Obadiah 1:4

4 If thou dost go up high as an eagle, And if between stars thou dost set thy nest, From thence I bring thee down, An affirmation of Jehovah.

Obadiah 1:4 Meaning and Commentary

Obadiah 1:4

Though thou exaltest [thyself] as the eagle
That soars aloft, flies on high, even out of sight, higher than any other bird does: or, "exaltest thy habitation"; and makest it as high as the eagle's nest; see ( Jeremiah 49:16 ) ; and though thou set thy nest among the stars;
even higher than the eagle's; an hyperbolical expression, supposing that which never was or can be done; yet, if it was possible, would not secure from danger: or should their castles and fortresses be built upon the top of the highest mountains, which seem to reach the heavens, and be among the stars: thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord;
this is said in answer to the question put, or bold challenge made, in ( Obadiah 1:3 ) ; if men cannot do it, God will; and, if he employs instruments to effect it, it shall be done by them; all seeming difficulties are easily surmounted by an omnipotent Being; what are the heights of mountains, or the strength of fortresses, to him? thus the whore of Rome sits upon seven mountains, and mystical Babylon reigns over the kings of the earth; yet shall be thrown down and found no more, for the Lord is strong that judgeth her, ( Revelation 17:9 Revelation 17:18 ) ( Revelation 18:8 Revelation 18:21 ) .

Obadiah 1:4 In-Context

2 Lo, little I have made thee among nations, Despised [art] thou exceedingly.
3 The pride of thy heart hath lifted thee up, O dweller in clifts of a rock, (A high place [is] his habitation, He is saying in his heart, `Who doth bring me down [to] earth?')
4 If thou dost go up high as an eagle, And if between stars thou dost set thy nest, From thence I bring thee down, An affirmation of Jehovah.
5 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?
6 How hath Esau been searched out! Flowed out have his hidden things,
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.