Bible Verses

Obadiah · Chapter 1

Obadiah 1:15 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.

1080 × 1080 · Square

Background

— or pick from our presets below —

Save this verse to Pinterest
Pinterest's Title field is blank by default — tap the button to copy a ready-made title, then paste it after the share window opens.
Download image

Every download includes a small bibleverses.au mark so others can find us too.

Copied to clipboard
Read in chapter context · Obadiah 1

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"For the day of Yahweh is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head."

KJV · King James Version

"For the day3117 of the LORD3068 is near7138 upon all the heathen1471: as thou hast done6213, it shall be done6213 unto thee: thy reward1576 shall return7725 upon thine own head7218."

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses lord, heathen, thou, hast, while the WEB renders these as yahweh, nations, you, have. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Obadiah 1:15 in Obadiah 1

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Obadiah 1:15 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Obadiah 1. Read the full chapter →

  1. v.13 Don’t enter into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity. Don’t look down on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither seize their wealth on the day of their calamity.
  2. v.14 Don’t stand in the crossroads to cut off those of his who escape. Don’t deliver up those of his who remain in the day of distress.
  3. v.15 For the day of Yahweh is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head.
  4. v.16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so will all the nations drink continually. Yes, they will drink, swallow down, and will be as though they had not been.
  5. v.17 But in Mount Zion, there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. The house of Jacob will possess their possessions.

Book background

About the Book of Obadiah

Testament
Old Testament
Genre
Minor prophet
Author
Obadiah
Date written
c. 586 BC
Audience
Judah and Edom
Chapters
1

The shortest Old Testament book — just 21 verses — pronounces judgment on Edom for gloating over Jerusalem's destruction. It closes with the assurance that "the kingdom shall be the LORD's" (v. 21), reaching beyond Edom to all nations.

Setting: Written after Edom's betrayal of Judah at Jerusalem's fall.

Key themes: judgment on nations · pride · God's justice · restoration · kingdom

Read Obadiah from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Obadiah 1:15

Obadiah 1:15 contains 28 words in 3 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

  1. 1

    For the day of Yahweh is near all the nations! As you have done

    FTDOYI

  2. 2

    it will be done to you

    IWBDTY

  3. 3

    Your deeds will return upon your own head.

    YDWRUY

Frequently asked

FAQ about Obadiah 1:15

What does Obadiah 1:15 say?

Obadiah 1:15 reads: "For the day of Yahweh is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head." — from the Old Testament, Obadiah (Minor prophet). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Obadiah 1:15 in?

Obadiah 1:15 is in the book of Obadiah, traditionally attributed to Obadiah and written around c. 586 BC. Obadiah is minor prophet in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Judah and Edom. Best known for judgment on Edom; "the kingdom shall be the LORD's".

What is the difference between Obadiah 1:15 in WEB and KJV?

Obadiah 1:15 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "For the day of Yahweh is near all the nations! As you have done, it will be done to you. Your deeds will return upon your own head.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "For the day3117 of the LORD3068 is near7138 upon all the heathen1471: as thou hast done6213, it shall be done6213 unto thee: thy reward1576 shall return7725 upon thine own head7218.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Obadiah 1:15?

Obadiah 1:15 is 28 words in the WEB translation (131 characters), broken into 3 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 8 seconds.

How can I memorise Obadiah 1:15?

To memorise Obadiah 1:15, split it into its 3 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Obadiah 1:15 matter in Obadiah?

The shortest Old Testament book — just 21 verses — pronounces judgment on Edom for gloating over Jerusalem's destruction. It closes with the assurance that "the kingdom shall be the LORD's" (v. 21), reaching beyond Edom to all nations. Obadiah 1:15 sits within this larger story — Obadiah as a whole emphasises judgment on nations, pride, God's justice.

How can I apply Obadiah 1:15 today?

Many readers use Obadiah 1:15 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Obadiah 1:15 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.