Obadiah 1:5
New International Version
“If thieves came to you, if robbers in the night— oh, what a disaster awaits you!— would they not steal only as much as they wanted? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes?

New Living Translation
“If thieves came at night and robbed you (what a disaster awaits you!), they would not take everything. Those who harvest grapes always leave a few for the poor. But your enemies will wipe you out completely!

English Standard Version
If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night— how you have been destroyed!— would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings?

Berean Standard Bible
“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?

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
“If thieves had come to you, If robbers by night— Oh, how you will be cut off!— Would they not have stolen till they had enough? If grape-gatherers had come to you, Would they not have left some gleanings?

New American Standard Bible
“If thieves came to you, If robbers by night— Oh how you will be ruined!— Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape-pickers came to you, Would they not leave some gleanings?

NASB 1995
“If thieves came to you, If robbers by night— O how you will be ruined!— Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave some gleanings?

NASB 1977
“If thieves came to you, If robbers by night— O how you will be ruined!— Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave some gleanings?

Legacy Standard Bible
“If thieves came to you, If robbers by night— Oh how you will be ruined!— Would they not thieve only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not allow some gleanings to remain?

Amplified Bible
“If thieves came to you, If robbers by night— How you will be ruined!— Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave some grapes for gleaning?

Christian Standard Bible
If thieves came to you, if marauders by night — how ravaged you would be! — wouldn’t they steal only what they wanted? If grape harvesters came to you, wouldn’t they leave a few grapes?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If thieves came to you, if marauders by night— how ravaged you would be!— wouldn’t they steal only what they wanted? If grape pickers came to you, wouldn’t they leave some grapes?

American Standard Version
If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night (how art thou cut off!), would they not steal only till they had enough? if grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes?

Contemporary English Version
If thieves break in at night, they steal only what they want. And people who harvest grapes always leave some unpicked. But, Edom, you are doomed!

English Revised Version
If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not steal till they had enough? if grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"If thieves or looters come to you during the night, won't they steal only until they've had enough? You will be ruined! If people come to pick your grapes, won't they leave a few grapes behind?

Good News Translation
"When thieves come at night, they take only what they want. When people gather grapes, they always leave a few. But your enemies have wiped you out completely.

International Standard Version
"If thieves came against you, if marauding gangs by night —Oh, how you will be destroyed!— Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave some grapes to be gleaned?

Majority Standard Bible
“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?

NET Bible
"If thieves came to rob you during the night, they would steal only as much as they wanted! If grape pickers came to harvest your vineyards, they would leave some behind for the poor! But you will be totally destroyed!

New Heart English Bible
"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?

Webster's Bible Translation
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 grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?

World English Bible
“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?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“If thieves have come in to you, "" If spoilers of the night, "" How have you been cut off! Do they not steal their sufficiency? If gatherers have come in to you, "" Do they not leave gleanings?

Young's Literal Translation
If thieves have come in to thee, If spoilers of the night, How hast thou been cut off! Do they not steal their sufficiency? If gatherers have come in to thee, Do they not leave gleanings?

Smith's Literal Translation
If thieves came to thee, if those laying waste by night, (how thou wert destroyed!) will not they steal their sufficiency? If the grape gatherers came to thee will they not leave gleanings?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If thieves had gone in to thee, if robbers by night, how wouldst thou have held thy peace? would they not have stolen till they had enough ? if the grapegatherers had come in to thee, would they not have left thee at the least a cluster?

Catholic Public Domain Version
If thieves had approached you, if robbers by night, how would you have remained unnoticed? Would they not have stolen all that they wanted? If the grape-pickers had approached you, would they not have left you at least a cluster?

New American Bible
If thieves came to you, robbers by night —how you have been destroyed!— would they not steal merely till they had enough? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?

New Revised Standard Version
If thieves came to you, if plunderers by night —how you have been destroyed!— would they not steal only what they wanted? If grape-gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If thieves come to you or robbers by night, how could you have remained silent till they had stolen enough? Or if grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If thieves came upon you or robbers in the night, how would you have been silent until they stole their sufficiency, and if grape gatherers came to you, would they not be leaving gleanings?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night-- How art thou cut off!-- Would they not steal till they had enough? If grape-gatherers came to thee, Would they not leave some gleaning grapes?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If thieves came in to thee, or robbers by night, where wouldest thou have been cast away? would they not have stolen just enough for themselves? and if grape-gatherers went in to thee, would they not leave a gleaning?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Destruction of Edom
4Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD. 5“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? 6But how Esau will be pillaged, his hidden treasures sought out!…

Cross References
Jeremiah 49:9
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?

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.

Malachi 1:3-4
but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.” / Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.

Isaiah 34:5-6
When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Ezekiel 25:12-14
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt, / therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. / I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

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.”

Lamentations 4:22
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 63:1-6
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.” / Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? / “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. ...

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!”

Ezekiel 35:3-9
and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Mount Seir. I will stretch out My hand against you and make you a desolate waste. / I will turn your cities into ruins, and you will become a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD. / Because you harbored an ancient hatred and delivered the Israelites over to the sword in the time of their disaster at the final stage of their punishment, ...

Matthew 24:43
But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. / While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. / But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

Luke 12:39
But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

Revelation 3:3
Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.


Treasury of Scripture

If thieves came to you, if robbers by night, (how are you cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some grapes?

if robbers.

Jeremiah 49:9
If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.

how.

2 Samuel 1:19
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Jeremiah 50:23
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!

if the.

Deuteronomy 24:21
When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

Isaiah 17:6
Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.

Isaiah 24:13
When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

some grapes.

Jump to Previous
Attacking Awaits Cut Cutting Destroyed Disaster Enough Gatherers Gleaning Gleanings Grape Grapegatherers Grape-Gatherers Grapes Leave Night Pickers Plunderers Robbers Ruined Spoilers Steal Stolen Sufficiency Thieves Wanted Wouldn't
Jump to Next
Attacking Awaits Cut Cutting Destroyed Disaster Enough Gatherers Gleaning Gleanings Grape Grapegatherers Grape-Gatherers Grapes Leave Night Pickers Plunderers Robbers Ruined Spoilers Steal Stolen Sufficiency Thieves Wanted Wouldn't
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.














If thieves came to you
The imagery of "thieves" in this verse draws from the Hebrew word "גַּנָּב" (ganav), which refers to those who steal stealthily. In the ancient Near Eastern context, theft was a common threat, and the mention of thieves evokes a sense of sudden and unexpected loss. The verse begins with a hypothetical scenario that sets the stage for understanding the extent of Edom's impending judgment. Unlike ordinary thieves who take only what they need, the judgment on Edom will be total and devastating.

if robbers by night
The phrase "robbers by night" emphasizes the clandestine and destructive nature of the impending judgment. The Hebrew word "שׁוֹדֵד" (shoded) refers to violent plunderers. Nighttime robberies were particularly feared in ancient times due to the cover of darkness, which made them more difficult to prevent. This imagery underscores the severity and inevitability of Edom's downfall, suggesting that it will be more comprehensive than a typical robbery.

Oh, how you will be ruined!
This exclamation highlights the certainty and completeness of Edom's destruction. The Hebrew root "שָׁחַת" (shachat) conveys the idea of being spoiled or corrupted beyond repair. The phrase serves as a prophetic lament, expressing the irreversible nature of the judgment. It is a stark reminder of the consequences of pride and betrayal, as Edom's ruin is portrayed as both inevitable and deserved.

would they not steal only what they wanted?
Here, the rhetorical question contrasts the actions of typical thieves with the totality of Edom's impending judgment. Thieves usually take only what they desire or can carry, leaving behind some possessions. This implies that even in theft, there is a limit. However, the judgment on Edom will be so thorough that nothing will be spared. This serves as a warning of the comprehensive nature of divine justice.

If grape pickers came to you
The imagery of "grape pickers" draws from the agricultural practices of the time. Grape harvesters, or "בֹּצֵר" (botser), would typically leave some grapes behind, either intentionally for the poor to glean or unintentionally due to the nature of the harvest. This practice is rooted in the Mosaic Law, which commanded leaving gleanings for the needy (Leviticus 19:9-10). The mention of grape pickers suggests a natural limit to what is taken, contrasting with the total desolation Edom will face.

would they not leave some gleanings?
The concept of "gleanings" refers to the remnants left after a harvest, known in Hebrew as "עֹלֵלוֹת" (olelot). This practice was a form of social justice, ensuring provision for the poor and marginalized. The rhetorical question implies that even grape pickers, who take much, leave something behind. In contrast, Edom's judgment will be so severe that nothing will remain. This serves as a sobering reminder of the thoroughness of God's judgment against those who oppose His will.

(5-9) The completeness of the overthrow awaiting Edom. It is no mere inroad of a marauding tribe. Something would escape the robber, though he might go away quite satisfied with his plunder; and even a raid in vintage time, for the purpose of doing all the mischief possible to the country, would leave here and there a scattered bunch, gleanings for the inhabitants when the spoilers had retired, but now everything is doomed to destruction. Edom is completely robbed and ransacked. Notice how the sad, almost pathetic, conviction of this breaks out--as if rather from a friend (see Introduction) than an enemy--in the parenthetical "how art thou cut off!" in the very middle of the sentence. Every one must perceive, the prophet seems to say, a higher hand at work here.

(5) Some grapes.--Gleanings, as in margin. (Comp. Isaiah 17:6; Isaiah 24:13.)

(6) How are the things of Esau searched out!--Literally, How are they searched out Esau! Where Esau is either taken collectively = Edom as a nation, or we must supply, as in the Authorised Version, "the things of," or, as Ewald, "they of." For search, comp. Zephaniah 1:12.

His hidden things.--Heb., matspunim, from tsapan = to hide, but whether hidden treasures or hiding places cannot be determined, as the word only occurs here.

(7-9) Overtaken by this terrible calamity, and deserted by her allies, Edom will turn in vain for counsel to her senators and wise men, and for support to her heroes and mighty men, for these will not only share in the general ruin, but are marked out for an overthrow as signal as their renown.

(7) All the men of thy confederacy. . . .--This desertion by allies is doubtless put prominently forward as the due retribution on Edom for his treachery and cruelty to his natural ally, his brother Jacob. The members of the confederacy are not specified. In Jeremiah 27:3 we find Edom associated with Moab, Ainmon, Tyre, and Sidon, in the warning to submit to Nebuchadnezzar. The two former would be the natural allies of Edom, and in Ezekiel 25:8 Seir is joined with Moab as reproaching Israel. From Psalm 60:8, we may add to these Philistia (comp. also Obadiah 1:19). The expression "have brought thee to the border" is variously understood. The most natural explanation is that the fugitives from the ruin of Edom, flying into the territory of neighbouring and allied tribes for help, are basely driven back to their own frontier, and left to their fate. . . .

Verse 5, 6. - To prove the completeness of the destruction that shall befall Eden, the prophet supposes two cases of despoiling in which something would be left behind. It will be far worse than any mere raid of thieves; nothing will be spared. Verse 5. - Thieves... robbers. The former are ordinary thieves who pilfer secretly; the latter are robbers who act with violence, or members of a marauding expedition. How art thou cut off! An interposed ejaculation of the prophet, sympathizing with the Edomites for the utter desolation which he sees in vision. Septuagint, Ποῦ ἄν ἀπεῥῤίφης; "Where wouldst thou have been east away?" taking a different reading; Vulgate, Quomodo conticuisses? "How wouldst thou have been silent?" i.e. for fear. Till they had enough. Would they not have taken such plunder as they wanted, and then decamped? The grape gatherers would leave some bunches untouched, which escaped their notice. There is no reference to the charitable law in Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 24:21, which would not affect, or be known unto, these grape plunderers.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

thieves
גַּנָּבִ֤ים (gan·nā·ḇîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1590: A stealer

came
בָּאֽוּ־ (bā·’ū-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to you,
לְךָ֙ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

robbers
שׁ֣וֹדְדֵי (šō·wḏ·ḏê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin

by night—
לַ֔יְלָה (lay·lāh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

oh, how
אֵ֣יךְ (’êḵ)
Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

you will be ruined—
נִדְמֵ֔יתָה (niḏ·mê·ṯāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1820: To be dumb, silent, to fail, perish, trans, to destroy

would they not
הֲל֥וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

steal
יִגְנְב֖וּ (yiḡ·nə·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1589: To thieve, to deceive

[only] what they wanted?
דַּיָּ֑ם (day·yām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1767: Sufficiency, enough

If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

grape pickers
בֹּֽצְרִים֙ (bō·ṣə·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1219: To cut off, make inaccessible, enclose

came
בָּ֣אוּ (bā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to you,
לָ֔ךְ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

would they not
הֲל֖וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

leave
יַשְׁאִ֥ירוּ (yaš·’î·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

[some] gleanings?
עֹלֵלֽוֹת׃ (‘ō·lê·lō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5955: Gleanings, gleaning-time


Links
Obadiah 1:5 NIV
Obadiah 1:5 NLT
Obadiah 1:5 ESV
Obadiah 1:5 NASB
Obadiah 1:5 KJV

Obadiah 1:5 BibleApps.com
Obadiah 1:5 Biblia Paralela
Obadiah 1:5 Chinese Bible
Obadiah 1:5 French Bible
Obadiah 1:5 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Obadiah 1:5 If thieves came to you if robbers (Obad. Oba. Ob)
Obadiah 1:4
Top of Page
Top of Page