Haggai 2 10

Haggai 2:10 kjv

In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

Haggai 2:10 nkjv

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,

Haggai 2:10 niv

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Haggai:

Haggai 2:10 esv

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet,

Haggai 2:10 nlt

On December 18 of the second year of King Darius's reign, the LORD sent this message to the prophet Haggai:

Haggai 2 verses

Haggai 2 10 Meaning

Haggai 2:10 marks the precise timing of the third divine message given to the prophet Haggai. It establishes the specific date—the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of King Darius—when the Word of the LORD was conveyed through Haggai. This verse acts as an authoritative chronological marker, preceding and validating the vital messages concerning defilement, the conditional nature of blessing, and future restoration that immediately follow.

Haggai 2 10 Context

This verse sets the stage for the crucial third message delivered by Haggai, a prophet to the returned exiles in Judah during the post-exilic period (circa 520 BC). Following their return from Babylon, the people of Judah, under Zerubbabel and Joshua the High Priest, had started rebuilding the Second Temple but abandoned the work due to opposition and personal priorities. Haggai’s initial messages (Hag 1) successfully spurred them to resume construction. The second message (Hag 2:1-9) offered encouragement, promising God's presence and a greater glory for the new Temple than that of Solomon's, addressing the people's potential disappointment with its humble beginnings.

Haggai 2:10 introduces the fourth and fifth oracles (Hag 2:11-19 and 2:20-23 respectively). The immediate context (Hag 2:11-19) is a prophetic inquiry regarding ceremonial purity, demonstrating that their past agricultural failures and lack of blessing were due to the spiritual defilement pervading their work and lives, impacting even their "holy" activities. This message pivots from the general call to rebuild to the spiritual condition necessary for divine favor and blessing. It occurred after the people had already returned to work on the Temple (since the 24th of the 6th month, Hag 1:15), emphasizing that merely performing outward actions was not enough; inward purity was essential for the promised blessings to flow.

Historically, Darius I Hystaspes (ruled 522-486 BC) was the Persian king whose reign oversaw significant rebuilding efforts within the Persian Empire, including the Jerusalem Temple. The dating precision underlines the historical authenticity and divine ordering of the events during a critical period of Judah's restoration.

Haggai 2 10 Word Analysis

• On the twenty-fourth day: This specific detail emphasizes divine precision and careful record-keeping, highlighting God's direct involvement in the timing of prophetic revelation. This level of exactness is a recurring feature in the prophets, authenticating the message.
• of the ninth month: This corresponds to the Hebrew month of Kislev (כסלו, Kislev), roughly November/December. This detail provides a calendar context, noting the progress of the rebuilding efforts through different seasons. Kislev later gained significance in Jewish tradition due to the rededication of the Temple in the Maccabean period (Hanukkah).
• in the second year of Darius: Refers to Darius I Hystaspes, king of the Persian Empire (520 BC). This specific reign provides a solid historical anchor for the prophecy, demonstrating its embeddedness in historical reality and allowing for accurate chronological placement. Daryavush (דריוש) is the Hebrew form of his name. This detail connects the spiritual events with broader imperial history.
• the word of the LORD: Devar YHWH (דבר יהוה). This critical phrase underscores the divine origin and ultimate authority of the message that follows. It signifies that what Haggai declares is not his own opinion, but an inspired, authoritative communication from the sovereign God of Israel, YHWH (יהוה). This distinguishes prophetic revelation from human wisdom or speculation.
• came: Emphasizes divine initiative. God chooses to speak, and His word arrives at a specific time and place. This highlights God's active engagement with His people and the circumstances they faced.
• by Haggai the prophet: Literally "by the hand of Haggai" (beyad Hachay). This idiomatic expression signifies that Haggai served as the instrument or channel through which the divine message was conveyed. He was not the originator, but the faithful conveyor of God’s word. The term "prophet" (navi, נביא) further establishes his divine commission and authority to speak on God's behalf, distinguishing him as one appointed to communicate God's truth to humanity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "On the twenty-fourth day... in the second year of Darius": This phrase precisely dates the divine communication, showcasing the meticulousness of God's interaction with history and His people. Such dating also provides external validation of the prophecy’s authenticity and helps track the spiritual progress and challenges faced by the returning exiles. It contrasts the unchanging nature of God's word with the flow of temporal events.
• "the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet": This phrase identifies the divine source, the authoritative content, and the human channel of the message. It highlights that the prophet's words are truly God's words, providing the necessary authority for the potentially challenging or encouraging message that follows. This theological statement foundational to biblical inspiration and revelation.

Haggai 2 10 Bonus section

The choice of the twenty-fourth day is notable as it is the same date in the sixth month when the people "began to work on the house of the LORD of hosts" (Hag 1:15). This exact recurrence signifies a full three months (sixth, seventh, ninth months) of continuous effort in temple rebuilding by the time this new message arrived. This temporal detail underlines God's watchful eye over their progress and His strategic timing in addressing the deeper issues of their spiritual defilement precisely when their outward obedience might otherwise lead them to expect immediate prosperity. This also creates a pattern where significant spiritual revelations and actions cluster around the 24th day in Haggai, possibly signifying moments of divine evaluation or new beginnings.

Haggai 2 10 Commentary

Haggai 2:10 functions as an important divine timestamp, precisely situating the subsequent oracle within its historical and spiritual context. God, in His meticulous Providence, provides exact dates for His revelations, reinforcing the historicity and undeniable authority of His word. The repetition of "the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet" (cf. Hag 1:1, 2:1) asserts the unbroken stream of divine communication to Israel during this critical post-exilic period, emphasizing that God was actively guiding and correcting His people through His chosen instruments.

This particular message (following in 2:11-19) is vital because it addresses a deeper spiritual issue than just a lack of zeal for building. It unveils the principle that the defilement of an individual or an act spreads to anything they touch or do, but holiness does not transmit in the same way. This insight directly connects the people's lack of prosperity, even after resuming temple work, to their collective spiritual state of defilement. The precision of the date thus marks the beginning of a crucial teaching moment: for the physical rebuilding to truly prosper and for blessings to return, a prior cleansing of the heart and deeds was required. It’s a profound reminder that outward religious acts are insufficient without inward purity and obedience.