vision of Obadiah” (Obadiah 1).

Key Events & Achievements

• Oracle against Edom: Announces Edom’s humiliation and downfall despite its secure strongholds (Obadiah 1–9).
• Indictment of violence: Details Edom’s actions during Jerusalem’s disaster, including looting and blocking fugitives (Obadiah 10–14).
• Day of the LORD theme: Declares that divine recompense will extend to the nations and that the kingdom belongs to the LORD (Obadiah 15–21).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Obadiah portrays the LORD’s moral governance over nations, holding kin-related peoples accountable for violence and betrayal.

Key Verse

"For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head." — Obadiah 15, ESV