Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Easy-to-Read Version

Obadiah 1:12

You should not have laughed at your brother's trouble. You should not have been happy when they destroyed Judah. You should not have bragged at the time of their trouble.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Edom;   Edomites;   Esau;   Thompson Chain Reference - Joy-Sorrow;   Rejoicing;   The Topic Concordance - Enemies;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Jews, the;   Malice;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Idumea;   Sela;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Edom;   Obadiah, book of;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Malachi, Theology of;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Obadiah, Book of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Obadiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Obadiah, Book of;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Obadiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Joel (2);   Negeb;   Obadiah, Book of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Hafá¹­arah;   Holy Days;   Obadiah, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Do not gloat over your brotherin the day of his calamity;do not rejoice over the people of Judahin the day of their destruction;do not boastfully mockin the day of distress.
Hebrew Names Version
But don't look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don't rejoice over the children of Yehudah in the day of their destruction. Don't speak proudly in the day of distress.
King James Version (1611)
But thou shouldest not haue looked on the day of thy brother in the day that hee became a stranger, neither shouldest thou haue reioyced ouer the children of Iudah in the day of their destruction: neither shouldest thou haue spoken proudly in the day of distresse.
King James Version
But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
English Standard Version
But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.
New American Standard Bible
"Do not gloat over your brother's day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah On the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast On the day of their distress.
New Century Version
"Edom, do not laugh at your brother Israel in his time of trouble or be happy about the people of Judah when they are destroyed. Do not brag when cruel things are done to them.
Amplified Bible
"Do not gaze and gloat [in triumph] over your brother's day, The day when his misfortune came. Do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Do not speak arrogantly [jeering and maliciously mocking] In the day of their distress.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But thou shouldest not haue beholden the day of thy brother, in the day that hee was made a stranger, neither shouldest thou haue reioyced ouer the children of Iudah, in the day of their destruction: thou shouldest not haue spoken proudly in the day of affliction.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Do not gloat over your brother's day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast In the day of their distress.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now do not look on your brother's day with triumph,The day of his misfortune.And do not be glad over the sons of JudahIn the day when they perish;And do not let your mouth speak great thingsIn the day of their distress.
Berean Standard Bible
But you should not gloat in that day, your brother's day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress.
Contemporary English Version
Why did you celebrate when such a dreadful disaster struck your relatives? Why were you so pleased when everyone in Judah was suffering?
Complete Jewish Bible
You shouldn't have gloated over your kinsman on their day of disaster or rejoiced over the people of Y'hudah on their day of destruction. You shouldn't have spoken arrogantly on a day of trouble
Darby Translation
But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor have opened wide thy mouth in the day of distress.
George Lamsa Translation
But you should not have looked for the day of your brothers disaster, in the day when he was afflicted by strangers; neither should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
Good News Translation
You should not have gloated over the misfortune of your relatives in Judah. You should not have been glad on the day of their ruin. You should not have laughed at them in their distress.
Lexham English Bible
But you should not have gloated over your brother's day, on the day of his misfortune, and you should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah on the day of their perishing, and you should not have opened your mouth wide on the day of distress.
Literal Translation
But you should not have looked on the day of your brother, on the day of his alienation; nor should you have rejoiced over the sons of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have enlarged your mouth in the day of distress.
American Standard Version
But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.
Bible in Basic English
Do not see with pleasure your brother's evil day, the day of his fate, and do not be glad over the children of Judah on the day of their destruction, or make wide your mouth on the day of trouble.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But thou shouldest not have gazed on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But thou shouldest not haue beholden the day of thy brother in the day that he was made a straunger, neither shouldest thou haue reioyced ouer the childre of Iuda in the day of their destruction, thou shouldest not haue spoken proudly in the day of affliction:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day of strangers; nor shouldest thou have rejoiced against the children of Juda in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have boasted in the day of their affliction.
English Revised Version
But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.
World English Bible
But don't look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don't rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don't speak proudly in the day of distress.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thou schalt not dispise in the dai of thi brother, in the dai of his pilgrimage, and thou schalt not be glad on the sones of Juda, in the dai of perdicioun of hem; and thou schalt not magnefie thi mouth in the dai of angwisch,
Update Bible Version
But don't look on the day of your brother in the day of his disaster, and don't rejoice over the sons of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.
Webster's Bible Translation
But thou shouldst not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldst thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldst thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
New English Translation
You should not have gloated when your relatives suffered calamity. You should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah when they were destroyed. You should not have boasted when they suffered adversity.
New King James Version
But you should not have gazed on the day of your brotherIn the day of his captivity; [fn] Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of JudahIn the day of their destruction;Nor should you have spoken proudlyIn the day of distress.
New Living Translation
"You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands. You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune. You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble.
New Life Bible
Do not look down on your brother in the day of his trouble. Do not be happy about the sons of Judah in the day they are destroyed. Yes, do not speak with pride in the day of their trouble.
New Revised Standard
But you should not have gloated over your brother on the day of his misfortune; you should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah on the day of their ruin; you should not have boasted on the day of distress.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Do not, then, look with satisfaction upon the day of thy brother, upon the day of his calamity, Neither rejoice over the sons of Judah - in the day of their ruin, - nor enlarge thy mouth - in the day of distress:
Douay-Rheims Bible
But thou shalt not look on in the day of thy brother, in the day of his leaving his country: and thou shalt not rejoice over the children of Juda, in the day of their destruction: and thou shalt not magnify thy mouth in the day of distress.
Revised Standard Version
But you should not have gloated over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; you should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; you should not have boasted in the day of distress.
Young's Literal Translation
And -- thou dost not look on the day of thy brother, On the day of his alienation, Nor dost thou rejoice over sons of Judah, In the day of their destruction, Nor make great thy mouth in a day of distress.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thou shalt nomore se the daye of thy brother, thou shalt nomore beholde the tyme of his captiuyte: thou shalt nomore reioyse ouer the children of Iuda, in the daye of their destruccion, thou shalt tryumphe nomore in the tyme of their trouble.

Contextual Overview

10 You will be covered with shame because you were very cruel to your brother Jacob. So you will be destroyed completely. 11 You joined the enemies of Israel. Strangers carried Israel's treasures away. Foreigners entered Israel's city gate. They threw lots to decide what part of Jerusalem they would get. And you were right there with them, waiting to get your share. 12 You should not have laughed at your brother's trouble. You should not have been happy when they destroyed Judah. You should not have bragged at the time of their trouble. 13 You should not have entered the city gate of my people and laughed at their problems. You should not have taken their treasures in the time of their trouble. 14 You should not have stood where the roads cross and destroyed those who were trying to escape. You should not have captured those who escaped alive. 15 The Day of the Lord is coming soon to all the nations. And the evil you did to others will happen to you. The same bad things will fall down on your own head. 16 You spilled blood on my holy mountain, so other nations will spill your blood. You will be finished. It will be as if you never existed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thou: etc. or, do not behold, etc

looked: Psalms 22:17, Psalms 37:13, Psalms 54:7, Psalms 59:10, Psalms 92:11, Micah 4:11, Micah 7:8-10, Matthew 27:40-43

rejoiced: Job 31:29, Proverbs 17:5, Proverbs 24:17, Proverbs 24:18, Lamentations 4:21, Ezekiel 25:6, Ezekiel 25:7, Ezekiel 35:15, Micah 7:8, Luke 19:41

thou have: 1 Samuel 2:3, Psalms 31:18

spoken proudly: Heb. magnified thy mouth, Isaiah 37:24, James 3:5, 2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1:16, Revelation 13:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:22 - told 1 Kings 21:16 - Ahab rose up Proverbs 27:10 - neither Isaiah 14:29 - Rejoice Isaiah 16:3 - hide Jeremiah 48:27 - was not Jeremiah 49:5 - none Jeremiah 50:11 - ye were Lamentations 1:21 - they are Lamentations 2:16 - we have seen Ezekiel 36:5 - with the Obadiah 1:14 - in the day Matthew 5:22 - his brother Revelation 11:10 - rejoice

Cross-References

Genesis 1:10
God named the dry land "earth," and he named the water that was gathered together "seas." And God saw that this was good.
Genesis 1:11
Then God said, "Let the earth grow grass, plants that make grain, and fruit trees. The fruit trees will make fruit with seeds in it. And each plant will make its own kind of seed. Let these plants grow on the earth." And it happened.
Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth produce many kinds of living things. Let there be many different kinds of animals. Let there be large animals and small crawling animals of every kind. And let all these animals produce more animals." And all these things happened.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Now let's make humans who will be like us. They will rule over all the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. They will rule over all the large animals and all the little things that crawl on the earth."
Isaiah 61:11
The earth causes plants to grow, and a garden makes the seeds planted there rise up. In the same way, the Lord God will make goodness and praise grow throughout the nations.
Mark 4:28
Without any help the ground produces grain. First the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head.
Luke 6:44
Every tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. You won't find figs on thorny weeds. And you can't pick grapes from thornbushes!
2 Corinthians 9:10
God is the one who gives seed to those who plant, and he gives bread for food. And God will give you spiritual seed and make that seed grow. He will produce a great harvest from your goodness.
Galatians 6:7
If you think you can fool God, you are only fooling yourselves. You will harvest what you plant.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother,.... The day of his calamity, distress, and destruction, as afterwards explained; that is, with delight and satisfaction, as pleased with it, and rejoicing at it; but rather should have grieved and mourned, and as fearing their turn would be next: or, "do not look" t; so some read it in the imperative, and in like manner all the following clauses:

in the day that he became a stranger; were carried into a strange country, and became strangers to their own: or, "in the day of his alienation" u; from their country, city, houses, and the house and worship of God; and when strange, surprising, and unheard of things were done unto them, and, among them:

neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; the destruction of the Jews, of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, by the Chaldeans: this explains what is meant by the Edomites looking upon the day of the calamity of the Jews, that it was with pleasure and complacency, having had a good will to have destroyed them themselves, but it was not in the power of their hands; and now being done by a foreign enemy, they could not forbear expressing their joy on that occasion, which was very cruel and brutal; and this also shows that Obadiah prophesied after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar:

neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress; or "magnified thy mouth" w; opened it wide in virulent scoffing, and insulting language; saying with the greatest fervour and vehemence, and as loud as it could be said, "rase it, rase it to the foundation thereof", Psalms 137:7.

t אל תרא "ne aspicias", Junius Tremellius "ne aspicito", Piscator; "ne spectes", Cocceius. u ביום נכרו "diem alienationis ejus", Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus "in die alienationis ejus", Calvin, Cocceius, Burkius. w ואל תגדל פיך "et non debebas magnificare os tuum", Pagninus; "ne magnifices", Montanus, Junius Tremellius "ne magnificato", Piscator; "ne magno ore utaris", Cocceius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But thou shouldest not - , rather it means, and can only mean , “And look not (i. e., gaze not with pleasure) on the day of thy brother in the day of his becoming a stranger ; and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; and enlarge not thy mouth in the day of distress. Enter not into the gate of My people in the day of their calamity; look not, thou too, on his affliction in the day of his calamity; and lay not hands on his substance in the day of his calamity; And stand not on the crossway, to cut off his fugitives; and shut not up his remnants in the day of distress.”

Throughout these three verses, Obadiah uses the future only. It is the voice of earnest, emphatic, dehortation and entreaty, not to do what would displease God, and what, if done, would be punished. He dehorts them from malicious rejoicing at their brother’s fall, first in look, then in word, then in act, in covetous participation of the spoil, and lastly in murder. Malicious gazing on human calamity, forgetful of man’s common origin and common liability to ill, is the worst form of human hate. It was one of the contumelies of the Cross, “they gaze, they look” with joy “upon Me.” Psalms 22:17. The rejoicing over them was doubtless, as among savages, accompanied with grimaces (as in Psalms 35:19; Psalms 38:16). Then follow words of insult. The enlarging of the mouth is uttering a tide of large words, here against the people of God; in Ezekiel, against Himself Ezekiel 35:13 : “Thus with your mouth ye have enlarged against Me and have multiplied your words against Me. I have heard.”

Thereon, follows Edom’s coming yet closer, “entering the gate of God’s people” to share the conqueror’s triumphant gaze on his calamity. Then, the violent, busy, laying the hands on the spoil, while others of them stood in cold blood, taking the “fork” where the ways parted, in order to intercept the fugitives before they were dispersed, or to shut them up with the enemy, driving them back on their pursuers. The prophet beholds the whole course of sin and persecution, and warns them against it, in the order, in which, if committed, they would commit it. Who would keep clear from the worst, must stop at the beginning. Still God’s warnings accompany him step by step. At each step, some might stop. The warning, although thrown away on the most part, might arrest the few. At the worst, when the guilt had been contracted and the punishment had ensued, it was a warning for their posterity and for all thereafter.

Some of these things Edom certainly did, as the Psalmist prays Psalms 137:7, “Remember, O Lord, to the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said, Lay bare, lay bare, even to the foundation in her.” And Ezekiel Ezekiel 35:5-6 alluding to this language of Obadiah , “because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end, therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee; sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.” Violence, bloodshed, unrelenting, deadly hatred against the whole people, a longing for their extermination, had been inveterate characteristics of Esau. Joel and Amos had already denounced God’s judgments against them for two forms of this hatred, the murder of settlers in their own land or of those who were sold to them Joel 3:19; Amos 1:6, Amos 1:9, Amos 1:11.

Obadiah warns them against yet a third, intercepting their fugitives in their escape from the more powerful enemy. “Stand not in the crossway.” Whoso puts himself in the situation to commit an old sin, does, in fact, will to renew it, and will, unless hindered from without, certainly do it. Probably he will, through sin’s inherent power of growth, do worse. Having anew tasted blood, Ezekiel says, that they sought to displace God’s people and remove God Himself Ezekiel 35:10-11. “Because thou hast said, these two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it, whereas the Lord was there, therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy, which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Obadiah 1:12. Thou shouldest not have looked — It shows a malevolent heart to rejoice in the miseries of those who have acted unkindly or wickedly towards us. The Edomites triumphed when they saw the judgments of God fall upon the Jews. This the Lord severely reprehends in Obadiah 1:12-15. If a man have acted cruelly towards us, and God punish him for this cruelty, and we rejoice in it, we make his crime our own; and then, as we have done, so shall it be done unto us; see Obadiah 1:15. All these verses point out the part the Edomites took against the Jews when the Chaldeans besieged and took Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and divided the spoils.


 
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