Obadiah 1:11 Meaning: When Standing Aside Joins the Enemy
In the day that you stood on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance and foreigners entered into his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, even you were like one of them.
In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
In the day of thy standing over-against, In the day of strangers taking captive his force, And foreigners have entered his gates, And for Jerusalem have cast a lot, Even thou art as one of them!
In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away captive his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.
Meaning in one sentence
Obadiah accuses Edom not just of indifference but of becoming like the enemies who plundered Jerusalem. What this means for us today.
Context
The book of Obadiah is the shortest in the Old Testament, a single chapter of prophecy aimed at Edom, the nation descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother. In verse 11 the prophet names the specific crime. Edom had been a spectator while Jerusalem fell. Foreign armies carried off the wealth of Judah. They entered the city gates and cast lots for the spoils. And Edom stood on the other side, not as a helpless witness but as one who might have helped and did not. Worse, the verse ends with the shocking indictment: Edom became “like one of them.” The brother nation had crossed the line from bystander to participant.
Key Words
The Hebrew phrase behind “stood on the other side” is ‘amad minneged. The verb ‘amad means to take a stand, but with minneged (“from before” or “opposite”) it carries a sense of deliberate positioning, not just being there but taking a stance, often with hostile intent. This is no accidental presence. Edom placed itself opposite its brother in the day of need.
Then the word gam, “also” or “even,” drives the point home. It appears three times in this short book, each time emphasizing that Edom did what no brother should. Here it introduces the climax: “even you were like one of them.” The word ‘echad, “one,” is the same word used in Genesis for the unity of man and wife. Edom broke that bond of kinship to become indistinguishable from the enemy.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian interpreters across traditions agree on the gravity of Edom’s sin, though they differ on the precise historical event. Matthew Henry and the Geneva Bible see Edom actively rejoicing and plundering alongside the Babylonians. Calvin emphasizes that Edom could not plead innocence, they were “as one of them” in heart and deed. The Cambridge Bible notes that the Hebrew verb forms allow either past or future tense, but the accusation stands either way. The shared conviction is that Edom’s failure to act as a brother, whether through passive glee or active looting, made them complicit in the violence. All traditions hear in this verse a warning that indifference to suffering can become partnership with evil.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Edom’s sin was simply not helping, a failure of charity, like walking past an accident. The verse goes further. “Even you were like one of them” means Edom took the side of the enemy. They may not have swung a sword, but their stance made them partners in the plunder. Indifference is not neutral; it can be a choice to align with the wrong side.
Living This Out
This week you may see someone’s reputation taken apart in a meeting or online. The easy thing is to stand on the other side, silent, perhaps secretly relieved it is not you. That is the posture of Edom. Ask God to show you one place where your silence or distance has let harm go unchallenged. It might mean a difficult word spoken in defense of a brother, or a hand extended to someone who has been stripped of their dignity. Small acts of presence can break the pattern of standing aloof.
Main takeaway: Standing by when a brother or sister suffers is not neutrality; it can make us one with those who cause the harm.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Edom saw his brother Jacob in trouble and did not help. He even acted like the bad guys. God wants us to help our brothers and sisters, not watch them get hurt.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes when someone else is in trouble, we feel glad it’s not us and we just watch. But the Bible says that’s like joining the people who hurt them. God calls us to be true brothers and sisters, to help, not to stand by while others suffer.
Questions People Ask
Who were the Edomites, and why were they related to Israel?
Edom was the nation descended from Esau, Jacob’s twin brother (Genesis 25). So the Edomites and Israelites were blood relatives. This makes Obadiah’s accusation even sharper: Edom failed to act like a brother when Jerusalem was attacked.
What does “stood on the other side” mean in the original Hebrew?
The phrase ‘amad minneged suggests taking a position opposite someone, often with hostile intent. It is the same wording used in Psalm 38:11, where friends “stand aloof” from a suffering man. In Obadiah, it means Edom positioned itself as an adversary, not a helper.
Does Obadiah 1:11 describe a past event or a future prophecy?
The Hebrew verbs can be read either way. Some scholars think Obadiah is describing a recent invasion (perhaps the Babylonian destruction in 586 BC). Others see a prophetic vision of a future judgment. Either way, the sin of Edom is already clear in God’s sight.
How does this verse apply to Christians today?
It warns us that standing by while others suffer, especially when we could help, makes us complicit. We are not called to be passive spectators. The verse challenges us to actively love our brothers and sisters, not to join the crowd that ignores or exploits them.
Why does Obadiah use the phrase “like one of them” for Edom?
Edom was not a foreign invader; they were family. But their actions, or inaction, made them indistinguishable from the enemy. The phrase “one of them” shows they crossed a line. They broke the bond of brotherhood and became part of the attacking force in spirit.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study