Obadiah 1:12 But you should not gloat in that day, your brother's day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress.

◄ Obadiah 1:12 ►

New International Version
You should not gloat over your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble.

New Living Translation
“You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands. You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune. You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble.

English Standard Version
But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.

Berean Standard Bible
But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother In the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah In the day of their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly In the day of distress.

New American Standard Bible
“Do not gloat over your brother’s day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah On the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast On the day of their distress.

NASB 1995
“Do not gloat over your brother’s day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast In the day of their distress.

NASB 1977
“Do not gloat over your brother’s day, The day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast In the day of their distress.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now do not look on your brother’s day with triumph, The day of his misfortune. And do not be glad over the sons of Judah In the day when they perish; And do not let your mouth speak great things In the day of their distress.

Amplified Bible
“Do not gaze and gloat [in triumph] over your brother’s day, The day when his misfortune came. Do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Do not speak arrogantly [jeering and maliciously mocking] In the day of their distress.

Christian Standard Bible
Do not gloat over your brother in the day of his calamity; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction; do not boastfully mock in the day of distress.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not gloat over your brother in the day of his calamity; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction; do not boastfully mock in the day of distress.

American Standard Version
But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.

Contemporary English Version
Why did you celebrate when such a dreadful disaster struck your relatives? Why were you so pleased when everyone in Judah was suffering?

English Revised Version
But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't gloat over your relative's misfortune or be happy when the people of Judah are destroyed. Don't brag so much when they're in distress.

Good News Translation
You should not have gloated over the misfortune of your relatives in Judah. You should not have been glad on the day of their ruin. You should not have laughed at them in their distress.

International Standard Version
"You should not have gloated over your brother, on the day of his calamity. You should not have rejoiced when the descendants of Judah were perishing. You should not have boasted when they were in distress.

Majority Standard Bible
But you should not gloat in that day, your brother?s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress.

NET Bible
You should not have gloated when your relatives suffered calamity. You should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah when they were destroyed. You should not have boasted when they suffered adversity.

New Heart English Bible
But do not look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction. Do not speak proudly in the day of distress.

Webster's Bible Translation
But thou shouldst not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldst thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldst thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.

World English Bible
But don’t look down on your brother in the day of his disaster, and don’t rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction. Don’t speak proudly in the day of distress.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And—you do not look on the day of your brother, "" On the day of his alienation, "" Nor do you rejoice over sons of Judah, "" In the day of their destruction, "" Nor make your mouth great in a day of distress.

Young's Literal Translation
And -- thou dost not look on the day of thy brother, On the day of his alienation, Nor dost thou rejoice over sons of Judah, In the day of their destruction, Nor make great thy mouth in a day of distress.

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou shalt not look upon thy brother in the day of his calamity, and thou shalt not rejoice to the sons of Judah in the day of their perishing, and thou shalt not magnify thy mouth in the day of straits.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
But thou shalt not look on in the day of thy brother, in the day of his leaving his country: and thou shalt not rejoice over the children of Juda, in the day of their destruction: and thou shalt not magnify thy mouth in the day of distress.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But you shall not show disdain for the day of your brother in the day of his sojourn. And you shall not rejoice over the sons of Judah in the day of their perdition. And you shall not magnify your mouth in the day of anguish.

New American Bible
Do not gloat over the day of your brother, the day of his disaster; Do not exult over the people of Judah on the day of their ruin; Do not speak haughtily on the day of distress!

New Revised Standard Version
But you should not have gloated over your brother on the day of his misfortune; you should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah on the day of their ruin; you should not have boasted on the day of distress.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But you should not have looked for the day of your brother's disaster, in the day when he was afflicted by strangers; neither should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall not see in the day of your brother, in the day of foreigners, and you shall not rejoice for the children of Yehuda in the day of their destruction, and you shall not enlarge your mouth in the day of tribulation

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
But thou shouldest not have gazed on the day of thy brother In the day of his disaster, 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day of strangers; nor shouldest thou have rejoiced against the children of Juda in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have boasted in the day of their affliction.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Destruction of Edom
…11On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them. 12But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress. 13You should not enter the gate of My people in the day of their disaster, nor gloat over their affliction in the day of their disaster, nor loot their wealth in the day of their disaster.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Proverbs 24:17-18
Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, / or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.

Ezekiel 35:15
As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, so will I do to you. You will become a desolation, O Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Micah 4:11
But now many nations have assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”

Psalm 137:7
Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”

Lamentations 4:21-22
So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself. / O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.

Isaiah 47:6
I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.

Jeremiah 49:7-22
Concerning Edom, this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed? / Turn and run! Lie low, O dwellers of Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau at the time I punish him. / If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? Were thieves to come in the night, would they not steal only what they wanted? ...

Amos 1:11-12
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly. / So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.”

Joel 3:19
Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.

Zephaniah 2:8-10
“I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders. / Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.” / This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you will be judged. / For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

James 4:11-12
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. / There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Treasury of Scripture

But you should not have looked on the day of your brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress.

thou, etc.

Psalm 22:17
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

Psalm 37:13
The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

Psalm 54:7
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

rejoiced.

Job 31:29
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

Proverbs 17:5
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 24:17,18
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: …

thou have.

1 Samuel 2:3
Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Psalm 31:18
Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

spoken proudly.

Isaiah 37:24
By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.

James 3:5
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

2 Peter 2:18
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

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Boast Boasted Brother's Children Destruction Disaster Distress Evil Fate Gazed Gloat Gloated Judah Misfortune Proudly Rejoice Rejoiced Ruin Shouldest Shouldst Speak Stranger

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Obadiah 1

1. The destruction of Edom,
3. for their pride,
10. and for their wrong unto Jacob.
17. The salvation and victory of Jacob.

Berean Study Bible

But you should not gloat
The Hebrew word for "gloat" is "ra'ah," which conveys a sense of looking upon something with satisfaction or pleasure, often at another's misfortune. In the context of Obadiah, this is a stern warning against deriving joy from the suffering of others, particularly those with whom one shares a familial or covenantal bond. Historically, Edom and Israel were nations descended from Esau and Jacob, respectively, making them kin. The admonition here is a call to empathy and compassion, reflecting the broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor and not delighting in their downfall.

over your brother
The term "brother" is significant, as it underscores the familial relationship between Edom and Israel. This is not merely a political or national rivalry; it is a betrayal of kinship. The Hebrew word "ach" for brother emphasizes the closeness and the expected loyalty and support that should exist between relatives. This highlights the gravity of Edom's actions and serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining familial bonds and responsibilities, even amidst conflict.

in the day of his misfortune
The phrase "day of his misfortune" refers to a time of calamity or disaster. The Hebrew word "eyd" suggests a period of ruin or distress. This is a reminder of the transient nature of human circumstances and the call for humility and solidarity in times of trouble. The historical context here is the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, a time when Edom should have offered support but instead chose to rejoice in Judah's suffering.

nor rejoice over the people of Judah
"Rejoice" in Hebrew is "samach," which means to be glad or joyful. The admonition against rejoicing over Judah's downfall is a call to resist the temptation to find happiness in the suffering of others. This reflects a broader biblical ethic that values compassion and empathy over schadenfreude. The people of Judah, as God's chosen people, were in a covenant relationship with Him, and their suffering should have been a cause for mourning, not celebration.

in the day of their destruction
The "day of their destruction" refers to the catastrophic events that befell Judah, particularly the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The Hebrew word "abad" implies a complete and utter ruin. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine judgment. It also underscores the need for solidarity and support among God's people during times of divine chastisement.

nor boastfully mock
The phrase "boastfully mock" combines the ideas of pride and derision. The Hebrew "peh" (mouth) and "gadal" (to make great) suggest speaking arrogantly or contemptuously. This is a warning against prideful attitudes that elevate oneself at the expense of others. In the biblical narrative, pride is consistently portrayed as a vice that leads to downfall, and this admonition serves as a call to humility and respect for others, even in their weakness.

in the day of distress
"Day of distress" uses the Hebrew word "tsarah," which denotes a time of trouble or affliction. This phrase encapsulates the theme of the verse, which is a call to compassion and solidarity in times of hardship. The historical context of Judah's distress serves as a backdrop for this moral teaching, reminding believers of the importance of standing with those who suffer and reflecting God's love and mercy in their actions.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - The prophet complains of the malignant neutrality of the Edomites. Thou shouldest not have looked. In this and the two following verses, al with the future is wrongly translated. It should be rendered throughout, "do not look," "do not rejoice," etc. Obadiah, in view of the past behaviour of Edom, and looking forward to another and more fatal conquest of Jerusalem, warns the Edomitas against repeating this malicious conduct. Septuagint, μὴ ἐπίδης. Gaze not with pleasure, feast not thine eyes (Micah 7:10). The day of thy brother; i.e. when some great event befell him - explained further in the next clause. Compare "the day of Jerusalem" (Psalm 137:7). In the day that he became a stranger; Septuagint, ἐν ἡμέρα ἀλλοτρίων, "in the day of strangers;" Vulgate, in die peregrinationis ejus. The Anglican and Vulgate Versions signify, "in the day that he was carried captive into strange lands;" but most probably the expression should be rendered, "in the day of his calamity." Rejoiced over (comp. Job 31:29; Proverbs 17:5; Micah 7:8). Spoken proudly; literally, make thy mouth great; Septuagint, μὴ μεγαλοῥῤημονῇ, "do not boast;" Vulgate, non magnificabis os tuum. Utter a flood of mocking words, probably accompanied with derisive grimaces. There is a climax in this verse - first the complacent look, then the malicious pleasure, then words of insult and derision.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But you should not
וְאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

gloat
תֵּ֤רֶא (tê·re)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

in that day,
בְיוֹם־ (ḇə·yō·wm-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

your brother's
אָחִ֙יךָ֙ (’ā·ḥî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

day
בְּי֣וֹם (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of misfortune,
נָכְר֔וֹ (nā·ḵə·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5237: Foreign, alien

nor
וְאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

rejoice
תִּשְׂמַ֥ח (tiś·maḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8055: To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesome

over the people
לִבְנֵֽי־ (liḇ·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Judah
יְהוּדָ֖ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

in the day
בְּי֣וֹם (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of their destruction,
אָבְדָ֑ם (’ā·ḇə·ḏām)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish

nor
וְאַל־ (wə·’al-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

boast proudly
תַּגְדֵּ֥ל (taḡ·dêl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1431: To grow up, become great

in the day
בְּי֥וֹם (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of their distress.
צָרָֽה׃ (ṣā·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6869: Tightness, a female rival

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OT Prophets: Obadiah 1:12 But don't look down on your brother (Obad. Oba. Ob)