Haggai 2:1-9

1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, the word of the Lord was made in the hand of Haggai, the prophet, and said, (In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord was made to the prophet Haggai, and said,)

2 Speak thou to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the duke of Judah, and to Joshua, the great priest, the son of Josedech, and to others of the people, and say thou, (Speak thou to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the ruler, or the governor, of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Josedech, the High Priest, and to all the people, and say thou,)

3 Who in you is left, that saw this house in his first glory? and what see ye this now? whether it is not thus, as if it be not before your eyes? (Who is left among you, who saw this House in its first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not thus, as if it be not before your eyes?)

4 And now, Zerubbabel, be thou strengthened, saith the Lord, and Joshua, the great priest, the son of Josedech, be thou strengthened, and all the people of the land, be thou strengthened, saith the Lord of hosts; and do ye, for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts. (And now, Zerubbabel, take courage! saith the Lord, and Joshua, the son of Josedech, the High Priest, take courage! and all the people of the land, take courage! saith the Lord of hosts; and build ye it, for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts.)

5 (This is) The word that I covenanted with you, when ye went out of the land of Egypt, and my Spirit shall be in the midst of you. Do not ye dread, (This is what I promised you, when ye went out of the land of Egypt, and my Spirit shall always be in your midst. Do not ye fear/Fear not,)

6 for the Lord of hosts saith these things, Yet one little thing is, and I shall move heaven, and earth, and sea, and dry land; (for the Lord of hosts saith these things, Yet a little while, and then I shall move, or I shall shake, heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the dry land;)

7 and I shall move all folks, and the desired to all folks shall come; and I shall fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. (and I shall shake all the nations, and the treasure of all the nations shall come here; and I shall fill this House with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.)

8 Mine is (the) silver, and mine is (the) gold, saith the Lord of hosts.

9 The glory of this last house shall be great, more than of the first, saith the Lord of hosts. And in this place I shall give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (The glory of this latter House, or of this Temple, shall be greater than that of the first House, saith the Lord of hosts. And I shall give thee peace and prosperity in this place, saith the Lord of hosts.)

Haggai 2:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HAGGAI 2

This chapter contains three sermons or prophecies, delivered by the prophet to the people of the Jews. The design of the first is to encourage them to go on with the building of the temple, though it might seem to come greatly short of the former temple, as to its outward form and splendour. The time of the prophecy, Hag 2:1 an order to deliver it to the governor, high priest, and all the people, Hag 2:2. A question is put concerning the difference between this temple and the former; between which it is suggested there was no comparison; which is assented to by silence, Hag 2:3 nevertheless, the prince, priest, and people, are exhorted to go on strenuously in the work of building; encouraged with a promise of the presence of the Lord of hosts, and of his Word, in whom he covenanted with them at their coming out of Egypt, and of the blessed Spirit, and his continuance with them, Hag 2:4,5 and, the more to remove their fears and faintings, it is declared that in a very short time a most wonderful thing should be done in the world, which would affect all the nations of the earth; for that illustrious Person would come, whom all nations do or should desire; and, not only come into the world, but into that temple they were building, and give it a greater glory than the former; yea, a greater glory than if all the gold and silver in the world were laid out upon it, or brought into it; which being all the Lord's, could have been easily done by him; but he would give in it something infinitely greater than that, even the Prince of peace, with all the blessings of it, Hag 2:6-9 then follows the second sermon or prophecy, the time of which is observed, Hag 2:10 and it is introduced with some questions concerning ceremonial uncleanness, by an unclean person's touching holy flesh with the skirt of his garment; and other things, which is confirmed by the answer of the priests, Hag 2:11-13 the application of which is made to the people of the Jews, who were alike unclean; they, their works, and their sacrifices, Hag 2:14 and these are directed to consider, that, during the time they had neglected to build the temple, they were attended with scarcity of provisions; their fields and vineyards being blasted with mildew or destroyed by hail, and their labours proved unsuccessful, Hag 2:15-17 but now, since they had begun the work of building, it is promised they should be blessed with everything, though they had nothing in store, and everything was unpromising to them; which is designed to encourage them to go on cheerfully in their begun work, Hag 2:18,19 and the chapter is concluded with the last discourse or prophecy, the date of which is given, Hag 2:20 an instruction to deliver it to Zerubbabel, Hag 2:21 foretelling the destruction of the kingdoms of the heathen; and the setting up of the kingdom of the Messiah, of whom Zerubbabel was a type, precious and honourable in the sight of God, Hag 2:22,23.