Haggai 2

1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word [divine message or utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] came through Haggai [a spokesperson for God] the prophet, saying [to speak or declare]: word study 2 “Speak [say, declare, command] to Zerubbabel [the one sown in Babylon] son of Shealtiel [I have asked of God], governor [leader, ruler] of Judah [praise, the southern kingdom], and to Joshua [God is salvation] son of Jehozadak [God is righteous], the high [great, exalted] priest [one who serves God], and also to the remnant [what is left, the surviving ones] of the people [nation, community]. Ask [say, speak to] them, word study 3 ‘Who [remaining] is left among you who saw this house [temple, place of worship] in its former [first, initial] glory [honor, splendor, greatness]? How [what, in what way] does it look to you now [at this time, in this moment]? Does it not appear to you [seem, look] like nothing [as nothing, of no account] in comparison [by comparison, in contrast]?’ word study 4 But now [at this present time] be strong [courageous, have faith], O Zerubbabel [leader of Judah], declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. Be strong [steadfast, confident], O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship]. And be strong [encouraged, resilient], all you people [nation, community] of the land [earth, territory], declares the LORD [the Lord of all]. Work [labor, serve]! For I am with you [near you, supporting you], declares the LORD [the Commander of the armies of angels] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. word study 5 This is the promise [covenant, solemn agreement] I made to you when you came out [departed, left] of Egypt [the land of bondage, oppression]. And My Spirit [breath, divine presence] remains [abides, dwells] among you [in your midst, with you]; do not be afraid [fear not, have no fear, be courageous].” word study 6 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things] says: “Once more [yet once, still], in a little while [a short time], I will shake [cause to tremble, quake] the heavens [the visible universe, the abode of God] and the earth [the land, the material world], the sea [a large body of water] and the dry land [dry ground, a desert]. word study 7 I will shake [tremble with fear, quake] all the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples], and they will come [approach, enter] with all their treasures [precious things, desirable riches], and I will fill [make full, complete] this house [temple, dwelling place] with glory [honor, splendor], says the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. word study 8 The silver [valuable metal, wealth] is Mine, and the gold [precious treasure] is Mine, declares [utters, speaks forth] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. word study 9 The latter [last, final] glory [great honor, splendor] of this house [temple, dwelling place] will be greater [more magnificent, excellent] than the former [first, initial], says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. And in this place [location, region] I will provide [give, grant] peace [completeness, wellness, friendship], declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces].” word study 10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius [a king of the Persian empire], the word [a thing or matter, a message from God] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came to Haggai [a prophet of God, a spokesperson for the divine] the prophet [one who speaks for God, a messenger of the divine], saying [to speak, to declare, to command], word study 11 “This is what [thus, in this manner] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things] says: ‘Ask the priests [those who serve God and lead others in worship] for a ruling [concerning the law, instruction] [please, I pray]. word study 12 If a man [any person, an individual] carries consecrated [set apart, holy] meat [flesh, the body of an animal] in the fold [the edge or extremity, a wing-like part] of his garment [clothing, a covering], and it touches [comes into contact with, reaches] bread [food, especially grain], stew [pottage, a boiled meal], wine [fermented wine], oil [olive oil], or any other food [something to eat, a meal], does that item become holy [consecrated, set apart as sacred]?’” “No [not, an absence of something],” replied the priests [those who serve God, spiritual leaders]. word study 13 So Haggai [the prophet, messenger of God] asked, “If one who is [spiritually] defiled [made unclean, impure] by contact [touch, physical connection] with a corpse [a dead body, a lifeless thing] touches [comes into physical contact, reaches out to] any of these [these things, these objects], does it become [is it made, rendered] defiled [unclean, contaminated, polluted]?” “Yes, it becomes defiled [it is made unclean, it becomes impure],” the priests [the spiritual leaders, the mediators] answered [responded, gave a reply]. word study 14 Then Haggai replied, “So [thus, in this manner] it is with this people [nation, community] and this nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew] before Me [in My presence, face to face], declares the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], and so [thus, in like manner] it is with every [all, each] work [deed, action] of their hands [strength, power]; whatever [all that] they offer [present, bring near] there [in that place, at that time] is defiled [unclean, polluted, spiritually impure]. word study 15 Now [at this moment, from this day forward] consider [think carefully, reflect on] carefully from this day forward: Before [prior to, from the time when] one stone [rock, foundation stone] was placed [laid, set in position] on another [a second stone, a subsequent stone] in the temple [house, sanctuary] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], word study 16 from that time [since those days were], when one came expecting a heap [a pile, a sheaf of grain] of twenty ephahs of grain [food, harvest], there were but ten [a smaller quantity, a decrease]. When one came to the winepress [a device for crushing grapes, a press] to draw out fifty [a large quantity, a multiple of ten] baths [measures, vessels], there were but twenty [a smaller amount, a reduction]. word study 17 I struck [smote, inflicted judgment] you—all the work [deeds, labors] of your hands [strength, abilities]—with blight [destructive disease, blasting], mildew [paleness, decay], and hail [ice, divine judgment], but you did not turn [return, come back] to Me [toward, unto], declares [utterance, declaration] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 18 Consider carefully [think deeply, reflect on] from this day forward [from now on, today and onward]—from the twenty-fourth [twenty-four] day of the ninth month, the day [a specific point in time] the foundation [base, starting point] of the LORD’s [Yehovah, the Lord God] temple [a large public building, a sacred place] was laid [founded, established]—consider carefully [think about, ponder]: word study 19 Is there still [yet remaining, as yet] seed [offspring, descendants] in the barn [storehouse, grain storage]? The vine [a grapevine], the fig [common food source], the pomegranate [fruit or tree], and the olive tree [tree of oil and light] have not yet [hitherto, until now] yielded [brought forth, produced] fruit [crops, harvest]. But from this day [this point in time, henceforward] on, I will bless [praise, honor] you [bestow my favor upon you].” word study 20 For the [again] second time that day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the word [divine message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came to Haggai [the Hebrew prophet], saying [to speak, command, or proclaim], word study 21 “Tell [speak to, command] Zerubbabel [leader of Judah] governor of Judah that I [emphatically, as the Lord] am about to [going to, on the verge of] shake [tremble, quake] the heavens [the sky, the spiritual realm] and the earth [the land, the physical world]: word study 22 I will overturn [completely destroy, turn upside down] royal thrones [seats of power and authority] and destroy [annihilate, bring to an end] the power [strength and control] of the kingdoms [nations and territories] of the nations [Gentile peoples]. I will overturn [overthrow and demolish] chariots [vehicles of war] and their riders [those who drive or ride them]; horses [war horses, chariot horses] and their riders [those who ride on them] will fall [come down, be overthrown], each by the sword [cutting instrument, tool of war] of his brother [fellow soldier, companion]. word study 23 On that day [of divine appointment], declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things], I will take [choose, select, appoint] you, My servant [faithful attendant, one who serves God], Zerubbabel [a leader of Judah] son of Shealtiel [a descendant of Judah], declares the LORD, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen [selected, appointed] you, declares the LORD of Hosts.” word study