Haggai 2:15

15 And now put ye (this on) your hearts, from this day and above, before that a stone on a stone was put in the temple of the Lord, (And now think ye about this, from this day and back, before that a stone was put upon a stone in the Temple of the Lord,)

Haggai 2:15 Meaning and Commentary

Haggai 2:15

And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward,
&c.] This being their case, and they so polluted with sin, particularly through their neglect of building the temple; they are most earnestly and importunately entreated to "lay" it "to their hearts", to ponder it in their minds, and thoroughly consider how it had fared with them from this twenty fourth day of the ninth month, in which the prophet was sent unto them to encourage them in their work, and upwards or backwards, for some years past: even from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the
Lord:
the foundation of the temple was laid quickly after the Jews returned from Babylon, upon the proclamation of Cyrus, ( Ezra 3:10 ) but, through difficulties and discouragements they met with, they desisted from the work, and went no further; a stone was not laid upon it; or, as the Targum, a row, or course upon course, until this time: and now all the intermediate space of time between the first laying the foundation of the temple, and their present going to work upon it, the prophet would have them take particular notice of; how it had been with them, as to their outward circumstances; whereby it would appear, they had sinned, and the Lord had been offended with them.

Haggai 2:15 In-Context

13 And Haggai said, If a man defouled in soul toucheth of all these things, whether it shall be defouled? And priests answered, and said, It shall be defouled. (And then Haggai asked, If a person with a defiled soul toucheth any of these things/If a person who hath touched a dead body toucheth any of these things, shall that thing then become defiled? And the priests answered, and said, Yea, it shall be defiled.)

14 And Haggai answered, and said, So is this people, and so is this folk before my face, saith the Lord, and so is all the work of their hands; and all things which they offer there shall be defouled. (And Haggai answered, and said, And so is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord, and so be all the works of their hands; and all the things which they offer there shall be defiled.)

15 And now put ye (this on) your hearts, from this day and above, before that a stone on a stone was put in the temple of the Lord, (And now think ye about this, from this day and back, before that a stone was put upon a stone in the Temple of the Lord,)

16 when ye went to an heap of twenty bushels, and there were made ten; ye entered to the presser, that ye should press out fifty gallons, and there were made twenty. (when ye went to a heap of grain expecting twenty bushels, and there were made but only ten; and ye went to the winepress, so that ye could press out fifty gallons, and there were made but only twenty.)

17 I smote you with burning wind, and with mildew, and hail, (in) all the works of your hands; and there was none in you that turned again to me, saith the Lord. (I struck you with burning wind, and with mildew, and with hail, on all the works of your hands; and still there was no one among you who returned to me, saith the Lord.)