Haggai 2 1

Haggai 2:1 kjv

In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,

Haggai 2:1 nkjv

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying:

Haggai 2:1 niv

on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:

Haggai 2:1 esv

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet:

Haggai 2:1 nlt

Then on October 17 of that same year, the LORD sent another message through the prophet Haggai.

Haggai 2 verses

Haggai 2 1 Meaning

Haggai 2:1 serves as a precise chronological marker for the second divine message delivered through the prophet Haggai. It establishes the date—the twenty-first day of the seventh month—during the Feast of Tabernacles, signifying a divinely ordained timing for a fresh word of encouragement and direction to the disheartened post-exilic community. This verse underscores that the message's origin is unequivocally from the LORD (YHWH), channeled specifically through His chosen messenger, Haggai, to address the immediate concerns of temple rebuilding and the spiritual state of the people.

Haggai 2 1 Context

Haggai chapter 2 verse 1 immediately follows the account in Haggai 1:15, where the people began working on the temple on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. This verse introduces God's second message, given just 27 days after the initial call to rebuild and 23 days after work commenced. The people, encouraged by Haggai's first message (Haggai 1), had taken up the task of rebuilding the temple after a 16-year delay. However, this verse indicates that new challenges or discouragement had already arisen.

Historically, this period was the early Persian era (circa 520 BC). The returned exiles, under Zerubbabel and Joshua, faced the reality of building God's house in the face of limited resources, memories of the glorious former temple, and potential continued opposition (as seen in Ezra 4). The first message focused on their misplaced priorities, while this subsequent message, delivered during the joyful Feast of Tabernacles, seeks to counter their present discouragement by promising God's continued presence, future glory for the temple, and blessings.

Haggai 2 1 Word analysis

• In the seventh month: (Hebrew: bāḥōdeš haššeḇī‘î - בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי)

  • Word: "seventh" (šĕḇī‘î) points to the month of Tishri, which is significant in the Jewish calendar.
  • Significance: This month contains major annual festivals, including Rosh Hashanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). The timing immediately places the divine message within a rich liturgical context.

• on the one and twentieth day of the month: (Hebrew: be‘eśrīm wə’eḥāḏ lāḥōdeš - בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ)

  • Word: "one and twentieth" pinpoints the specific date.
  • Significance: This day marks the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), known as Hoshana Rabbah, which is the final day of the Feast proper, before the concluding "Eighth Day" assembly. It was a day of solemn procession and prayer, looking forward to rain and Messianic hope. God's message arriving on this specific feast day, which celebrates God dwelling among His people and harvest provision, would have profound implications for a community rebuilding His dwelling. It contrasts their meager present with future glory.

• came: (Hebrew: hāyāh - הָיָה, "was" or "came to pass")

  • Significance: Implies divine initiative. The word didn't just exist or form, but actively "came" to the prophet, indicating God's purposeful communication.

• the word of the LORD: (Hebrew: dəḇar YHWH - דְבַר יְהוָה)

  • Word: "LORD" is YHWH, God's covenant name, emphasizing His personal involvement, faithfulness, and omnipotence. "Word" (dabar) implies not just spoken utterance, but effective, powerful revelation.
  • Significance: This phrase is a common prophetic formula establishing the divine authority and origin of the message. It signifies that the following communication is not human counsel but direct revelation from the sovereign God, Yahweh. It assures the hearers of the absolute truth and power of what is about to be declared.

• by the prophet Haggai: (Hebrew: bəyaḏ Ḥaggay han·nāḇî’ - בְּיַד חַגַּי הַנָּבִיא, "by the hand of Haggai the prophet")

  • Word: "by" (bəyaḏ), literally "by the hand of," indicates agency or instrument. "Prophet" (nāḇî’) signifies one who speaks for God, His mouthpiece.
  • Significance: Identifies the specific human instrument through whom the divine message was delivered. It underscores Haggai's divine calling and authenticity as God's messenger for that specific time and message. Haggai's name likely means "my feast" or "festive," which harmonizes strikingly with the timing of this prophecy during Sukkot.

• saying: (Hebrew: lē’mōr - לֵאמֹר, "to say" or "as follows")

  • Significance: A standard introductory term for direct divine speech, transitioning from the report of the word's coming to the content of the message itself.

Haggai 2 1 Words-group Analysis

• "In the seventh month, on the one and twentieth day of the month":

  • This precise dating anchors the prophecy in a specific, significant moment within the Jewish religious calendar. The choice of the 21st Tishri, the climax of Sukkot, highlights themes of God's dwelling (tabernacle/temple), harvest, and future blessings, providing a counter-narrative to the community's immediate discouragement about their small, unfinished temple. It infuses the message with a spiritual context that transcends the mundane building effort, reminding them of God's greater plan.

• "came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai":

  • This phrase encapsulates the core mechanics of divine prophecy: God, as the active agent, initiates communication ("came the word of the LORD"), and a chosen human agent ("by the prophet Haggai") serves as the passive but obedient vessel through whom that message is conveyed. This structure establishes the message's infallible divine origin and its authoritative human delivery, requiring immediate and reverent attention from the recipients. It sets a precedent for all inspired Scripture.

Haggai 2 1 Bonus section

• The strategic timing of this message on the seventh day of Sukkot (Hoshana Rabbah) suggests that God chose this day to underscore His continued presence ("tabernacle") with His people despite their incomplete temple. It also likely aimed to shift their focus from the outward physical appearance of the temporary structure to the spiritual significance of God's dwelling among them, and the ultimate, future glory that the temple represented.
• Haggai's concise, date-stamped introductions to his messages highlight the direct, time-sensitive nature of his prophetic ministry. This focus on specific dates creates a chronological backbone for the book, underscoring God's timely intervention in history.

Haggai 2 1 Commentary

Haggai 2:1, though brief, is critically important as a precise header to God's second oracle given through Haggai. It meticulously dates the message to the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which carries profound symbolic weight, occurring roughly 27 days after God first stirred the people to begin rebuilding the temple. The explicit mention of "the word of the LORD" underscores the divine origin and authoritative nature of the subsequent message. God, through His chosen prophet Haggai, directly addresses the spiritual state of His people, providing timely encouragement. The date chosen by God for this revelation speaks volumes: Sukkot, a feast of joy, remembrance of wilderness wanderings with God's presence (booths), and expectation of harvest, becomes the backdrop for God to challenge their present discouragement about the temple's smallness and assure them of future glory far exceeding what they could envision. It reveals God's continuous engagement with His people's obedience and His proactive comfort in their nascent work.