Obadiah 1:4

KJV1611 – Modern English

Though you exalt yourself like the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the LORD.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אִם־תַּגְבִּ֣יהַּ כַּנֶּ֔שֶׁר וְאִם־בֵּ֥ין כּֽוֹכָבִ֖ים שִׂ֣ים קִנֶּ֑ךָ מִשָּׁ֥ם אוֹרִֽידְךָ֖ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה

Transliteration

if-tagbîah like-the-nešer wĕ-if-between kôkābîm śîm qinnekā from-there ʾôrîdĕkā nĕʾum-YHWH

Grammar Details

• *tagbîah*: hiphil imperfect, 2nd masculine singular - you make high/soar
• *nešer*: noun, masculine singular - eagle/vulture
• *wĕ*-: conjunction - and
• *kôkābîm*: noun, masculine plural - stars
• *śîm*: qal infinitive construct - set/place
• *qinnekā*: noun, masculine singular with 2nd masculine singular suffix - your nest
• *ʾôrîdĕkā*: hiphil imperfect, 1st singular with 2nd masculine singular suffix - I will bring you down
• *nĕʾum*: noun, masculine singular construct - declaration of
• *YHWH*: proper name - LORD/Yahweh

Word Meanings

• *tagbîah*: you make high/soar/elevate yourself
• *nešer*: eagle/vulture/large bird of prey
• *kôkābîm*: stars/celestial bodies
• *śîm*: set/place/put
• *qinnekā*: your nest/your dwelling
• *ʾôrîdĕkā*: I will bring you down/cause you to descend
• *nĕʾum*: declaration/oracle/utterance

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But though thou wentest vp as hye as the Aegle, and maydest thy nest aboue amonge the starres: yet wolde I plucke the downe from thece.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Though thou exalt thy selfe as the egle, and make thy nest among the starres, thence will I bring thee downe, sayth the Lord.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Yea though thou exalt thy selfe as the egle, and make they nest among the starres, thence wil I bring thee downe, sayth the Lorde.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Though thou exalt [thyself] as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Though you mount on high as the eagle, and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there, says Yahweh.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Though you go up on high like an eagle, though your house is placed among the stars, I will make you come down from there, says the Lord.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Though you mount on high as the eagle, and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there," says Yahweh.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Even if you were to soar high like an eagle, even if you were to make your nest among the stars, I can bring you down even from there!” says the LORD.

Referenced Verses

• Isa 14:12-15 : 12 How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are you cut down to the ground, who did weaken the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will also sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. 15 Yet you will be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
• Hab 2:9 : 9 Woe to him who covets an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
• Job 20:6-7 : 6 Though his greatness mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds, 7 Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, Where is he?
• Job 39:27-28 : 27 Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make its nest on high? 28 It dwells on the rock and resides on the crag of the rock, in the stronghold.
• Jer 49:16 : 16 Your terribleness has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there, says the LORD.
• Jer 51:53 : 53 Though Babylon should ascend to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from Me shall destroyers come to her, says the LORD.
• Amos 9:2 : 2 Though they dig into hell, from there my hand will take them; though they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.