BibleWord.ai› Bible› Obadiah› Chapter 1› Verse 6

Obadiah 1:6

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Obadiah 1:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “How are [the things of] Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out!” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

How are [the things of] Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out!
Obadiah 1:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Obadiah 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3The pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
4Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.
5If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night (how art thou cut off!), would they not steal [only] till they had enough? if grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes?
6How are [the things of] Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out!
7All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee on thy way, even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; [they that eat] thy bread lay a snare under thee: there is no understanding in him.
8Shall I not in that day, saith Jehovah, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?
9And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter.
← Obadiah 1:5Obadiah 1:7 →
← Full Chapter 1 Obadiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“How are [the things] of Esau searched out! etc.] Or how are the Esauites, the posterity of Esau, sought out! though they dwelt in the clefts of the rocks, and hid themselves in caves and dens, yet their enemies searched them, and found there, and plucked them out from thence, so that none escaped: [how] are his hid things sought up! his riches, wealth and treasure, hid in fortresses, in rocks and caves, where they were thought to be safe, and judged inaccessible; or that an enemy would not have ventured in search of them there; and yet these should be sought after and found by the greedy, and diligent, and venturous soldier, and carried off; which was the case of the Edomites by the…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“How are the things of Esau searched out!--by hostile soldiers seeking booty. Compare with here, . hidden things--or "places." Edom abounded in such hiding-places, as caves, clefts in the rock, &c. None of these would be left unexplored by the foe.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“How are the things of Esau searched out! - literally, “How are Esau, out searched!” i. e., Esau, as a whole and in all its parts and in all its belongings, all its people and all its property, one and all. The name “Esau” speaks of them as a whole; the plural verb, “are outsearched,” represents all its parts. The word signifies a diligent search and tracking out, as in Zephaniah Zephaniah 1:12, “I will search out Jerusalem with candles,” as a man holdeth a light in every dark corner, in seeking diligently some small thing which has been lost. “The hidden things,” i. e., his hidden treasures, “are sought up.” The enemy who should come upon him, should make no passing foray, but should abide…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Esau - The father of this people, put for his posterity. Sought up - All that the Edomites had laid up in the most secret places, are seized and brought forth by soldiers. Obadiah 1:7”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:6 Edom: The Hebrew text uses the name of Esau, Jacob’s brother, indicating Edom’s violation of a fraternal relationship (1:10-14).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“are the: Psa 139:1; Isa 10:13, Isa 10:14, Isa 45:3; Jer 49:10, Jer 50:37; Mat 6:19, Mat 6:20 how are his: Dan 2:22 Obadiah 1:7”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Obadiah 1 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification