Haggai 2
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · 520 BC · Return & rebuilding · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
23 verses · 617 words · ~3 min read · ~4 min listen
The Coming Glory of Godʼs House
1On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet, saying: 2“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’
6For this is what the Lord of Hosts says:
Blessings for a Defiled People
10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, saying, 11“This is what the Lord of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling. 12If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’”
“No,” replied the priests.
13So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?”
“Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.
14Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the Lord, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.
15Now consider carefully from this day forward: Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the Lord, 16from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain, there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths, there were but twenty. 17I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the Lord.
18Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the Lordʼs temple was laid—consider carefully: 19Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded fruit. But from this day on, I will bless you.”
Zerubbabel the LORDʼs Signet Ring
20For the second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to Haggai, saying, 21“Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth:
Footnotes (5)
- a v2 Jehozadak is a variant of Jozadak; also in verse 4; see Ezra 3:2.
- b v6 Cited in Hebrews 12:26
- c v15 Or backward; also in verse 18
- d v16 Literally a heap of twenty
- e v16 Literally to draw out fifty from the winepress
Study notes on this chapter · 3
Jehoiachin written down as childless
Jeremiah says that none of Jehoiachin's offspring will sit on David's throne, and that he will be recorded as childless. Jehoiachin had children, and his line continued through Zerubbabel, who governed Judah but was not crowned. Matthew's genealogy includes Jeconiah in the line to Jesus, and Luke traces another line through Nathan.
When: Jeremiah, c. 598 BC; Jehoiachin was exiled in 597 BC and released c. 561 BC.
Ways people read this (4)
- The word 'childless' means without heirs to the throne, and the verse was fulfilled when no descendant reigned after him.
- Matthew's line is Joseph's royal (legal) lineage, and Luke's is Mary's or another branch, so Jesus avoids the curse through his virgin birth (a common explanation).
- Jesus inherits the throne through legal adoption by Joseph, and the curse on Jehoiachin's line was later reversed (Haggai 2:23).
- The two genealogies are an unsolved puzzle and were written for different purposes.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
The latter glory of this house
To discouraged builders of the second temple Haggai says the glory of this latter house will be greater than the former, and that God will give peace in this place. Interpreters differ on what 'glory' means and when it is fulfilled.
When: Haggai, 520 BC; second temple completed 516/515 BC; Herod's rebuilding from c. 20 BC.
Ways people read this (4)
- Fulfilled in the presence of Christ in the temple (the 'desired of all nations' read as the Messiah).
- Fulfilled by the wealth of nations and Herod's rebuilding of the temple.
- Fulfilled in a future glory, at the end of the age or in a future temple.
- The 'glory' is God's presence in a renewed community, as in Zechariah 2:5.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
Once more I will shake heaven and earth
Haggai says that God will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea and the nations. Hebrews quotes this to argue that the shaking signals the removal of what is made and the receiving of an unshakable kingdom, so believers should worship with reverence.
When: Haggai, 520 BC; Hebrews, before AD 70 (most likely).
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.