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Obadiah 1:14

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Obadiah 1:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress.
Obadiah 1:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Obadiah 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
12But 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.
13Enter not into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, look not thou on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither lay ye [hands] on their substance in the day of their calamity.
14And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress.
15For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head.
16For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yea, they shall drink, and swallow down, and shall be as though they had not been.
17But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
← Obadiah 1:13Obadiah 1:15 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossing, etc.] In a place where two or more roads met, to stop the Jews that fled, let them take which road they would: or, “in the breach” f23; that is, of the walls of the city; to cut off those of his that did escape; such of the Jews that escaped the sword of the Chaldeans in the city, and attempted, to get away through the breaches of the walls of it, or that took different roads to make their escape; these were intercepted and stopped by the Edomites, who posted themselves at these breaches, or at places where two or more ways met, and cut them off; so that those that escaped the sword of the enemy fell by theirs; which was exceeding barbarous…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his--Judah's. that did escape--The Jews naturally fled by the crossways. (MAURER translates, "narrow mountain passes") well known to them, to escape to the desert, and through Edom to Egypt; but the Edomites stood ready to intercept the fugitives and either kill or "deliver them up" to the foe.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The breaches - Of the walls, by which when the city was taken, some might have made their escape. Delivered - To the Chaldeans. Remain - Survived the taking of the city. Obadiah 1:15”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“neither shouldest: Amo 1:6, Amo 1:9 delivered up: or, shut up, Psa 31:8 in the day: Oba 1:12; Gen 35:3; Isa 37:3; Jer 30:7 Obadiah 1:15”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification