Haggai 2 9

Haggai 2:9 kjv

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

Haggai 2:9 nkjv

'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts."

Haggai 2:9 niv

'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."

Haggai 2:9 esv

The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.'"

Haggai 2:9 nlt

The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!"

Haggai 2 verses

Haggai 2 9 Meaning

Haggai 2:9 declares God's solemn promise concerning the post-exilic temple in Jerusalem. Despite its humble beginnings compared to Solomon's temple, the future "glory" of this latter house will surpass that of the former. This declaration is a divine assurance that God Himself, the Lord of hosts, will bestow peace in that very place. The verse speaks to a shift from material grandeur to a greater, divinely initiated glory and comprehensive well-being, ultimately finding its supreme fulfillment in the Person and work of the Messiah.

Haggai 2 9 Context

Haggai chapter 2 follows God's initial call for the exiles, who had returned from Babylon, to resume building the Temple (Hag 1). In 2:1-9, the prophet addresses the discouragement of the people, especially the elders who remembered the splendor of Solomon's first Temple. Their spirits had sunk upon seeing the comparatively meager foundations and progress of this new, second Temple (Hag 2:3).

In this specific prophecy (Hag 2:6-9), God explicitly counteracts their despondency. He speaks of future cosmic shaking, the ingathering of wealth from nations, and His filling of the house with "glory." Haggai 2:9, then, directly contrasts the perceived insignificance of the current Temple with a divine promise that its future "glory" would far exceed that of Solomon's. It shifts the focus from their present circumstances and material resources to God's sovereign power and ultimate purpose. This promise was intended to re-motivate them by assuring them of the divine significance of their seemingly small endeavor.

Haggai 2 9 Word analysis

• The glory (Hebrew: כָּבוֹד, kavod):

  • Meaning: Weight, heaviness, honor, dignity, splendor, majesty, riches, reputation. Often refers to the manifest presence and radiance of God.
  • Significance: In the Old Testament, kavod filling the Tabernacle (Exod 40) and Solomon's Temple (1 Kgs 8) signified God's dwelling there. Here, it suggests an even greater divine manifestation than before. Its magnitude is not defined by material opulence.

• of this latter house (Hebrew: הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה הָאַחֲרוֹן, ha-bayit ha-zeh ha-aharōn):

  • Meaning: This house, the latter/final. Refers to the Temple rebuilt by Zerubbabel and later expanded by Herod, existing during Jesus's time.
  • Significance: It clearly distinguishes it from Solomon's "former" house. The prophecy centers on the specific structure being built, but its fulfillment stretches beyond the physical stones to encompass the divine presence that would eventually grace it.

• shall be greater (Hebrew: גָּדוֹל יִהְיֶה, gadol yihyeh):

  • Meaning: Great it will be. Exceeding, larger in scale, importance, or quality.
  • Significance: This is the core promise of elevation. The "greatness" implies not merely architectural superiority, but a qualitative supremacy, often understood to be linked to the profound spiritual significance that this Temple would ultimately bear due to the Incarnation.

• than of the former (Hebrew: מִן־הָרִאשׁוֹן, min-ha-rishon):

  • Meaning: Than the first. Refers to Solomon's magnificent Temple.
  • Significance: Directly addresses the despondency of those who mourned the inferiority of the new Temple (Hag 2:3). God challenges their physical comparison with a divine standard of greater value.

• saith the Lord of hosts (Hebrew: נְאֻם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, ne'um Yahweh Tseba'ot):

  • Meaning: Declaration of Yahweh of Armies/Hosts.
  • Significance: This is a frequently used divine formula in Haggai (used 14 times). "Lord of hosts" (Jehovah Sabaoth) emphasizes God's omnipotence and absolute sovereignty, His control over all spiritual and earthly forces, assuring the listeners that His promises are backed by His immense power and authority, guaranteeing fulfillment.

• and in this place (Hebrew: וּבַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה, u-va-makom ha-zeh):

  • Meaning: And in this place/spot.
  • Significance: Reinforces the geographical specificity, tied to the physical location of the Temple in Jerusalem. However, the spiritual meaning transcends the mere physical address, pointing to the specific context where God's presence and actions are manifested.

• will I give peace (Hebrew: וְנָתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם, ve-natati shalom):

  • Meaning: And I will give completeness, well-being, wholeness, prosperity, security, tranquility. Shalom is more than just the absence of conflict; it signifies holistic welfare and flourishing.
  • Significance: God Himself is the giver of this peace. This promises a profound spiritual peace that far exceeds material wealth or political stability. It anticipates the Messianic "Prince of Peace" (Isa 9:6) who brings reconciliation between God and humanity, and inner tranquility. This peace is both a spiritual reality experienced by individuals and a prophetic hope for God's ultimate kingdom.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former": This phrase directly confronts the architectural and material disparity between the temples. It pivots the standard of "glory" from human perception of grandeur (seen in Solomon's temple) to divine action and presence (seen ultimately in Jesus in the Second Temple). The "glory" isn't more gold, but the presence of the Messiah, the "Desire of all nations" (Hag 2:7).
  • "in this place will I give peace": This points to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount as the source of God's holistic shalom. It is a peace initiated and sustained by God, providing a stark contrast to the turbulent post-exilic world. It prefigures the spiritual peace inaugurated by Christ's presence and sacrificial work from that very location, extending globally.

Haggai 2 9 Bonus section

• The term "latter house" can have a multi-layered fulfillment: the physical temple rebuilt by Zerubbabel and extended by Herod, and ultimately, a typological reference to the new spiritual "temple" composed of believers (1 Cor 3:16) and to the eternal heavenly temple (Rev 21:22).
• The "greater glory" emphasizes that God's definition of glory is not limited by human architectural prowess or wealth. It's about His active presence and purpose. For the Jews who built it, it was glory that came in a less expected form – not political dominance or material splendor immediately, but a deeper, spiritual reality centered on Christ's presence.
• The concept of "peace" (shalom) extends to personal reconciliation with God, the inner tranquility believers experience, and the future Messianic age of universal peace and justice. It connects the physical site with eternal spiritual blessings.
• This verse can be seen as an encouraging word for those who feel their efforts for God are small or insignificant compared to past generations or greater works. God assures that the true "glory" lies in His work through humble beginnings, and He is the ultimate giver of peace regardless of present challenges.

Haggai 2 9 Commentary

Haggai 2:9 is a profoundly significant verse, offering solace and an expansive prophetic vision to a disheartened remnant. While the people saw a modest structure incapable of matching Solomon's opulent temple, God's promise transcended material aesthetics. The "greater glory" of this "latter house" primarily points to the unique honor bestowed upon it by the personal presence of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Though lacking the Ark of the Covenant, Urim and Thummim, and initial Shekinah glory, the second temple would be trod by the very Son of God, who is the true embodiment of God's glory (Jn 1:14; Heb 1:3). This humanly unimpressive building would witness the presence of the Incarnate God, thus becoming infinitely more glorious.

Furthermore, in this very place, God promises to give "peace" (shalom). This is not merely an absence of war or economic prosperity, though these may be included, but the deep spiritual peace and holistic well-being that only God can provide. It encompasses reconciliation with God, inward tranquility, and ultimately points to the peace of God's eschatological kingdom. This shalom would be inaugurated by the "Prince of Peace" (Isa 9:6-7) who ministered and ultimately offered Himself on the cross in Jerusalem. The cross, which established peace between God and humanity (Rom 5:1; Eph 2:14-16), stands at the heart of the "peace" bestowed in "this place." Thus, the verse reassures that God's plan is not thwarted by human limitations or historical circumstances; His glory and peace will ultimately prevail, epitomized in Christ.