Haggai 2:3

3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?

Haggai 2:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 ‘Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all!
The Message Bible (MSG)
3 'Is there anyone here who saw the Temple the way it used to be, all glorious? And what do you see now? Not much, right?
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
3 Ask them, 'Is there anyone among the faithful few who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn't it seem like nothing to you?'
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn't it seem like nothing to you?
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
3 'Did any of you who are here see how beautiful this temple used to be? How does it look to you now? It doesn't look so good, does it?

Haggai 2:3 Meaning and Commentary

Haggai 2:3

Who [is] left among you that saw this house in her first
glory?
&c.] Not taken away by death, yet alive, and dwelling among them; and who lived before the destruction of the first temple, built by Solomon; and has seen it in all its magnificence; its grand and noble structure; its stately pillars; its carved work, and decorations of gold. This shows that it was not in the times of Darius Nothus, but of Darius Hystaspis, that Haggai prophesied: those who go the former way make these men to have lived near two hundred years at least, which was greatly beyond the common time of man's life in that age; or consider these words as a mere supposition, that, if there were or had been such persons then living, this building, in comparison of the former, must have appeared mean and contemptible unto them: but the words manifestly imply that there were persons among them then living, who had seen Solomon's temple in all its glory; and who are particularly and personally addressed in the following clauses; and of whom there might be several at this time, going the latter way; for the seventy years' captivity are to be reckoned from the fourth year of Jehoiakim, in which the captivity began, and which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, ( Jeremiah 25:1 Jeremiah 25:11 Jeremiah 25:12 ) but it was not until the nineteenth year of his reign that the temple, was burnt by him, ( Jeremiah 52:12 Jeremiah 52:13 ) and the time of Haggai's prophesying being about seventeen or eighteen years after the proclamation of Cyrus, when the seventy years' captivity ended; this shows that it was scarcely seventy years from the time the temple was destroyed; and therefore it may be reasonably supposed there were several ancient persons living that could remember to have seen it; and it is certain that there were a great number of such living that returned from Babylon, who wept when they saw the foundation of the second temple laid, which was but fifteen years before this, ( Ezra 3:12 ) some of whom, in all probability, were now alive, yea, it is certain there were, to whom the following questions were put: and how do ye see it now?
is not this that is building very different from that? does it promise anything like it? what ideas have you of it? can you conceive in your minds that it will ever rise up to such grandeur and stateliness as the former? what is your judgment, and what your sentiments concerning it? can you think of it with equal delight and pleasure as of the former? [is it] not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
do not you think that it is not to be mentioned, or once named, in comparison of the former temple? or that a man had as good say nothing at all, as to attempt a comparison of them? or that this building and nothing are alike? and that the one is a nonentity, as well as the other, comparatively speaking, when set in competition with the first temple? and are not you of opinion that the people had as good do nothing, and that in effect they are doing nothing, and all their labour lost, who are working in this house? no answer is returned, nor any waited for: but it is as if the Lord had said, I, who am the omniscient God, the discerner of the thoughts of men, know that these are your sentiments, and these the reasonings of your minds; and but now lest discovering these thoughts of theirs, and speaking out their minds freely as they might, which would tend to discourage the governors and the people in carrying on the work they had engaged in; the Lord by the prophet says to them, as follows:

Haggai 2:3 In-Context

1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:
2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them,
3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?
4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Ezra 3:12; S Isaiah 60:7
  • 2. Zechariah 4:10
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