And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.
OBADIAH 1:20KJVWhat does Obadiah 1:20 mean?
Obadiah 1:20 says that Israelites who were taken away as captives will one day return and take possession of lands that had belonged to the Canaanites, reaching as far as Zarephath, and that those from Jerusalem who were exiled in Sepharad will inherit the cities in the southern region. This verse describes a future restoration and expansion of Israel’s territory after a time of exile.
Obadiah is speaking a message from God to the people of Israel, specifically addressing those who had been scattered or taken captive by foreign nations. The verse points to a reversal of fortunes: those who were once displaced will come back and settle in areas that had been lost or occupied by others. The mention of places like Zarephath and Sepharad shows the wide reach of this return, stretching from the north to the south.
The Hebrew behind Obadiah 1:20
- "captivity" (גָּלוּת, galut): This word refers to people who have been exiled or carried away from their homeland. Here, it highlights the scattered Israelites who will return.
- "possess" (יָרַשׁ, yarash): This verb means to take possession or inherit. The sense here is not just returning home, but actually taking over and settling in these lands.
- "Canaanites" (כְּנַעֲנִי, kena‘ani): This term refers to the original inhabitants of the land. The verse implies that areas once held by other peoples will now belong to the returning Israelites.
- "Sepharad" (סְפָרַד, sefarad): This location is uncertain, but it represents a far-off place of exile, emphasizing how widespread the scattering had been.
Why Obadiah 1:20 matters
- Obadiah 1:20 clarifies that restoration after exile is not just about returning home, but also about reclaiming and expanding into territories that had been lost or occupied by others.
- The verse shows the wide scope of Israel’s future restoration, mentioning both northern (Zarephath) and southern (cities of the south) regions, and even distant places of exile (Sepharad).
- This verse connects to the larger theme of Obadiah: God’s justice in reversing the fortunes of His people and holding other nations accountable for their actions against Israel.