Haggai 1:8 kjv
Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
Haggai 1:8 nkjv
Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD.
Haggai 1:8 niv
Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD.
Haggai 1:8 esv
Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.
Haggai 1:8 nlt
Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD.
Haggai 1 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hag 1:4 | "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?" | Contrast of priorities; people's focus on personal comfort over God's house. |
| Hag 1:9 | "You looked for much, but behold, it came to little... because of My house that lies in ruins..." | Consequence of neglecting God's house; material efforts are diminished. |
| Hag 2:7 | "...I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts." | Promise of future glory for the Temple. |
| Ezra 1:1-4 | Cyrus's decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the house of the LORD. | Initial call and divine initiation of the rebuilding project. |
| Ezra 5:1-2 | "Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet... prophesied... Then Zerubbabel... and Jeshua... began to rebuild..." | Response to the prophetic word; immediate obedience. |
| Neh 4:6 | "So we built the wall... for the people had a mind to work." | Principle of determined work for God's purposes. |
| 1 Kgs 6:1 | Solomon beginning to build the house of the LORD in the fourth year. | Previous commandment and action to build God's house. |
| 2 Sam 7:13 | "He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." | Divine desire for a dwelling place, fulfilled by David's descendant. |
| Isa 60:7 | "I will make my beautiful house glorious." | Prophetic anticipation of the Temple's glory. |
| Ps 132:13-14 | "For the LORD has chosen Zion... 'This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.'" | God's delight in His dwelling place. |
| Ps 147:11 | "The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love." | God's delight in people who respond with reverence and trust. |
| Prov 11:1 | "A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight." | What pleases the LORD: Righteousness and obedience. |
| Heb 10:5-7 | "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired... 'Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.'" | Christ's obedience fulfilling God's true pleasure beyond sacrifices. |
| Rom 15:6 | "...that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." | Collective glorification of God through unity and purpose. |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." | All actions should ultimately be for God's glory. |
| Phil 2:13 | "...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." | God's enabling grace for doing His will and finding His pleasure. |
| 2 Tim 2:20-21 | Vessels for noble use; sanctification enables one for "every good work." | Being prepared for tasks that glorify God. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house..." | New Testament application of building a "house" – the church as spiritual temple. |
| Col 1:10 | "...so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him..." | Living a life that delights God. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... test Me in this,' says the LORD..." | Principle of giving to God first to see His blessing. |
| Ps 69:9 | "For zeal for Your house has consumed me..." | Righteous zeal for God's dwelling and worship. |
Haggai 1 verses
Haggai 1 8 Meaning
Haggai 1:8 is a direct command from the LORD to the returned exiles in Jerusalem to resume the stalled work of rebuilding His Temple. It explicitly states the necessary actions: "Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the house," and clearly outlines the divine purpose for this effort: "that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified." This verse highlights God's priority for His dwelling place, emphasizing that their diligent obedience in this task would lead to His delight and manifest His glory among them, contrasting with their current neglect and self-focus.
Haggai 1 8 Context
Haggai chapter 1 is set in the second year of King Darius's reign (circa 520 BC), sixteen years after the Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon following Cyrus's decree in 538 BC. Though the foundation of the Second Temple had been laid (Ezra 3:8-13), opposition from surrounding peoples and Samaritan governors, coupled with their own apathy and focus on personal well-being, led the Jews to abandon the Temple rebuilding project for years. During this period, they experienced severe droughts and poor harvests, which the prophet Haggai directly links to their neglect of God's house (Hag 1:6, 9-11). The verse is a powerful divine injunction, delivered through the prophet, challenging the people's misplaced priorities and commanding them to actively resume construction on the neglected Temple. It serves as a clarion call to obedience and spiritual realignment, emphasizing that their prosperity was directly tied to their devotion to God's agenda.
Haggai 1 8 Word Analysis
- Go up (עֲלוּ - 'alu): A strong imperative, meaning "ascend" or "go up." It signifies effort and movement towards a higher place. In this context, it literally means to go into the Judean highlands or forests, suggesting an arduous task of procurement. Spiritually, it implies rising above their current spiritual apathy and slothfulness, moving with determination.
- to the mountains (הָהָר - ha-har): Refers to the forested hill country surrounding Jerusalem, specifically the elevated regions known for timber. This highlights the practical, physical effort required. It implies a direct command for active labor, sourcing materials from specific, perhaps challenging, locations.
- and bring wood (וְהֵבֵאתֶם עֵץ - v'heve'tem 'etz): A direct instruction to gather the necessary raw material for construction. "Wood" was a primary building material, often transported with great difficulty. This signifies diligent and physical work; they were not to just think about it, but physically act to procure the essentials.
- and build (וּבְנוּ - u'venu): Another imperative, meaning "construct" or "erect." It moves from preparation to actual execution of the project. This is the central command, directly countering their years of idleness regarding the Temple.
- the house (הַבַּיִת - ha-bayit): Refers specifically to the Second Temple, God's dwelling place. More than just a physical structure, "the house" symbolizes the place of worship, God's presence, and the center of Israel's spiritual life. Its ruined state was a blight on the covenant relationship.
- that I may take pleasure in it (וְאֶרְצֶה־בּוֹ - v'ertzeh-bo): "Take pleasure" (רָצָה - ratzah) indicates divine satisfaction, approval, and delight. God's desire is for His people to bring Him joy through their obedient actions and dedication to His worship. It's a relational term, signifying a desire for reconciled fellowship.
- and be glorified (וְאֶכָּבְדָה - v'ekavdehah): "Glorified" (כָּבֵד - kaved) signifies weight, honor, dignity, and manifest presence. God would display His honor and manifest His power among them as a direct result of their obedience in rebuilding His house. The Temple would reflect His presence and glory.
- says the LORD (נְאֻם־יְהוָה - neum-YHWH): This authoritative prophetic formula, often found in prophetic books, stamps the preceding words as a direct, undeniable divine oracle. It underscores the ultimate authority and source of the command, eliminating any doubt or possibility of negotiation.
Haggai 1 8 Bonus section
The divine name YHWH (LORD) in "says the LORD" carries significant weight here. It is the covenant name, emphasizing that the command comes from the faithful God who made a covenant with Israel and desired to dwell among them. The work was not just for Zerubbabel or Joshua but for God Himself, ensuring that the motivation for rebuilding should be rooted in worship and obedience, not just personal gain or political necessity. The command implies a spiritual battle against slothfulness and discouragement, with God's word being the primary weapon. This focus on physical action with a spiritual purpose anticipates the broader New Testament teaching that believers are now "living stones" in a spiritual temple (1 Pet 2:5), called to build up the church and to live lives that glorify God in all aspects (1 Cor 10:31).
Haggai 1 8 Commentary
Haggai 1:8 is a pivotal command demonstrating God's direct involvement and priority concerning His neglected sanctuary. The imperative verbs – "Go up," "bring," "build" – convey urgency and underscore the people's responsibility for tangible, physical action. Their previous spiritual indifference had been exposed by material hardship, teaching them that focusing solely on personal gain without regard for God's house was counterproductive. The act of rebuilding the Temple was not just an architectural project; it was an act of renewed worship, a sign of their repentant hearts and corrected priorities. God desired the restoration of His dwelling not out of need for a physical structure, but as a visible symbol of His covenant presence among them and their obedient devotion to Him.
God's promise that He would "take pleasure in it and be glorified" reveals His ultimate desire for communion and manifest presence. His "pleasure" (ratzah) speaks of His delight in their obedience and worship, signifying a restored relationship and blessing. His being "glorified" (kavod) implies that through their obedience, His honor and majesty would be visibly manifested, not only within the Temple walls but also through the prosperity and well-being of the obedient community. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that genuine worship involves diligent, practical service born of a corrected heart, leading to divine favor and revelation of God's glory.