King James Version

What Does Obadiah 1:20 Mean?

Obadiah 1:20 in the King James Version says “And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and ...” — study this verse from Obadiah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. which: or, shall possess that which is in”

Obadiah 1:20 · KJV

Context

18

And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

19

And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

20

And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. which: or, shall possess that which is in

21

And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.

Read Obadiah 1 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath—the exiled northern tribes ("this host") will return and expand territory northward to Zarephath (modern Lebanon, site of Elijah's ministry to the widow—1 Kings 17:8-24). The word גָּלֻת (galut, "captivity" or "exile") emphasizes those scattered by Assyrian conquest (722 BC) will return and expand beyond original borders.

And the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south (וְגָלֻת יְרוּשָׁלִַם אֲשֶׁר בִּסְפָרַד יִרְשׁוּ אֵת עָרֵי הַנֶּגֶב, vegalut Yerushalaim asher biSfarad yirshu et arei ha-Negev)—Judean exiles from Sepharad (possibly Sardis in Asia Minor, or Spain in later tradition) will return and possess southern cities. The comprehensive promise: both northern and southern exiles return, and both expand beyond pre-exilic borders.

This prophecy encouraged post-exilic Jews that God would restore and expand their inheritance. The return from Babylon (538 BC onward) began this, though it remained partial. The Maccabean expansion approached fuller realization. Yet the complete fulfillment is spiritual and eschatological: all God's people—Jew and Gentile united in Christ—will inherit the renewed creation. Ephesians 1:11 declares believers "have obtained an inheritance" in Christ; Revelation 21-22 describes the New Jerusalem where God's people dwell forever in the restored paradise exceeding Eden's glory.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The specific locations—Zarephath (Phoenician coast), Sepharad (disputed, possibly Asia Minor)—indicate widespread dispersion. God promises that from the furthest exile points, His people will return and expand. Historically, Jewish communities existed throughout the Mediterranean and Near East, and some members returned to Judea across centuries. Yet the prophecy points beyond physical return to spiritual restoration. Christ gathers His elect from the four winds (Matthew 24:31), from every nation and language (Revelation 7:9), into the eternal inheritance secured by His blood. The church is the assembly of exiles returning home to the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-24).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's promise to restore exiles from distant lands demonstrate His faithfulness to seemingly impossible covenant commitments?
  2. In what ways does the church's composition (people from every nation) fulfill Old Testament promises about gathering dispersed exiles?
  3. How should believers' identity as exiles journeying toward the heavenly Jerusalem (1 Peter 1:1, 2:11) shape priorities and values in this present world?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְגָלֻ֥ת1 of 17

“And the captivity”

H1546

captivity; concretely, exiles (collectively)

הַֽחֵל2 of 17

“of this host”

H2426

an army; also (by analogy,) an intrenchment

הַ֠זֶּה3 of 17
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

לִבְנֵ֨י4 of 17

“of the children”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל5 of 17

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אֲשֶֽׁר6 of 17
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

כְּנַעֲנִים֙7 of 17

“shall possess that of the Canaanites”

H3669

a kenaanite or inhabitant of kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the canaanites standing for their neighbors the ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile c

עַד8 of 17
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

צָ֣רְפַ֔ת9 of 17

“even unto Zarephath”

H6886

tsarephath, a place in palestine

וְגָלֻ֥ת10 of 17

“And the captivity”

H1546

captivity; concretely, exiles (collectively)

יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם11 of 17

“of Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

אֲשֶׁ֣ר12 of 17
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בִּסְפָרַ֑ד13 of 17

“which is in Sepharad”

H5614

sepharad, a region of assyria

יִֽרְשׁ֕וּ14 of 17

“shall possess”

H3423

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

אֵ֖ת15 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

עָרֵ֥י16 of 17

“the cities”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

הַנֶּֽגֶב׃17 of 17

“of the south”

H5045

the south (from its drought); specifically, the negeb or southern district of judah, occasionally, egypt (as south to palestine)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Obadiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Obadiah 1:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Obadiah 1:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Kings 17:9-10Luke 4:26Jeremiah 32:44Jeremiah 33:13Zechariah 10:6-10Jeremiah 33:26

Places in This Verse

CanaanRegion · Modern: Canaan · 32.77°N, 35.33°E101 verses across 16 books
HalahRegion · Modern: Al Abbasiyah · 36.43°N, 43.19°E4 verses across 3 books
JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
NegebRegion · Modern: Tel Beer Sheva · 31.24°N, 34.84°E43 verses across 13 books
SepharadSettlement · Modern: Sardis · 38.49°N, 28.04°E1 verse across 1 book
ZarephathSettlement · Modern: Sarepta · 33.46°N, 35.30°E4 verses across 3 books
View all places in Obadiah 1 →

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