Obadiah 1:5 (KJV)

What does Obadiah 1:5 mean?

Obadiah 1:5 uses the image of thieves and grape gatherers to show that Edom’s destruction will be total, leaving nothing behind. The verse says that even thieves or grape pickers usually leave something, but Edom will be stripped bare with nothing spared.

The prophet Obadiah is speaking God’s message against Edom, a nation related to Israel but often hostile to them. In this verse, Obadiah compares Edom’s coming judgment to a robbery or a harvest: normally, robbers or grape gatherers leave a little behind, but Edom’s enemies will take everything. This highlights how complete and devastating Edom’s punishment will be.

The Hebrew behind Obadiah 1:5

• "thieves" (גַּנָּבִים, ganavim): This word refers to ordinary thieves, people who steal secretly. The verse points out that even such thieves usually do not take everything.
• "robbers" (שָׁדַד, shadad): This word often means violent plunderers. The use of both "thieves" and "robbers" emphasizes both sneaky and forceful loss.
• "grapegatherers" (בֹּצְרִים, botzerim): These are people who harvest grapes. In ancient Israel, grape gatherers would typically leave some fruit behind for the poor, but here, nothing will be left.
• "leave" (שָׁאַר, sha’ar): This word means to remain or be left over. The verse stresses that, unlike normal practice, there will be no leftovers for Edom.

Why Obadiah 1:5 matters

• Obadiah 1:5 makes clear that Edom’s judgment is not just severe but unusually thorough—worse than what would happen in an ordinary robbery or harvest.
• The verse helps explain the seriousness of Edom’s actions and why their punishment is so extreme, connecting to the book’s larger theme of justice.
• Understanding the cultural background of thieves and grape gatherers in ancient times helps modern readers grasp the shocking nature of Edom’s coming loss.