“Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you will be deeply despised.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, I have made you small among the nations. You are greatly despised.
- KJV Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.
- NKJV “Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You shall be greatly despised.
- NASB “Behold, I will make you small among the nations; You are greatly despised.
- NLT The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God declares that he himself will make proud Edom small and despised among the nations, reversing her sense of greatness.
Overview
Edom trusted in her secure mountain strongholds and felt invincible, but the Lord announces that he will reduce her to insignificance. The passive verbs of human boasting give way to God's active 'I have made you,' underscoring that nations rise and fall by his hand. This humbling of the proud anticipates the gospel pattern in which God brings down the lofty and lifts up the lowly.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Isa 23:9The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.
- Num 24:18Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.
- Luke 1:51–52He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
- Job 34:25–29Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
- Mic 7:10Then my enemy will see and will be covered with shame—she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will see her; at that time she will be trampled like mud in the streets.
- Ezek 29:15Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the nations. For I will diminish Egypt so that it will never again rule over the nations.
- Ps 107:39–40When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow,
- 1 Sam 2:7–8The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.
Resources, by level
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The day of the LORD against proud Edom and the promise that 'the kingdom shall be the LORD's' anticipate the final reign of Christ over every hostile power.
How Obadiah 1:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.