Haggai
Haggai front
Introduction to Haggai
Part 1: General Introduction
Outline of Haggai
- The people must finish the temple for Yahweh to bless them again (1:1–15)
- This temple will be more glorious than the first temple (2:1–9)
- Yahweh will bless a defiled people (2:10–19)
- Yahweh will defeat the nations and establish his ruler (2:20–23)
What is the Book of Haggai about?
The people of Israel lacked food and warm clothes. The prophet Haggai told them it was because they were not obeying Yahweh. If they would listen to him and start rebuilding the temple, then Yahweh would send rain and bless them again. The people listened and began to work on the temple. Yahweh encouraged the people, the priests, and the leaders. He told them that he was with them and would bless them.
How should the title of this book be translated?
This book traditionally has been titled “Haggai” or “The Book of Haggai.” Translators may decide to call it “The Sayings of Haggai.” (See: How to Translate Names)
Who wrote the Book of Haggai?
The prophet Haggai wrote this book. He wrote it after the exiles returned from Babylon. They returned during the reign of the Persian king Darius I. Haggai probably gave all the prophesies in this book during a four-month period of time.
Very little is known about Haggai. He lived at the same time as the prophet Zechariah.
Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts
Did Haggai prophesy before Ezra and Nehemiah?
It is likely that Haggai prophesied before the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Part 3: Important Translation Issues
What does “consider your ways” mean?
Yahweh told the people to “consider your ways” several times in this book. This means that he wants them to think carefully about how they have lived and behaved.
Haggai 1
Haggai 1 General Notes
Structure and formatting
Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in this chapter.
Special concepts in this chapter
Farming imagery
Scripture frequently uses the imagery of farming in reference to spiritual matters. The statement “You have sown much seed, but bring in little harvest” indicates that they had done a lot but have very little to show for it. (See: spirit, wind, breath and seed, semen)
Haggai 1:1
“In the second year of the reign of Darius the king” or “After Darius had been king for more than a year” (See: Ordinal Numbers)
These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)
“on the first day of the sixth month.” This is the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar. The first day is near the middle of August on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)
This idiom is used to introduce a special message from God. Alternate translation: “Yahweh gave a message” or “Yawheh spoke this message” (See: Idiom)
This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. See the translationWord page about Yahweh concerning how to translate this.
Here the word “hand” refers to Haggai himself. Yahweh used Haggai as the agent to deliver his command. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:1. Alternate translation: “through Haggai” (See: Synecdoche)
Haggai 1:2
the temple
Haggai 1:3
This idiom is used to introduce a special message from God. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:1. Alternate translation: “Yahweh gave a message” or “Yawheh spoke this message” (See: Idiom)
Here the word “hand” refers to Haggai himself. Yahweh used Haggai as the agent to deliver his command. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:1. Alternate translation: “through Haggai” (See: Synecdoche)
Haggai 1:4
Yahweh is rebuking the people. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “Now is not the time for you … ruined.” (See: Rhetorical Question)
the temple of Yahweh
Haggai 1:6
There is not enough wine to satisfy the people’s thirst and not nearly enough for drunkenness. The reader should understand that the text is not calling drunkenness a good thing.
Not earning enough money to buy necessary goods is spoken of as if the person were losing the money that falls out through holes in the money bag. Alternate translation: “the money the worker earns is gone before he finishes buying everything he needs” (See: Metaphor)
Haggai 1:8
This represents only a part of what they needed to build the temple. (See: Synecdoche)
Haggai 1:9
Alternate translation: “look” or “listen” or “pay attention to what I am about to tell you”
The people not being able to find what they were looking for is spoken of as if Yahweh had blown on dust so it would go away. Alternate translation: “I made sure there was nothing there for you to find” (See: Metaphor)
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. Alternate translation: “this is what Yahweh has declared” or “this is what I, Yahweh, have declared” (See: First, Second or Third Person)
Haggai 1:10
The dew that appears at night is spoken of as if it formed in the sky and fell like rain. The sky is spoken of as if it were a person who refused to give a present or a parent who refused to feed his child. Alternate translation: “the sky does not allow the dew to fall” or “no dew forms” (See: Metaphor)
Haggai 1:11
Rain not falling for a long time is spoken of as if Yahweh had told a person to come and make the land dry. Alternate translation: “I have kept the rain from falling on the land” (See: Personification)
“Wine” and “oil” are metonyms for grapes and olives. (See: Metonymy)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word labor, you could express the same idea with a verbal form such as “work hard.” The labor that the hands perform is a metonym for the things that the labor produces. The hand is a metonym for the person. Alternate translation: “everything you have worked hard to make” (See: Abstract Nouns and Metonymy)
Haggai 1:12
See how you translated these men’s names in Haggai 1:1. (See: How to Translate Names)
The voice and the words are metonyms for the persons. Alternate translation: “obeyed Yahweh and Haggai” (See: Metonymy)
This could mean: (1) the face could be a synecdoche for the person. Alternate translation: “the people feared Yahweh” or (2) the face could be a metonym for the person’s presence. Alternate translation: “the people were afraid to be in Yahweh’s presence” (See: Synecdoche and Metonymy)
Haggai 1:13
Alternate translation: “this is what Yahweh has declared” or “this is what I, Yahweh, have declared”
Haggai 1:14
Stirring the spirit is a metonym for making someone want to act. Alternate translation: “Yahweh made the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and all the remnant of the people want to act” (See: Metonymy)
people who were still alive after being captive in Babylon and had returned to Jerusalem
Haggai 1:15
This is just 23 days after he received the vision. This is the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar. The twenty-fourth day is near the middle of September on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)
“second year of the reign of Darius the king” or “after Darius had been king for more than one year” (See: Ordinal Numbers)
Haggai 2
Haggai 2 General Notes
Structure and formatting
Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 2:3-9, 21-23.
Important figures of speech in this chapter
Unclean
Haggai uses an extended metaphor in this chapter related to ritual cleanliness. While the Jews were not unclean by nature as the Gentiles were, their actions made them unclean. (See: Metaphor and clean, wash)
Haggai 2:1
This is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. The twenty-first day is near the middle of October on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)
This idiom is used to introduce a special message from God. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:1. Alternate translation: “Yahweh gave a message” or “Yawheh spoke this message” (See: Idiom)
Here the word “hand” refers to Haggai himself. Yahweh used Haggai as the agent to deliver his command. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:1. Alternate translation: “through Haggai” (See: Synecdoche)
See how you translated this man’s name in Haggai 1:1. (See: How to Translate Names)
Haggai 2:2
See how you translated these men’s names in Haggai 1:1. (See: How to Translate Names)
Haggai 2:3
Yahweh speaks to the people about the new temple they are building. They are building it on the same place their ancestors built the former temple, which Nebuchadnezzar completely destroyed. This new temple is much smaller than the former temple.
Yahweh speaks of the new temple as if it were the same building as the old temple. He is telling those who had seen the former temple to pay attention. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “I want those among you who saw this house in its former glory to pay attention.” (See: Rhetorical Question and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Yahweh is telling them that he knows what they are thinking about the new temple. He speaks of the new temple as if it were the same building as the old temple. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “I know what you think of this new temple.” (See: Rhetorical Question and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Yahweh is telling the people that he understands that they are disappointed because the new temple is so small. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “I know that you think it is not important at all.” (See: Rhetorical Question and Double Negatives)
Haggai 2:4
Alternate translation: “From now on, be strong”
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:9. Alternate translation: “this is what Yahweh of hosts has declared” or “this is what I, Yahweh of hosts, have declared” (See: First, Second or Third Person)
Haggai 2:6
The words “I will shake the earth” could be translated as “I will cause an earthquake,” and that earthquake would shake “the sea” as well as “the dry land,” a merism for the entire earth. Yahweh speaks of the heavens and every nation as if they also were solid objects that he could shake. (See: Metaphor and Merism)
Use the verb you usually use for pushing trees back and forth to get fruit or other objects to fall from them.
Haggai 2:7
The metaphor that begins with the words “I will … shake the heavens” in verse 6 ends here. Yahweh speaks of every nation as if they also were solid objects that he could shake. (See: Metaphor and Merism)
Yahweh speaks of glory as if it were a solid or liquid that could be put into a container, the temple. This could mean: (1) the temple will become very beautiful. Alternate translation: “I will make this house very beautiful” or (2) the “precious things” that “every nation will bring” include much silver and gold and other forms of wealth. Alternate translation: “I will have people bring many beautiful things into this house” (See: Metaphor)
Haggai 2:8
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:9. Alternate translation: “this is what Yahweh of hosts has declared” or “this is what I, Yahweh of hosts, have declared” (See: First, Second or Third Person)
Haggai 2:10
This is the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. The twenty-fourth day is near the middle of December on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)
“in the second year of the reign of Darius” or “when Darius had been king for more than one year” (See: Ordinal Numbers)
See how you translated these men’s names in Haggai 1:1. (See: How to Translate Names)
This idiom is used to introduce a special message from God. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:1. Alternate translation: “Yahweh gave a message” or “Yawheh spoke this message” (See: Idiom)
Haggai 2:12
The words “that is set apart to Yahweh” and the word “holy” translate the same Hebrew word. “holy meat … holy”
Haggai 2:13
Alternate translation: “because he has touched a dead body”
Haggai 2:14
Haggai answers the priests with the words that Yahweh told Haggai to tell the priests. Alternate translation: “So Haggai answered and told them Yahweh’s words: ‘So it is … is unclean”
“I look at this people and this nation the same way.” Yahweh reminds the priests that a clean thing that touches an unclean thing becomes unclean. He then reminds them that he thinks of them as unclean because they have been worshiping idols, and so everything they touch and make becomes unclean.
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:9. Alternate translation: “this is what Yahweh has declared” or “this is what I, Yahweh, have declared” (See: First, Second or Third Person)
Haggai 2:15
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “Before you laid the first stones for the temple” (See: Active or Passive)
Haggai 2:16
“20 measures.” A “measure” is an unknown amount. (See: Numbers and Biblical Volume)
“50 measures.” A “measure” is an unknown amount. (See: Numbers and Biblical Volume)
Haggai 2:17
Alternate translation: “everything you made” or “your crops”
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:9. Alternate translation: “this is what Yahweh has declared” or “this is what I, Yahweh, have declared” (See: First, Second or Third Person)
Haggai 2:18
This is the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. The twenty-fourth day is near the middle of December on Western calendars. See how you translated this in Haggai 2:10. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)
This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “the day that you laid the foundation of Yahweh’s temple” (See: Active or Passive)
Haggai 2:19
Yahweh is preparing the people for the promise he is about to give them. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you can express it as a statement. Alternate translation: “You can see that there is no seed in the storehouse.” (See: Rhetorical Question)
Alternate translation: “Your grape vines, fig trees, pomegranate trees, and olive trees”
This is a type of sweet fruit. You may need to make explicit that the tree is being spoken of. Alternate translation: “the pomegranate tree” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Translate Unknowns)
Haggai 2:20
This idiom is used to introduce a special message from God. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:1. Alternate translation: “Yahweh gave a message” or “Yawheh spoke this message” (See: Idiom)
This is the name of a man. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:1. (See: How to Translate Names)
You may need to make explicit which month is spoken of. Alternate translation: “on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month” (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers and Ellipsis)
Haggai 2:21
This is the name of a man. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:1. (See: How to Translate Names)
The words “I will shake the earth” could be translated as “I will cause an earthquake.” Yahweh speaks of the heavens as if they also were solid objects that he could shake. See how these ideas are translated in Haggai 2:6.(See: Metaphor)
Use the verb you usually use for pushing trees back and forth to get fruit or other objects to fall from them. See how you translated this in Haggai 2:6.
This is a merism for “the whole universe” or “everything that exists.” (See: Merism)
Haggai 2:22
The throne is a metonym for the person sitting on the throne. Alternate translation: “I will take kings off of their thrones” (See: Metonymy)
Here “throne” is a metonym for the king who sits on it. Alternate translation: “government ruled by kings” (See: Metonymy)
You may need to make explicit that “the nations” are Israel’s enemies. Alternate translation: “I will make it so the kingdoms of the nations that are Israel’s enemies are no longer strong” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
The sword here is a metonym for violent death. Alternate translation: “each one because his brother has killed him” (See: Metonymy)
Haggai 2:23
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:9. Alternate translation: “this is what Yahweh of hosts has declared” or “this is what I, Yahweh of hosts, have declared” (See: First, Second or Third Person)
See how you translated these men’s names in Haggai 1:1. (See: How to Translate Names)
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Haggai 1:9. Alternate translation: “this is what Yahweh has declared” or “this is what I, Yahweh, have declared” (See: First, Second or Third Person)
Kings used a signet ring to seal documents to show that they truly had his authority. Zerubbabel would have authority from Yahweh because he would speak Yahweh’s words. (See: Simile)