Haggai 1 3

Haggai 1:3 kjv

Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

Haggai 1:3 nkjv

Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

Haggai 1:3 niv

Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:

Haggai 1:3 esv

Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet,

Haggai 1:3 nlt

Then the LORD sent this message through the prophet Haggai:

Haggai 1 verses

Haggai 1 3 Meaning

Haggai 1:3 declares that the message which follows is a direct, authoritative communication from the Living God (YHWH) delivered through His chosen prophet, Haggai. This verse acts as a divine commissioning and authentication of the prophetic utterance, signaling that the words spoken are not human wisdom but the very word of the Lord.

Haggai 1 3 Context

Haggai chapter 1 opens in the second year of King Darius's reign (around 520 BC), over a decade after the first group of exiles had returned to Judah from Babylon. Despite having returned with a mandate and resources to rebuild the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem (Ezra 1-3), the work had ceased due to opposition (Ezra 4:4-5, 24) and, critically, due to the people's shift in priorities. Instead of focusing on God's house, they had turned their attention to building and decorating their own homes, leaving the Temple in ruins. Haggai 1:3 acts as the divine introduction to God's direct rebuke and urgent command to the people through the prophet Haggai, addressing their misplaced priorities and motivating them to resume the Temple rebuilding.

Haggai 1 3 Word analysis

• Then (וַיְהִי, vayhi): This Hebrew conjunction introduces a sequence of events. It establishes that this divine message follows chronologically after the setting of time mentioned in Haggai 1:1. It emphasizes the immediacy and relevance of God's word to the specific historical moment.
• the word (דְבַר, devar): From davar, referring to an authoritative, dynamic utterance or declaration, not just spoken sounds. It implies divine counsel, command, and an active force. This word signifies a message that is living, potent, and effectual, carrying the very authority and will of God.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is God's covenant name, underscoring His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithful relationship with His people. The use of YHWH stresses that the message originates from the sovereign God who keeps His promises and demands allegiance. It is the ultimate source of authority.
• came (בְּיַד, be-yad, combined with next word): Though often translated simply as "came," the Hebrew preposition be combined with yad (יַד, "hand") means "by the hand of" or "by means of." This signifies the active transfer of the divine message from God to the prophet. It shows divine initiative and sovereign control over the communication process.
• by Haggai (חַגַּי, Chaggay): The name Haggai means "my feast" or "festal." His name may allude to his ministry beginning near a significant Jewish feast (likely the Feast of Tabernacles, see Haggai 1:1, 2:1). He is God's designated human instrument for this specific message. His role is to transmit accurately, not to originate.
• the prophet (הַנָּבִיא, hannavi): Navi is the standard Hebrew term for prophet, denoting one who speaks on behalf of another, specifically for God. It marks Haggai as a legitimate spokesperson for the divine, someone through whom God reveals His will and truth. This title establishes the authority of his words for the recipients.
• saying: (לֵאמֹר, le'mor): This introduces the direct quotation of God's oracle. It transitions from the descriptive authentication of the message to the actual content of the divine speech. This structure is a classic prophetic formula, reinforcing the divine origin and authoritative nature of the subsequent message.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Then the word of the LORD came": This entire phrase, vayhi devar-YHWH ba’, is a quintessential prophetic formula found frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Jer 1:4, Ezek 1:3, Zech 1:1). It highlights the divine initiation and delivery of the message, stressing that the words are not from human invention but from God Himself. This formula sets the theological stage, demanding attentiveness and obedience, and counteracts any potential doubt regarding the message's origin or authority. It is a direct assertion of divine communication, distinct from mere human opinion or reasoning.
• "by Haggai the prophet, saying": This part specifies the medium and confirms his authoritative role. It ensures the message is contextualized as a true revelation from YHWH through His appointed messenger, not a random individual or a false prophet. The clear designation of "the prophet" serves as validation against the numerous false prophets who often arose in that era.

Haggai 1 3 Bonus section

The standard prophetic formula, "The word of the Lord came to [prophet's name]," used here, served a critical theological function in ancient Israel. It differentiated true prophets from false ones and divine revelation from human wisdom or deceptive prophecies. This explicit attribution to YHWH imbued the message with ultimate authority, bypassing any need for human validation. The "word of the LORD" is understood not just as information, but as an active, potent force, intrinsically connected to God's covenant faithfulness and His power to bring about His will. The delay in the Temple's rebuilding was due to external opposition (Ezra 4) but exacerbated by internal apathy, making Haggai's message timely and spiritually corrective, focusing on the people's responsibility rather than external obstacles alone.

Haggai 1 3 Commentary

Haggai 1:3 is a pivotal verse because it marks the direct intervention of God's authoritative word into a situation of spiritual complacency and misplaced priorities. At a time when the returning exiles had prioritized their own material comfort over God's house, neglecting the Temple's rebuilding for over a decade, this verse authenticates the imminent rebuke and call to action as emanating directly from the Most High God, YHWH. The use of the specific prophetic formula, "Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying," establishes the divine origin and incontrovertible authority of the message that follows. It underscores that what Haggai is about to say is not his own opinion or political counsel, but a direct divine command that demands immediate attention and obedient response. This framework sets a precedent for how the people are to receive and act upon God's word, emphasizing that the prosperity they sought would only come through renewed covenant faithfulness, beginning with the priority of God's glory.