Haggai 1:13 kjv
Then spake Haggai the LORD's messenger in the LORD's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.
Haggai 1:13 nkjv
Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, spoke the LORD's message to the people, saying, "I am with you, says the LORD."
Haggai 1:13 niv
Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: "I am with you," declares the LORD.
Haggai 1:13 esv
Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD's message, "I am with you, declares the LORD."
Haggai 1:13 nlt
Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, gave the people this message from the LORD: "I am with you, says the LORD!"
Haggai 1 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 26:3 | "Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you..." | God's promise of presence to Isaac |
| Gen 28:15 | "Behold, I am with you and will keep you..." | God's promise of presence to Jacob |
| Ex 3:12 | "Certainly I will be with you..." | God's assurance to Moses for deliverance |
| Dt 31:6 | "Be strong and courageous... the LORD your God is He who goes with you." | Encouragement to Israel under Joshua |
| Jos 1:5 | "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you..." | God's promise to Joshua for leadership |
| Jud 6:16 | "The LORD said to him, 'Surely I will be with you...'" | God's commission and assurance to Gideon |
| 1 Sam 3:19 | "Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him..." | God's active presence with Samuel's ministry |
| 2 Sam 7:3 | "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you." | Nathan's affirmation to David (pre-temple instruction) |
| 1 Chr 28:20 | "For the LORD God, my God, is with you..." | David encourages Solomon to build the Temple |
| Isa 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God..." | God's comforting presence in tribulation |
| Isa 43:2 | "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..." | God's presence through challenges |
| Jer 1:8 | "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you..." | God's assurance to Jeremiah in his prophetic call |
| Zep 3:17 | "The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one..." | God's saving presence in Zion |
| Zec 8:9 | "Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words..." | Further encouragement for temple builders |
| Zec 8:13 | "...fear not, but let your hands be strong." | Reinforcement of Haggai's message by Zechariah |
| Mt 1:23 | "...they shall call His name Immanuel' (which means, God with us)." | Prophetic fulfillment of God's ultimate presence |
| Mt 28:20 | "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." | Christ's perpetual presence with His church |
| Acts 18:10 | "For I am with you, and no one will attack you..." | Christ's promise to Paul in missionary work |
| Rom 8:31 | "If God is for us, who can be against us?" | God's unwavering support and alliance |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." | Christ's enabling power through His presence |
| Heb 13:5 | "I will never leave you nor forsake you." | New Covenant promise of God's abiding presence |
| 2 Tim 4:17 | "But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me..." | Paul's personal experience of divine enablement |
Haggai 1 verses
Haggai 1 13 Meaning
Haggai 1:13 records God’s direct response to the people of Judah after they finally obeyed His command to begin rebuilding the Temple. It reveals God’s immediate message, delivered through His prophet Haggai, assuring them of His empowering and sustaining presence: "I am with you, saith the LORD." This promise serves as divine encouragement and enablement, intended to dispel their fear and provide the necessary confidence and strength to carry out the daunting task of reconstruction. It underscores the principle that obedience is met with God’s active support.
Haggai 1 13 Context
Haggai chapter 1 details the prophet’s initial messages to the Jewish people who had returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem. Despite having permission to rebuild their Temple, they had neglected the work for sixteen years, prioritizing their own homes instead. God sends Haggai to rebuke their misplaced priorities, linking their poor crops and economic struggles directly to their failure to rebuild His house (Hag 1:2-11). In verse 12, the leaders Zerubbabel and Joshua, along with the remnant of the people, heeded the voice of the LORD, fearing Him and beginning to obey. Verse 13 immediately follows this pivotal moment of obedience, serving as God’s reassuring and empowering word to them as they turned their hearts towards His will. The historical context is post-exilic Judah, around 520 BC, a period of rebuilding both the physical structures of Jerusalem and the spiritual life of the community.
Haggai 1 13 Word analysis
- Then spake: Signifies a direct, immediate, and divinely prompted utterance. It marks a swift divine response to the people's repentance and obedience in the preceding verse.
- Haggai: The prophet's name, meaning "my festival" or "festive," reflecting a time of rejoicing or potentially born on a feast day. He is God’s appointed spokesman for this critical rebuilding period.
- the LORD's messenger (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - mal'akh Yahweh): A profound title for a human prophet, emphasizing his divine commission and authoritative role. Haggai is not speaking his own words but acting as the very mouthpiece of God. This title is sometimes used for a divine being (angel), but here unmistakably refers to Haggai's unique prophetic function.
- in the LORD's message (בְּמַלְאֲכוּת יְהוָה - b'mal'akhut Yahweh): Reinforces that the content delivered is solely from God. It highlights the divine origin and complete truthfulness of the pronouncement, lending it irrefutable weight and authority.
- unto the people: Indicates the direct target audience of the message: the entire community, specifically the exiles who had returned and were responsible for rebuilding. It stresses the personal nature of God's address to them.
- saying: Introduces the precise words directly from God.
- I am with you (אֲנִי אִתְּכֶם - ani itchem): The core of the promise. This statement is a powerful declaration of God’s personal, active, and supportive presence. It is a fundamental divine assurance throughout the Scriptures, implying divine aid, protection, empowerment, and ultimate success. It counters any fear, doubt, or discouragement they might feel concerning the rebuilding task.
- saith the LORD (נְאֻם־יְהוָה - ne'um Yahweh): A characteristic prophetic formula that stamps the entire declaration as an undisputed divine oracle. It underscores that these are not Haggai’s words but Yahweh's solemn and binding pronouncement, carrying the full authority of the sovereign God.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then spake Haggai the LORD's messenger in the LORD's message": This opening phrase underscores the legitimacy and divine origin of the forthcoming message. It transitions from the people's act of obedience to God's immediate, authoritative, and direct response delivered through His specially commissioned prophet. It establishes the weight of the words about to be spoken.
- "unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD": This forms the prophetic address itself. The assurance "I am with you" is the essence of God's response to their obedience. It’s a declaration designed to dispel fear, impart courage, and guarantee success. The repeated "saith the LORD" bookends and reinforces the divine authenticity, reminding them that the source of their help is the Almighty God.
Haggai 1 13 Bonus section
- Obedience-Presence Nexus: This verse beautifully illustrates the immediate divine affirmation that follows a repentant and obedient response. The people "obeyed the voice of the LORD" (Hag 1:12), and immediately, God responds with the promise, "I am with you." This rapid divine assurance empowers and validates their obedience, turning fear into fortitude.
- The Power of Divine Assurance: "I am with you" is one of the most potent and repeated promises in the entire Bible, given to patriarchs (Gen 26:3, 28:15), leaders (Ex 3:12, Jos 1:5), prophets (Jer 1:8), and ultimately climaxing in the person of Jesus Christ, Immanuel, "God with us" (Mt 1:23) and His promise to His disciples "always, to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20). Its repetition emphasizes its foundational importance to God's relationship with humanity.
- Rarity of "LORD's Messenger" Title: While prophets are messengers from the Lord, Haggai's designation as "the LORD's messenger" (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - mal'akh Yahweh) is relatively rare for a human prophet. This extraordinary title elevates his authority, placing his words on par with direct divine utterances, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of God's communication to His people through him.
Haggai 1 13 Commentary
Haggai 1:13 is the crucial turning point in the prophecy, shifting the divine message from rebuke to immediate encouragement. Following the people's fearful but obedient response in verse 12, God does not delay in showering them with a powerful assurance. The declaration, "I am with you," is more than a mere comforting phrase; it is a profound theological statement embodying God's commitment to His covenant people. It implies active presence, enabling power, unfailing provision, and sovereign protection for the task He has commanded. This verse highlights a fundamental biblical principle: when God's people respond to His word with humility and obedience, His immediate response is grace and empowerment. Their step of faith in beginning the difficult temple reconstruction was immediately met with the certainty of His enabling presence, promising success beyond their own limited capabilities. It serves as a reminder that the greatest assurance in any divinely appointed task is not human strength or resources, but the certain presence of the LORD Himself. This brief but potent message invigorated the entire community, proving sufficient to overcome their protracted inertia and opposition, leading to the Temple's completion years later.