Obadiah 1:18
New International Version
Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau.” The LORD has spoken.

New Living Translation
The people of Israel will be a raging fire, and Edom a field of dry stubble. The descendants of Joseph will be a flame roaring across the field, devouring everything. There will be no survivors in Edom. I, the LORD, have spoken!

English Standard Version
The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph a burning flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble—Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau.” For the LORD has spoken.

King James Bible
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

New King James Version
The house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau shall be stubble; They shall kindle them and devour them, And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,” For the LORD has spoken.

New American Standard Bible
“Then the house of Jacob will be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau will be like stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,” For the LORD has spoken.

NASB 1995
“Then the house of Jacob will be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,” For the LORD has spoken.

NASB 1977
“Then the house of Jacob will be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,” For the LORD has spoken.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the house of Jacob will be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau,” For Yahweh has spoken.

Amplified Bible
“Then the house of Jacob shall be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame [in executing God’s wrath]; But the house of Esau will be like stubble. They (Jacob) shall set them on fire and consume them (the Edomites), So that there shall be no survivor of the house of Esau,” For the LORD has spoken.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph, a burning flame, but the house of Esau will be stubble; Jacob will set them on fire and consume Edom. Therefore no survivor will remain of the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph, a burning flame, but the house of Esau will be stubble; Jacob will set them on fire and consume Edom. Therefore no survivor will remain of the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.

American Standard Version
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for Jehovah hath spoken it.

Contemporary English Version
Israel will be a fire, and Edom will be straw going up in flames. The LORD has spoken!

English Revised Version
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them: and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The descendants of Jacob will be like a fire. The descendants of Joseph will be like a flame. But the descendants of Esau will be like straw. They will be burned and destroyed. There will be no one left among the descendants of Esau." The LORD has spoken.

Good News Translation
The people of Jacob and of Joseph will be like fire; they will destroy the people of Esau as fire burns stubble. No descendant of Esau will survive. I, the LORD, have spoken.

International Standard Version
"The house of Jacob will be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, but the house of Esau will be kindling. Then Jacob and Joseph will burn and consume Esau, and no survivor will remain from the house of Esau." Indeed, the LORD has spoken it.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph a burning flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble—Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau.” For the LORD has spoken.

NET Bible
The descendants of Jacob will be a fire, and the descendants of Joseph a flame. The descendants of Esau will be like stubble. They will burn them up and devour them. There will not be a single survivor of the descendants of Esau!" Indeed, the LORD has spoken it.

New Heart English Bible
The 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, the LORD has spoken.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

World English Bible
The 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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the house of Jacob has been a fire, "" And the house of Joseph a flame, "" And the house of Esau for stubble, "" And they have burned among them, "" And they have consumed them, "" And there is not a remnant to the house of Esau,” "" For YHWH has spoken.

Young's Literal Translation
And the house of Jacob hath been a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame, And the house of Esau for stubble, And they have burned among them, And they have consumed them, And there is not a remnant to the house of Esau, For Jehovah hath spoken.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the house of Jacob was a fire, and the house of Joseph for a flame, and the house of Esau for straw; and they burned in them, and they devoured them; and a survivor shall not be to the house of Esau, for Jehovah spake.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble: and they shall be kindled in them, and shall devour them: and there shall be no remains of the house of Esau, for the Lord hath spoken it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the house of Jacob will be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble. And they will be set on fire among them, and they will devour them. And there will be no remnant of the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken.

New American Bible
The house of Jacob will be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble. They will set it ablaze and devour it; none will survive of the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.

New Revised Standard Version
The house of Jacob shall be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor of the house of Esau; for the LORD has spoken.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them and devour them; and there shall be no fugitive remaining to the house of Esau; for the LORD has spoken it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the house of Yaqob will be a fire and the house of Yoseph a flame and the house of Esau stubble, and they shall burn among them and they shall devour them, and there shall not be a survivor for the house of Esau, because LORD JEHOVAH has spoken
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame, And the house of Esau for stubble, And they shall kindle in them, and devour them; And there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; For the LORD hath spoken.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the house of Jacob shall be fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau shall be for stubble; and Israel shall flame forth against them, and shall devour them, and there shall not be a corn-field left to the house of Esau; because the Lord has spoken.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Deliverance of Israel
17But on Mount Zion there will be deliverance, and it will be holy, and the house of Jacob will reclaim their possession. 18Then the house of Jacob will be a blazing fire, and the house of Joseph a burning flame; but the house of Esau will be stubble— Jacob will set it ablaze and consume it. Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau.” For the LORD has spoken. 19Those from the Negev will possess the mountains of Esau; those from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead.…

Cross References
Malachi 1:4
Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.

Jeremiah 49:10
But I will strip Esau bare; I will uncover his hiding places, and he will be unable to conceal himself. His descendants will be destroyed along with his relatives and neighbors, and he will be no more.

Isaiah 34:5-6
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. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Ezekiel 25:12-14
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt, / 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. / I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

Amos 1:11-12
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly. / So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.”

Isaiah 63:1-6
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.” / Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? / “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. ...

Numbers 24:17-18
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. / Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.

Joel 3:19
Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.

Isaiah 11:14
They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines to the west; together they will plunder the sons of the east. They will lay their hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.

Psalm 137:7
Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”

Lamentations 4:21-22
So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself. / O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.

Ezekiel 35:3-9
and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Mount Seir. I will stretch out My hand against you and make you a desolate waste. / I will turn your cities into ruins, and you will become a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD. / Because you harbored an ancient hatred and delivered the Israelites over to the sword in the time of their disaster at the final stage of their punishment, ...

Isaiah 10:17
And the Light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame. In a single day it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and thistles.

Matthew 3:10-12
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. / I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. / His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Luke 3:16-17
John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. / His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD has spoken it.

shall be.

Isaiah 10:17
And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;

Isaiah 31:9
And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

Micah 5:8
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

the house of Joseph.

2 Samuel 19:20
For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

Ezekiel 37:16,19
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: …

Amos 5:15
Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

for stubble.

Psalm 83:6-15
The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; …

Isaiah 5:24
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 47:14
Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.

and there.

Obadiah 1:9,10,16
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…

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Obadiah 1
1. The destruction of Edom,
3. for their pride,
10. and for their wrong unto Jacob.
17. The salvation and victory of Jacob.














Then the house of Jacob
The "house of Jacob" refers to the descendants of Jacob, also known as Israel. In the Hebrew context, "house" (בֵּית, bayit) signifies not just a physical dwelling but a lineage or family. Jacob, renamed Israel, is the patriarch of the twelve tribes. This phrase indicates a collective identity and destiny for the Israelites, emphasizing their role as God's chosen people. Historically, the Israelites have been seen as a nation set apart, and this verse foreshadows their future triumph and restoration.

will be a blazing fire
The imagery of a "blazing fire" (אֵשׁ, esh) symbolizes purification, judgment, and divine presence. Fire in the Bible often represents God's holiness and power, as seen in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2) and the pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21). Here, it signifies the strength and fervor of the house of Jacob, suggesting that they will be instruments of God's judgment against their enemies.

and the house of Joseph a burning flame
The "house of Joseph" refers to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph's sons. Joseph's house is often associated with leadership and blessing, as Joseph was a key figure in Egypt and a preserver of his family. The "burning flame" (לֶהָבָה, lehabah) complements the "blazing fire," indicating a powerful and consuming force. This suggests that the descendants of Joseph will play a significant role in the execution of divine justice.

but the house of Esau will be stubble
The "house of Esau" represents the Edomites, descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. Historically, Edom and Israel had a contentious relationship. "Stubble" (קַשׁ, qash) is dry, brittle plant material, easily consumed by fire. This imagery conveys the idea of complete destruction and vulnerability. The Edomites, who often opposed Israel, are depicted as powerless before the divine judgment executed by Israel.

they will set it on fire and consume it
This phrase indicates the totality of the judgment. The Israelites, empowered by God, will "set it on fire" and "consume" (אָכַל, akal) the house of Esau. The act of consuming implies a thorough and irreversible destruction, leaving nothing behind. This reflects the biblical theme of divine retribution against those who oppose God's people.

Therefore no survivor will remain from the house of Esau
The phrase "no survivor" underscores the completeness of Edom's judgment. Historically, Edom's downfall is recorded in various biblical and extrabiblical sources, affirming the prophetic accuracy of Obadiah's vision. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of enmity against God's covenant people.

for the LORD has spoken
This concluding phrase emphasizes the authority and certainty of the prophecy. "The LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, highlighting His faithfulness and sovereignty. When God speaks, His words are irrevocable and assured. This declaration assures the fulfillment of the prophecy, reinforcing the trustworthiness of God's promises and the inevitability of His justice.

Verse 18. - The last clause of the preceding verse is here expanded and more fully explained. The house of Jacob... the house of Joseph. The kingdoms of Judah and Israel, the two and the ten tribes united once more, In Psalm 77:15 the whole people are called "the sons of Jacob and Joseph." So elsewhere. The reunion of the tribes is mentioned in Hosea 1:11; Ezekiel 37:19; Zechariah 10:6. The future salvation is to be for all. For stubble, which the Israelites used rather than wood for lighting fires and heating ovens (Matthew 6:30). (For the image of fire consuming the ungodly as stubble, see Exodus 15:7; Isaiah 5:24; Nahum 1:10.) They shall kindle in them. This may mean, the Israelites "shall burn among" the Edomites; but more probably is merely a repetition of what has gone before: the Jews shall consume the Edomites. There shall not be any remaining. This refers to the total annihilation of the Edomites under John Hyrcauus (Josephus, 'Ant.,' 12:08. 6; 13:9, 1), and is a punishment quite distinct from their defeat at the hands of the Nabathaeans predicted in vers. 1-9 (see Introduction, § I.). The LXX. gives, οὐκ ἕσται πυροφόρος (τυρφόρος, Alex.); St. Jerome reads, πυροφόρος, which he translated frumentarius. Many of the Fathers read, πυρφόρος: thus, too, the Arabic and Coptic Versions. Schleusner, sub voce, thinks that the LXX. had in view the Greek proverb, οὐδέ πυρφόρος, which is used to express the idea that not even a single survivor remains (see Herod., 8:6). For the Lord hath spoken it (Joel 3:8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the house
בֵית־ (ḇêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֨ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

will be
וְהָיָה֩ (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a blazing fire,
אֵ֜שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

and the house
וּבֵ֧ית (ū·ḇêṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Joseph
יוֹסֵ֣ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

a burning flame;
לֶהָבָ֗ה (le·hā·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3852: A flash, a sharply polished blade, point of a, weapon

but the house
וּבֵ֤ית (ū·ḇêṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Esau
עֵשָׂו֙ (‘ê·śāw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac

will be stubble—
לְקַ֔שׁ (lə·qaš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7179: Stubble, chaff

Jacob will set it ablaze
וְדָלְק֥וּ (wə·ḏā·lə·qū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1814: To burn, hotly pursue

and consume it.
וַאֲכָל֑וּם (wa·’ă·ḵā·lūm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

Therefore no
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

survivor
שָׂרִיד֙ (śā·rîḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8300: A survivor

will remain
יִֽהְיֶ֤ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

from the house
לְבֵ֣ית (lə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Esau.”
עֵשָׂ֔ו (‘ê·śāw)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6215: Esau -- oldest son of Isaac

For
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has spoken.
דִּבֵּֽר׃ (dib·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue


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OT Prophets: Obadiah 1:18 The house of Jacob will be (Obad. Oba. Ob)
Obadiah 1:17
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