Haggai 1 12

Haggai 1:12 kjv

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.

Haggai 1:12 nkjv

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the LORD.

Haggai 1:12 niv

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.

Haggai 1:12 esv

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.

Haggai 1:12 nlt

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God's people began to obey the message from the LORD their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the LORD their God had sent, the people feared the LORD.

Haggai 1 verses

Haggai 1 12 Meaning

Haggai 1:12 describes the immediate and profound response of the post-exilic Jewish community to the word of the LORD delivered through the prophet Haggai. Led by Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua, the entire "remnant" of the people actively listened and complied with God's directive, acknowledging His divine authority. Their obedience was marked by a reverential awe and fear before the LORD, signifying a crucial turning point from past apathy to active engagement in rebuilding His Temple.

Haggai 1 12 Context

The book of Haggai is set during the post-exilic period, approximately 520 BC, when a Jewish remnant had returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity under the decree of Cyrus the Great. While the altar for sacrifices had been rebuilt and initial groundwork laid for the Temple, sixteen years had passed, and the Temple lay neglected. The people had focused their efforts on building and furnishing their own elaborate homes, neglecting God's dwelling place. Consequently, they experienced economic hardship, drought, and lack of prosperity—consequences Haggai attributes directly to their misplaced priorities (Hag 1:6, 1:9-11). Haggai chapter 1 opens with God's challenge to their self-centeredness and spiritual apathy. Verse 12 marks the critical turning point in this narrative: it describes the people's unified and obedient response, prompted by the prophet's divine message. This immediate compliance signaled a shift from indifference to dedication, paving the way for the Temple's reconstruction and the spiritual renewal of the community.

Haggai 1 12 Word analysis

• Zerubbabel (זְרֻבָּבֶל, Zerubavel): The civil governor appointed by the Persian Empire for Judah, a descendant of King David. His inclusion highlights the leadership's direct role in the communal response. As a Davidic heir, he embodies the continuity of God's covenant with the Davidic line, prefiguring Christ's kingly office.
• Shealtiel (שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל, She'altiyel): The father of Zerubbabel. His mention establishes Zerubbabel's lineage, grounding his authority and significance.
• Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Yehoshu'a): The High Priest, son of Jehozadak. He represents the spiritual leadership. His name, meaning "The LORD saves," resonates deeply and parallels the Greek name "Jesus." His joint action with Zerubbabel signifies the critical unity of governmental and spiritual authority working together for God's purposes, prefiguring Christ's roles as both High Priest and King.
• Jehozadak (יְהוֹצָדָק, Yehotsadaq): The father of Joshua. His mention specifies the High Priestly lineage.
• Remnant (שְׁאָר, she'ar): Refers to those Israelites who survived the exile and returned to Judah. This term carries profound theological weight, signifying God's faithfulness in preserving a chosen people, even through judgment, to continue His covenant purposes. They are the beneficiaries of God's preserving grace.
• Obeyed (שָׁמַע, shama): A crucial Hebrew verb meaning more than just "to hear" physically. It denotes an active, volitional listening that results in a concrete response, implying "to hear and obey," or "to give heed to." This indicates genuine submission to God's word, transforming passive hearing into active compliance.
• Voice (קוֹל, qol): Refers to the audible, authoritative declaration of God. This indicates direct divine communication, perceived through the prophet, necessitating a direct and serious response from the people.
• The LORD their God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם, Yahweh Elohehem): Emphasizes the specific, personal, and covenantal relationship between God (Yahweh, the personal name; Elohim, the powerful creator God) and His chosen people Israel. The possessive "their" underscores the intimate nature of this relationship and their accountability.
• Words of Haggai the prophet: Affirms that Haggai's message was not mere human opinion but divinely inspired and authorized revelation. The people's obedience to the prophet was unequivocally obedience to God Himself.
• As the LORD their God had sent him: This phrase confirms God's divine commissioning and backing of Haggai, endowing his message with supreme authority. It clarifies that their obedience stemmed from recognizing the divine source behind the prophet.
• Feared (יָרֵא, yare'): Signifies a reverential awe, respect, and worshipful submission towards God, rather than mere terror. It implies a recognition of God's holy majesty and power, which naturally leads to devoted service and a desire to please Him, aligning their will with His. This sacred fear motivates faithful action.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people": This composite expression highlights the unity and completeness of the response. It underscores that spiritual and political leaders, together with the entire community, embraced the divine mandate. This collective and harmonious action is essential for carrying out God's work.
• "obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet": This parallel construction emphatically links God's direct communication ("voice of the LORD") with the prophet's spoken message ("words of Haggai"). It powerfully reinforces the concept of prophetic inspiration and authority – what the prophet spoke was God's direct message. Their obedience to Haggai's words was therefore unequivocally obedience to God.
• "as the LORD their God had sent him": This clause serves as a divine authentication for Haggai's ministry. It provides the crucial context for why the people obeyed: they recognized Haggai as a genuine messenger directly appointed by God, making his message an unarguable divine command.
• "and the people feared before the LORD": This culminating phrase captures the essence and depth of their response. It indicates that their obedience was not forced or reluctant but flowed from a genuine reverence and awe for God's majesty and authority. This fear, signifying a profound spiritual acknowledgement of God's sovereignty, was the ultimate motivator for their action and transformation.

Haggai 1 12 Bonus Section

The exceptional promptness and universality of the response described in Haggai 1:12, occurring merely twenty-three days after Haggai's first prophetic word (cf. Hag 1:1 and 1:15), is remarkable given Israel's historical tendency towards disobedience. This swift shift from profound apathy to immediate action is explicitly attributed in the subsequent verse (Hag 1:14) to the LORD Himself "stirring up the spirit" of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people. Therefore, their "obeyed" and "feared" in verse 12 are not merely human resolves but the divinely empowered result of God's prior work within their hearts. This demonstrates a vital biblical principle: while God calls for human responsibility and obedience, He often graciously provides the very will and ability to perform it, acting both providentially through circumstance (like the prophet's arrival) and supernaturally within hearts. The inclusion of "all the remnant of the people" highlights the pervasive impact of this divine stirring and human submission, showcasing the strength and blessing found in a community unified under God's clear direction, moving past selfish endeavors to corporate worship and service.

Haggai 1 12 Commentary

Haggai 1:12 marks the dramatic turning point in a crucial chapter of post-exilic Israelite history. After persistent negligence and self-focused priorities led to economic hardship, God's sharp rebuke through Haggai provoked an immediate and comprehensive response. This verse beautifully illustrates how divine truth, when accompanied by a sovereign stirring of the spirit, transforms apathy into action. The unity of leadership—Zerubbabel as political governor and Joshua as high priest—acting in concert with the entire "remnant" of the people, underscores a holistic communal submission to God. Their obedience was more than mere compliance; the verb shama implies deep hearing leading to action, stemming from a profound and reverential "fear before the LORD." This proper awe of God recognized His authority as sovereign Lord over their lives and circumstances. This collective turning to God, characterized by obedient action and holy fear, paved the way for the Temple's rebuilding, demonstrating that genuine spiritual renewal precedes and enables physical and corporate restoration. The promptness of their response stands as a testament to the power of God's Word when met with humble and submissive hearts, changing a stagnant community into one actively fulfilling divine purpose.

• Practical usage: This verse teaches that discerning and acting upon God's word is foundational to spiritual progress, both individually and communally. It reminds believers that true fear of the LORD is a motivating force for active obedience and prioritizing God's will over personal comfort. When the church leadership and congregation collaboratively heed and implement divine directives with reverent hearts, it creates an environment ripe for God's blessings and accomplishment of His work.