Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Obadiah 1:11 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 11. 11In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Places Edom alongside the foreigners who invaded Jerusalem, divided its goods, and carried away its resources.
Read It With
- Obadiah 1:10–14
Read verses 10–14 together. Verse 10 identifies violence against brother Jacob, and verses 12–14 show that Edom's alignment with Jerusalem's attackers became increasingly active.
Why This Verse Appears Here
This verse begins the evidence for the charge in verse 10 by showing that Edom's stance during Jerusalem's invasion counted as participation.
Read Obadiah 1:10–14 together
Why these verses belong together: Verse 10 states violence against brother Jacob, and verses 11–14 unfold the accusation through repeated day language and escalating actions.
Verse 10. 10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
Verse 11. 11 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
Verse 12. 12 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.
Verse 13. 13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;
Verse 14. 14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.
Follow the Context
- Verse 10 names violence against brother Jacob as the cause of shame and cutting off.
- Verse 11 recalls Edom standing apart while foreigners entered Jerusalem, divided its goods, and carried away its resources or forces.
- Verse 12 prohibits or retrospectively condemns looking with satisfaction, rejoicing, and speaking proudly over Judah's distress.
- Verse 13 condemns entering the gate, gazing on affliction, and laying hands on possessions during calamity.
- Verse 14 condemns occupying the crossroads to cut down escapees and handing survivors over.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“even thou wast as one of them”
In plain language: Edom's stance aligned it with Jerusalem's attackers.
Aloofness in the crisis counted as complicity within the accumulating accusation.
Why it matters: It sharpens the transition from watching to active exploitation.
How certain? strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
Obadiah 1:11 does not name the invaders or the attack's year, even though the Babylonian destruction of 586 BCE is a strong historical proposal.
What Remains True
Standing apart can become participation when observers align themselves with those who plunder the vulnerable.
How It Can Shape Life
- Ask whether claimed neutrality is materially assisting those who invade, dispossess, or humiliate another community.
Teach It Back
Explain Obadiah 1:11's contribution to Obadiah 1:10–14: Places Edom alongside the foreigners who invaded Jerusalem, divided its goods, and carried away its resources. Include what the surrounding verses add, what remains uncertain, and what the verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Obadiah 1:10–14 — Violence against Brother Jacob Is ExposedSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
The KJV's 'forces' may denote wealth, resources, or an army, and the text does not name the invaders or year.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording and complete verse coverage for this thought unit.
Exact location: Obadiah 1:10–14, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Obadiah
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Hebrew forms, clause boundaries, repeated roots, names, and the base wording behind translation discussion.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2 (commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00), wlc/Obad.xml, Masoretic words and morphology for 1:10–14
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Obadiah with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Material translation, syntax, text, date, geography, and uncertainty notes for the unit.
Exact location: NET Bible Obadiah PDF, pp. 1723–1727, translation and notes on 1:10–14
Open source ↗