Obadiah 1:21
וְעָל֤וּ מֹושִׁעִים֙ בְּהַ֣ר צִיֹּ֔ון לִשְׁפֹּ֖ט אֶת־הַ֣ר עֵשָׂ֑ו וְהָיְתָ֥ה לַיהוָ֖ה הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃
Rising of the Deliverers: וְעָלוּ מֹושִׁעִים בְּהַר צִיּוֹן
וְעָלוּ (“and they shall ascend”) is a Qal perfect 3mp of ע־ל־ה with וְ as a narrative connector. This may reflect a prophetic perfect, expressing future certainty using perfect form.
- מֹושִׁעִים — “deliverers” or “saviors,” a masculine plural participle of י־שׁ־ע, meaning those who save or rescue
- בְּהַר צִיּוֹן — “on Mount Tsiyon (Zion),” location of restoration and divine rule
This phrase announces the ascent of liberators — either human agents of divine justice or symbolic messianic figures — to the sacred mountain.
Purpose Clause: לִשְׁפֹּט אֶת־הַר עֵשָׂו
לִשְׁפֹּט (“to judge”) is a Qal infinitive construct of שׁ־פ־ט, expressing purpose.
- אֶת־הַר עֵשָׂו — “the mountain of ʿEsaw,” object of judgment; symbolic of Edom, Israel’s enemy
This clause shows divine justice: the ascent to Zion is not merely geographical, but judicial and redemptive — a reckoning with historical enemies.
Climactic Reign: וְהָיְתָה לַיהוָה הַמְּלוּכָה
וְהָיְתָה (“and shall be”) is a Qal perfect 3fs of ה־י־ה, with the subject being הַמְּלוּכָה (“the kingdom”).
- לַיהוָה — “belonging to YHWH,” indicating divine possession and kingship
This is the eschatological climax: divine monarchy is established universally. Hebrew grammar here places the noun הַמְּלוּכָה at the end for emphasis — the kingdom will be YHWH’s.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Obadiah 1:21
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| וְעָלוּ | ע־ל־ה | Qal perfect (3mp) | “They went up” — prophetic perfect expressing future ascent |
| מֹושִׁעִים | י־שׁ־ע | Participle (mp) | “Deliverers” — agents of salvation or justice |
| לִשְׁפֹּט | שׁ־פ־ט | Qal infinitive construct | “To judge” — purpose of the ascent |
| וְהָיְתָה | ה־י־ה | Qal perfect (3fs) | “Shall be” — prophetic perfect with subject: kingdom |
| הַמְּלוּכָה | מ־ל־ך | Noun (fs) | “The kingdom” — climactic subject belonging to YHWH |
The Grammar of Kingdom Fulfilled
Obadiah 1:21 concludes the shortest book in the Tanakh with grammatical strength and theological finality. Perfect forms, participial agents, and infinitive purpose align to announce that judgment leads to redemption and sovereignty. The final phrase — וְהָיְתָה לַיהוָה הַמְּלוּכָה — is both eschatological and grammatical perfection: Zion is no longer the place of foxes (Lamentations 5:18), but of rightful divine rule.
