Original Word: עֹבַדְיָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Obadyah
Pronunciation: oh-bad-YAH or oh-bad-YAH-hoo
Phonetic Spelling: (o-bad-yaw')
KJV: Obadiah
NASB: Obadiah
Word Origin: [active participle of H5647 (עָבַד - serve) and H3050 (יָהּ - LORD)]

1. serving Jah
2. Obadjah, the name of thirteen Israelites

Obadiah

Or mobadyahuw {o-bad-yaw'-hoo}; active participle of abad and Yahh; serving Jah; Obadjah, the name of thirteen Israelites -- Obadiah.

see HEBREW abad

see HEBREW Yahh

Word Origin
active participle of abad and Yah
Definition
"servant of Yah," the name of a number of Isr.
NASB Translation
Obadiah (20).

עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ, עֹבַדְיָה proper name, masculine (servant of Yah, compare Gray^{Prop. N. 295, No. 90}; also Phoenician עבדבעל, Palmyrene עבדבל, Old Aramaic עבדההד Lzb³³³, Old Hebrew עבדיהו Id.³³⁴); — I. עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ:

1 chief of Ahab's household 1 Kings 18:3 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 18:4,5,6,7,16, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ιου.

2 father of one of the chiefs of Zebulun 1 Chronicles 27:19, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ιου (genitive).

3 a Levite overseer in time of Josiah2Chronicles 34:12, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ια, A ᵐ5^L Αβδιας. II. עֹבַדְיָה:

1 the prophet Obadiah, ᵐ5 Οβδ(ε)ιου (genitive), Αβδ(ε)ιου.

2 a descendant of David 1 Chronicles 3:21, ᵐ5 Αβδεια, ᵐ5^L Οβδιας.

3 chief of tribe of Issachar 1 Chronicles 7:3, ᵐ5 Μειβδεια, A Οβδια, ᵐ5^L Αβδια.

4 a Benjamite 1 Chronicles 8:38; 1 Chronicles 9:44, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ια.

5 a Levite 1 Chronicles 9:16 ("" עַבְדָּא Nehemiah 11:17), ᵐ5 Αβδεια A Οβδια, ᵐ5^L Αβια.

6 a Gadite chief 1 Chronicles 12:9, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ια.

7 a prince in time of Jehoshaphat2Chronicles 17:7, ᵐ5 Αβ(δ)ιαν.

8 priestly companion of Ezra Ezra 8:9; Nehemiah 10:6, ᵐ5 Αδεια, Αβ(α)δ(ε)ια, ᵐ5^L Αβδιου, Αβιας.

9 a doorkeeper Nehemiah 12:25, א Οβδιας, ᵐ5^L Αβδιας.

Overview

The name Obadiah appears twenty times in the Old Testament and is borne by at least a dozen distinct men who span the monarchy, exile, and return. Their settings differ, but together they form a composite portrait of devotion, courage, and humble service that the Lord uses in every generation.

Obadiah as Court Steward (1 Kings 18)

In the darkest hours of Ahab’s apostasy, the palace administrator Obadiah quietly remained true. “Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly” (1 Kings 18:3). At personal risk he hid one hundred prophets in two caves and supplied them with provisions (18:4). His reverence produced practical action and sacrificial generosity. When Elijah re-appeared, Obadiah’s immediate recognition and respectful greeting (18:7) underline his spiritual discernment. Though torn between loyalty to his earthly king and allegiance to God’s prophet, he obeyed Elijah’s command and arranged the fateful meeting on Mount Carmel (18:16). He illustrates how faithful witness can flourish even inside a corrupt court.

Genealogical and Clan Leaders

1 Chronicles 3:21; 7:3; 8:38; 9:44; 12:10; 27:19 and Ezra 8:9 list Obadiahs who head families in Judah, Issachar, Benjamin, and among David’s mighty men. These brief notices anchor the name in multiple tribes and periods, testifying that wholehearted service was never limited to one lineage.

Levitical Ministries and Temple Oversight

Several Obadiahs function in sacred duties. A Levitical descendant of Jeduthun assisted with temple music (1 Chronicles 9:16). During Josiah’s reforms, “Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari” supervised craftsmen restoring the house of God (2 Chronicles 34:12). Post-exilic Obadiah served as a gatekeeper guarding storerooms (Nehemiah 12:25). Their repeated appearance in custodial, musical, and supervisory roles shows that steady, often unseen labor is essential to covenant worship.

Teachers of the Law under Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:7-9)

In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat commissioned five princes, including Obadiah, to teach the Book of the Law throughout Judah. This mission prepared the nation for revival by coupling royal authority with scriptural instruction. Obadiah’s inclusion signals that sound teaching requires both fidelity and administrative competence.

Signers of Covenant Renewal (Nehemiah 10:5)

An Obadiah affixed his seal when the returned exiles pledged to keep the Law. His signature, placed beside those of priests and Levites, expresses communal resolve to walk in obedience after the captivity’s chastening.

Obadiah the Prophet (Obadiah 1:1)

The best-known bearer of the name delivers the brief but trenchant oracle against Edom. Introduced simply: “This is the vision of Obadiah” (Obadiah 1:1), he proclaims divine retribution for Edom’s violence toward Judah and foretells Zion’s ultimate triumph. Key themes include:

• Divine justice: “As you have done, it will be done to you” (1:15).
• The Day of the LORD: universal in scope, certain in execution.
• Restoration: “But on Mount Zion there will be deliverance… and the kingdom will be the LORD’s” (1:17, 21).

The prophet’s anonymity—no lineage, no dating formula—focuses attention on the message rather than the messenger, reinforcing that the authority of prophecy rests in God’s word, not in human credentials.

Shared Spiritual Portrait

Across these passages the Obadiahs exhibit common traits:

1. God-fearing integrity that resists cultural compromise (1 Kings 18).
2. Willingness to protect, teach, and build up God’s people (2 Chronicles 17; 34).
3. Courage to confront sin and proclaim coming judgment (Book of Obadiah).
4. Faithfulness in mundane yet vital tasks—gatekeeping, recordkeeping, clan leadership.

Christological Foreshadowing

Obadiah the steward risks his life to save prophets, prefiguring Christ, the ultimate Servant, who lays down His life to preserve a remnant (John 10:11). The prophetic Obadiah foretells a day when “the kingdom will be the LORD’s,” anticipating the Messiah’s universal reign (Revelation 11:15).

Practical Application

Believers today are called to the same blend of reverent fear, steadfast service, and bold proclamation. Whether positioned in high office, local ministry, or daily labor, the pattern remains: know the Lord, tremble at His word, and act with sacrificial faithfulness.

Key References

1 Kings 18:3-16; 1 Chronicles 3:21; 7:3; 8:38; 9:16, 44; 12:10; 27:19; 2 Chronicles 17:7-9; 34:12; Ezra 8:9; Nehemiah 10:5; 12:25; Obadiah 1.

וְ֠עֹבַדְיָה וְעֹֽבַדְיָ֛הוּ וְעֹבַדְיָ֖ה וְעֹבַדְיָ֗הוּ וְעֹבַדְיָ֤הוּ וְעֹבַדְיָה֙ וּלְעֹבַדְיָ֣ה ולעבדיה ועבדיה ועבדיהו עֹ֣בַדְיָ֔הוּ עֹֽבַדְיָ֑ה עֹֽבַדְיָֽה׃ עֹבַדְיָ֑הוּ עֹבַדְיָ֖ה עֹבַדְיָ֖הוּ עֹבַדְיָ֙הוּ֙ עֹבַדְיָ֛הוּ עֹבַדְיָ֜הוּ עֹבַדְיָ֥ה עֹבַדְיָה֙ עבדיה עבדיה׃ עבדיהו ‘ō·ḇaḏ·yā·hū ‘ō·ḇaḏ·yāh ‘ōḇaḏyāh ‘ōḇaḏyāhū oadYah oadYahu ū·lə·‘ō·ḇaḏ·yāh ūlə‘ōḇaḏyāh uleoadYah Veoadyah veoadYahu wə‘ōḇaḏyāh wə‘ōḇaḏyāhū wə·‘ō·ḇaḏ·yā·hū wə·‘ō·ḇaḏ·yāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts