Translations
Modern
“If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, how you will be ruined—would they not steal only what they wanted? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?
Traditional
If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?
Literal
“If thieves had come to you, if plunderers by night—how you have been cut off—would they not have stolen enough for themselves? If grape-gatherers had come to you, would they not have left remaining some gleanings?
Latin
Si fures introissent ad te, si latrones per noctem, quomodo conticuisses? nonne furati essent sufficientia sibi? Si vindemiatores introissent ad te, numquid saltem racemum reliquissent tibi?
Original
Hebrew
English
“If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, how you will be ruined—would they not steal only what they wanted? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?
Notes
Edom's destroyers would take everything, unlike thieves and harvesters. Thieves would leave anything that might slow their escape. Harvesters would always leave some leftovers for the poor (Deuteronomy 24:19; compare Ruth 2; Matthew 12:1).
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem completely. Edom shared in the loot, so they deserved the same punishment (see Obadiah 1:15–18).
Theme notes and profiles
Events
- Prophecies of Obadiahc. 585 BC
Parallels
Glossary
Topics
Deceit: Use, to Themselves Night: Favourable to the Purposes of the Wicked Theft and Thieves: Figurative Theft: The Wicked: Commit, Under Shelter of the Night