Introduction to Obadiah 1:7
Obadiah 1:7 is part of a prophecy against Edom, describing betrayal by its allies. The verse employs perfect verbs to express completed actions with ongoing consequences, reinforcing the certainty of Edom’s downfall. The verse is structured around three progressive betrayals:
1. Allies send Edom to the border (expulsion).
2. Trusted companions deceive and overpower Edom (treachery).
3. Those who share Edom’s bread set a trap (ultimate betrayal).
This study will analyze the syntactic structure of the perfect verbs, the grammatical relationships between betrayal and judgment, and the theological implications of Edom’s fate.
עַֽד־הַגְּב֣וּל שִׁלְּח֗וּךָ כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְרִיתֶ֔ךָ הִשִּׁיא֛וּךָ יָכְל֥וּ לְךָ֖ אַנְשֵׁ֣י שְׁלֹמֶ֑ךָ לַחְמְךָ֗ יָשִׂ֤ימוּ מָזֹור֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ אֵ֥ין תְּבוּנָ֖ה בֹּֽו׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
1. עַֽד־הַגְּב֣וּל שִׁלְּח֗וּךָ (ad-hag’vul shillukhakha)
– Root: שָׁלַח (“to send”)
– Form: Piel perfect 3rd plural with 2nd masculine singular suffix
– Translation: “They have sent you to the border”
– Function: Marks the beginning of Edom’s downfall—expulsion by allies.
2. כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְרִיתֶ֔ךָ (kol anshei veritekha)
– Root: בְּרִית (“covenant”)
– Translation: “All the men of your covenant”
– Function: Identifies betrayers—former allies.
3. הִשִּׁיא֛וּךָ (hishi’ukha)
– Root: נָשָׁא (“to deceive, lead astray”)
– Form: Hifil perfect 3rd plural with 2nd masculine singular suffix
– Translation: “They have deceived you”
– Function: Intensifies Edom’s betrayal—not only expelled but tricked.
4. יָכְל֥וּ לְךָ֖ (yakhlu lekha)
– Root: יָכַל (“to prevail, overpower”)
– Form: Qal perfect 3rd plural
– Translation: “They have overpowered you”
– Function: Shows Edom’s complete loss of control.
5. אַנְשֵׁ֣י שְׁלֹמֶ֑ךָ (anshei shelomekha)
– Root: שָׁלוֹם (“peace, friendship”)
– Translation: “The men of your peace”
– Function: Highlights betrayal by trusted friends.
6. לַחְמְךָ֗ יָשִׂ֤ימוּ מָזֹור֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ (lakhmekha yasimu mazor taḥtekha)
– Root: לֶחֶם (“bread”), שִׂים (“to place”), מָזוֹר (“trap”)
– Translation: “Those who eat your bread have set a trap under you”
– Function: The climax of betrayal—hospitality is violated.
7. אֵ֥ין תְּבוּנָ֖ה בֹּֽו (ein tevunah bo)
– Root: בִּינָה (“understanding”)
– Translation: “There is no understanding in him”
– Function: Final judgment on Edom’s lack of wisdom—foolish alliances led to destruction.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
The Use of Perfect Verbs to Express Completed Betrayal
The verse contains four perfect verbs, each marking a completed action with lasting consequences:
1. שִׁלְּח֗וּךָ (“They have sent you”) → Expulsion.
2. הִשִּׁיא֛וּךָ (“They have deceived you”) → Deception.
3. יָכְל֥וּ לְךָ֖ (“They have overpowered you”) → Conquest.
4. יָשִׂ֤ימוּ מָזֹור֙ (“They have set a trap”) → Ultimate treachery.
Prophetic Significance:
– Expresses certainty—these events are as good as done.
– Each verb escalates the destruction, leading to total ruin.
The Parallelism of Betrayal and Reversal of Fortune
The structure moves from trusted allies to ultimate betrayal:
– Former allies expel Edom → Edom is without refuge.
– Trusted friends deceive Edom → Edom loses control.
– Those who ate Edom’s bread set a trap → Ultimate violation of loyalty.
This reversal of fortune is a key theme in prophetic judgment.
The Phrase אֵ֥ין תְּבוּנָ֖ה בֹּֽו (“There is no understanding in him”)
– Emphasizes Edom’s foolishness—they trusted the wrong allies.
– Contrast with human wisdom—true understanding comes from fearing YHWH (Proverbs 9:10).
Theological Implications of Betrayal in Edom’s Judgment
1. The Consequences of False Alliances
– Edom trusted political alliances instead of YHWH.
2. Reaping What One Sows
– Edom had betrayed Judah (Psalm 137:7).
– Now, Edom experiences betrayal in return.
3. The Ultimate Reversal
– Those who once enjoyed security are now without help.
The Role of Perfect Verbs in Prophetic Judgment
Obadiah 1:7 uses perfect verbs to depict betrayal as inevitable. The progression from expulsion to deception to total destruction mirrors Edom’s downfall, highlighting the inescapable consequences of misplaced trust.
This verse serves as a powerful warning: those who betray others will, in turn, be betrayed.
