Haggai 1 10

Haggai 1:10 kjv

Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

Haggai 1:10 nkjv

Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.

Haggai 1:10 niv

Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.

Haggai 1:10 esv

Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.

Haggai 1:10 nlt

It's because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops.

Haggai 1 verses

Haggai 1 10 Meaning

Haggai 1:10 conveys a direct divine judgment: the heavens are preventing dew from falling, and the earth is withholding its produce. This outcome, symbolized by drought and failed harvests, is presented as God's deliberate response to the people's negligence in rebuilding His temple. Their material struggles were not random misfortunes but purposeful disciplinary actions, demonstrating God's sovereign control over nature and the direct consequence of misplaced priorities and spiritual disobedience.

Haggai 1 10 Context

Haggai 1:10 sits within a pivotal section of the book of Haggai (chapters 1 and 2), delivering God's message to the returning exiles in Judah around 520 BC. The people, led by Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua, had been back in the land for about 18 years following Cyrus's decree allowing their return (538 BC). While they had laid the temple foundation shortly after their return, progress stalled due to opposition and, significantly, a lack of personal motivation and zeal for God's house. Instead, they had prioritized building and adorning their own homes, while God's house lay in ruins.

The verses immediately preceding verse 10, particularly verse 9, directly explain their economic hardships: "You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? Declares the LORD of hosts, ‘Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.’" Verse 10, therefore, elaborates on how God was "blowing away" their efforts and hindering their prosperity—by controlling the very elements of nature that provided their livelihood. This highlights that their suffering was not an accident or bad luck, but a direct, divinely orchestrated consequence of their spiritual apathy and disobedience, serving as a powerful motivation for them to restart the temple's reconstruction.

Haggai 1 10 Word analysis

• Therefore (עַל־כֵּ֫ן, ‘al-kēn): A consequential conjunction. It links the previous statements of their negligence (Hag 1:9—neglecting God's house while building their own) directly to the resulting judgment. It emphasizes divine causality, signaling that the ensuing events are a logical and just outcome of their actions.
• the heavens (שָׁמַ֫יִם, shamayim): Refers to the sky or atmospheric heavens. In biblical thought, the heavens are not merely a natural phenomenon but are under God's absolute control, acting as His agents or responding directly to His commands (Psa 19:1; Job 38:22-38). Here, they are specifically directed by God to withhold blessing.
• above you (עֲלֵיכֶ֫ם, ‘aleikhem): Adds a direct, personal focus. The judgment is not general but specifically targeted at the people to whom God is speaking, underscoring that their actions led to these particular consequences impacting their daily lives.
• withhold (כָּלָא, kala’): This verb means to restrain, to shut up, to keep back, or to forbid. It denotes an active, deliberate prevention rather than a passive absence. It implies divine intention and purpose behind the lack of natural blessing.
• the dew (טָל, ṭāl): Dew is crucial for agriculture in arid regions, providing essential moisture, especially when rainfall is scarce or absent. Its absence signifies a comprehensive and subtle drought, indicating that even small, consistent blessings were being withheld. The lack of dew indicates a pervasive and significant impediment to crop growth, beyond just lack of rain.
• and the earth (וְהָאָרֶץ, wᵉhā’āretz): Refers to the ground or land they cultivate. Just as the heavens are subject to God's command, so too is the earth. This parallelism shows the judgment is complete and affects both celestial and terrestrial spheres of agricultural productivity.
• withholds (תִּכְלָּא, tikhla’): The same verb as "withhold" used for the heavens, maintaining consistency. This reinforces the intentional and direct nature of the land’s lack of yield. It is not failing on its own but is being caused to fail by divine intervention.
• its fruit (יְבוּלָהּ, yᵉvulāh): Refers to the produce of the ground, the harvest. This is the ultimate outcome affected by the withheld dew. The people's labor would not yield the expected results, leading to scarcity and economic distress (Hag 1:6).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew": This phrase clearly articulates God's direct agency in their distress. The celestial realm, normally a source of life-giving moisture (Psa 133:3), is intentionally closed off. The mention of "dew" highlights the severity—not just rain but even the small, vital nightly moisture is gone. This indicates a very dry, parched environment, leading to the withering of crops.
• "and the earth withholds its fruit": This second part of the verse acts as a parallel consequence. The withholding by the heavens directly results in the earth's inability to produce. It underscores the complete failure of the agricultural system from divine intervention, affecting the very sustenance of the people. It demonstrates God's sovereignty over every aspect of natural processes essential for human well-being, using them as instruments of both blessing and discipline (Lev 26:19-20; Deut 28:23-24). The spiritual neglect leads to physical poverty.

Haggai 1 10 Bonus section

The active verbs "withhold" (כָּלָא, kala’) used for both heavens and earth emphasize that this was not a natural disaster, but a direct and personal act of God's sovereign will in judgment. This theological depth highlights God's ongoing involvement in the affairs of His creation and His people. The phrase "above you" makes the judgment extremely personal and inescapable. This specific mention of dew, rather than just rain, highlights a pervasive and insidious lack of moisture, crucial for crops, particularly in a climate where dew can often supplement sparse rainfall. It suggests a thorough and relentless drying, showing the comprehensive nature of the divine judgment, leaving no room for growth or prosperity without God's direct intervention in their circumstances. This situation underscores the principle found throughout Scripture that the blessings and curses of the covenant are concretely manifested in their environment and livelihoods.

Haggai 1 10 Commentary

Haggai 1:10 delivers a profound theological principle: God’s governance extends to the very elements of nature, and He uses them to bless or chasten His people based on their spiritual obedience. The prophet explains why the post-exilic community faced persistent poverty despite their efforts (as highlighted in Hag 1:6). It wasn't bad luck, but a precise, targeted judgment. Because they prioritized their comfort and their own houses over the restoration of God’s house (Hag 1:9), God actively intervened to prevent their prosperity. The heavens refused dew, and the earth denied its yield, symbolizing a complete natural and agricultural drought, directly preventing a good harvest.

This verse teaches that material blessing is often intrinsically linked to spiritual faithfulness. When God's people become self-focused and neglect His kingdom priorities, God, in His love and wisdom, may remove the very things they cherish or labor for to bring them back to Himself. This isn't merely passive absence of blessing; it is an active "withholding" or "calling for a drought" (Hag 1:11). It serves as a stark reminder that true prosperity comes from divine favor and alignment with God's will, not solely from human effort. This principle encourages introspection, urging believers to examine their priorities and ensure God's work and glory are given preeminence in their lives.