23 In that day, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 will I take H3947 thee, O Zerubbabel, H2216 my servant, H5650 the son H1121 of Shealtiel, H7597 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and will make H7760 thee as a signet: H2368 for I have chosen H977 thee, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
Ye are my witnesses, H5707 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and my servant H5650 whom I have chosen: H977 that ye may know H3045 and believe H539 me, and understand H995 that I am he: before H6440 me there was no God H410 formed, H3335 neither shall there be after H310 me.
Then he answered H6030 and spake H559 unto me, saying, H559 This is the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto Zerubbabel, H2216 saying, H559 Not by might, H2428 nor by power, H3581 but by my spirit, H7307 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635 Who art thou, O great H1419 mountain? H2022 before H6440 Zerubbabel H2216 thou shalt become a plain: H4334 and he shall bring forth H3318 the headstone H68 H7222 thereof with shoutings, H8663 crying, Grace, H2580 grace H2580 unto it. Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 The hands H3027 of Zerubbabel H2216 have laid the foundation H3245 of this house; H1004 his hands H3027 shall also finish H1214 it; and thou shalt know H3045 that the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 hath sent H7971 me unto you. For who hath despised H936 the day H3117 of small things? H6996 for they shall rejoice, H8055 and shall see H7200 the plummet H68 H913 in the hand H3027 of Zerubbabel H2216 with those seven; H7651 they are the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 which run to and fro H7751 through the whole earth. H776 Then answered H6030 I, and said H559 unto him, What are these two H8147 olive trees H2132 upon the right H3225 side of the candlestick H4501 and upon the left H8040 side thereof? And I answered H6030 again, H8145 and said H559 unto him, What be these two H8147 olive H2132 branches H7641 which through H3027 the two H8147 golden H2091 pipes H6804 empty H7324 the golden H2091 oil out of themselves? And he answered H559 me and said, H559 Knowest H3045 thou not what these be? And I said, H559 No, my lord. H113 Then said H559 he, These are the two H8147 anointed H3323 ones, H1121 that stand H5975 by the Lord H113 of the whole earth. H776
Set H7760 me as a seal H2368 upon thine heart, H3820 as a seal H2368 upon thine arm: H2220 for love H160 is strong H5794 as death; H4194 jealousy H7068 is cruel H7186 as the grave: H7585 the coals H7565 thereof are coals H7565 of fire, H784 which hath a most vehement flame. H7957
Listen, H8085 O isles, H339 unto me; and hearken, H7181 ye people, H3816 from far; H7350 The LORD H3068 hath called H7121 me from the womb; H990 from the bowels H4578 of my mother H517 hath he made mention H2142 of my name. H8034 And he hath made H7760 my mouth H6310 like a sharp H2299 sword; H2719 in the shadow H6738 of his hand H3027 hath he hid H2244 me, and made H7760 me a polished H1305 shaft; H2671 in his quiver H827 hath he hid H5641 me; And said H559 unto me, Thou art my servant, H5650 O Israel, H3478 in whom I will be glorified. H6286
Behold G2400 my G3450 servant, G3816 whom G3739 I have chosen; G140 my G3450 beloved, G27 in G1519 whom G3739 my G3450 soul G5590 is well pleased: G2106 I will put G5087 my G3450 spirit G4151 upon G1909 him, G846 and G2532 he shall shew G518 judgment G2920 to the Gentiles. G1484
Labour G2038 not G3361 for the meat G1035 which G3588 perisheth, G622 but G235 for that meat G1035 which G3588 endureth G3306 unto G1519 everlasting G166 life, G2222 which G3739 the Son G5207 of man G444 shall give G1325 unto you: G5213 for G1063 him G5126 hath G4972 God G2316 the Father G3962 sealed. G4972
Nevertheless G3305 the foundation G2310 of God G2316 standeth G2476 sure, G4731 having G2192 this G5026 seal, G4973 The Lord G2962 knoweth G1097 them that are G5607 his. G846 And, G2532 Let G868 every one G3956 that nameth G3687 the name G3686 of Christ G5547 depart G868 from G575 iniquity. G93
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Haggai 2
Commentary on Haggai 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter we have three sermons preached by the prophet Haggai for the encouragement of those that are forward to build the temple. In the first he assures the builders that the glory of the house they were now building should, in spiritual respects, though not in outward, exceed that of Solomon's temple, in which he has an eye to the coming of Christ (v. 1-9). In the second he assures them that though their sin, in delaying to build the temple, had retarded the prosperous progress of all their other affairs, yet now that they had set about it in good earnest he would bless them, and give them success (v. 10-19). In the third he assures Zerubbabel that, as a reward of his pious zeal and activity herein, he should be a favourite of Heaven, and one of the ancestors of Messiah the Prince, whose kingdom should be set up on the ruins of all opposing powers (v. 20-23).
Hag 2:1-9
Here is,
Hag 2:10-19
This sermon was preached two months after that in the former part of the chapter. The priests and Levites preached constantly, but the prophets preached occasionally; both were good and needful. We have need to be taught our duty in season and out of season. The people were now going on vigorously with the building of the temple, and in hopes shortly to have it ready for their use and to be employed in the services of it; and now God sends them a message by his prophet, which would be of use to them.
Hag 2:20-23
After Haggai's sermon ad populum-to the people, here follows one, the same day, ad magistratum-to the magistrates, a word directed particularly to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, who was a leading active man in this good work which the people now set about, and therefore he shall have some particular marks put upon him (v. 21): Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, speak to him by himself. He has thoughts in his head far above those of the common people, as wise princes are wont to have, who move in a higher and larger sphere than others. The people of the land are in care about their corn-fields and vineyards; God has assured them that they shall prosper, and we hope that will make them easy; but Zerubbabel is concerned about the community and its interests, about the neighbouring nations, and the revolutions of their governments, and what will become of the few and feeble Jews in those changes and convulsions, and how such a poor prince as he is should be able to keep his ground and serve his country. "Go to him,' says God, "and tell him it shall be well with him and his remnant, and let that make him easy.'