Bible Strands
Obadiah 1:9
Then your mighty men, O Teman, will be terrified, so that everyone in the mountains of Esau will be cut down in the slaughter.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD declares through Obadiah to Edom and its stronghold of Teman that judgment is imminent in that coming day. The prophecy announces the removal of Edom’s military and intellectual leadership.
The words — `גִבּוֹרֶיךָ` (gi.borei.kha) translates as your mighty men, while `תֵּימָן` (tei.man) identifies the specific Edomite region of Teman. `יִכָּרֵת` (yi.kka.reth) denotes being cut off or destroyed in the slaughter.
The thread — This judgment against Edom echoes in Amos 1:12, where God sends fire on Teman, and Ezekiel 25:13, where He stretches out His hand to cut off man and beast. Isaiah 63:1 further depicts the Lord’s advance from Edom in judicial wrath.
Why it lands — The text declares that violence against Jacob guarantees permanent shame and destruction for Edom. It demands recognition that divine judgment targets specific nations according to their actions, not abstract moral principles.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 25:13 therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.
- Isaiah 63:1 Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”
- Amos 1:12 So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.”
- Genesis 36:11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.
- Isaiah 34:5 When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction.
- Jeremiah 49:22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s mighty men will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
- Job 2:11 Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.
- Jeremiah 49:7 Concerning Edom, this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?
- 1 Chronicles 1:45 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
- Psalms 76:5 The valiant lie plundered; they sleep their last sleep. No men of might could lift a hand.