Obadiah 1:5 - “If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, what disaster awaits you—wouldn’t they only steal until they had enough? If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some gleaning grapes?
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What does "Obadiah 1:5" mean?
Obadiah 1:5 is a lament and a rhetorical question designed to highlight the completeness of Edom's destruction. It's saying, in essence:
"If thieves came to you...": Even criminals have limits. They'll only take what they need.
"...if robbers by night—oh, what disaster awaits you—wouldn’t they only steal until they had enough?": This emphasizes the suddenness and potential destructiveness of a nighttime robbery, but the point remains: even robbers have a sense of "enough."
"If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some gleaning grapes?": Similarly, even during a harvest, some grapes are left behind for the poor to glean. It's a sign of basic mercy and provision.
The meaning is: Edom's destruction will be far more thorough than any normal plundering. Even common thieves or harvesters, who typically leave something behind, wouldn't leave anything after they are done with Edom. This highlights the utter and complete devastation coming upon Edom. There will be no remnants, no leftovers, nothing to salvage. It suggests a destruction that is not just about taking wealth, but about obliterating their entire society.
In essence, the verse is a rhetorical device to emphasize the extent of Edom's impending judgment. It drives home the point that this destruction will be unusually and completely devastating, far surpassing even the worst natural disasters or common acts of aggression.
Obadiah 1:5 - “If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, what disaster awaits you—wouldn’t they only steal until they had enough? If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some gleaning grapes?
What does "Obadiah 1:5" mean?
Obadiah 1:5 is a lament and a rhetorical question designed to highlight the completeness of Edom's destruction. It's saying, in essence:
"If thieves came to you...": Even criminals have limits. They'll only take what they need.
"...if robbers by night—oh, what disaster awaits you—wouldn’t they only steal until they had enough?": This emphasizes the suddenness and potential destructiveness of a nighttime robbery, but the point remains: even robbers have a sense of "enough."
"If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some gleaning grapes?": Similarly, even during a harvest, some grapes are left behind for the poor to glean. It's a sign of basic mercy and provision.
The meaning is: Edom's destruction will be far more thorough than any normal plundering. Even common thieves or harvesters, who typically leave something behind, wouldn't leave anything after they are done with Edom. This highlights the utter and complete devastation coming upon Edom. There will be no remnants, no leftovers, nothing to salvage. It suggests a destruction that is not just about taking wealth, but about obliterating their entire society.
In essence, the verse is a rhetorical device to emphasize the extent of Edom's impending judgment. It drives home the point that this destruction will be unusually and completely devastating, far surpassing even the worst natural disasters or common acts of aggression.