And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:
Read it in contextBlessings for a Defiled People
Start reading at Haggai 2:10 (Haggai 2:10 to Haggai 2:19).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
Questions to the priests introduce a diagnosis of the people's condition and a renewed word about blessing.
2:10In 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,
2:11Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
2:12If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.
2:13Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
2:14Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
2:15And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:
2:16Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
2:17I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.
2:18Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it.
2:19Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Haggai is the named prophet through whom the dated messages were delivered; the collection presents his ministry in third-person narrative. Biblical references: Haggai 1:1. stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Haggai 2:1–2:23): Zerubbabel, Joshua, the remaining people, and the priests receive messages concerning the temple, holiness, blessing, and the governor's role. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? The returned Judean community, especially Zerubbabel the governor, Joshua the high priest, and the people rebuilding the temple. Biblical references: Haggai 1:1; Haggai 1:12. stated in the text
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Blessings for a Defiled People. Read Haggai 2:10 through Haggai 2:19 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? Questions to the priests introduce a diagnosis of the people's condition and a renewed word about blessing. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The messages are dated to the second year of Darius, with months and days supplied. Those are dates of prophetic messages, not a modern publication date. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The returned community and the rebuilding of the LORD's house in Jerusalem form the immediate setting. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Blessings for a Defiled People (Haggai 2:10 to Haggai 2:19).
Start reading at Haggai 2:10. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Hebrews draws on Haggai's language of shaking heaven and earth. That explicit quotation supplies a connection while leaving other details of the temple setting to be read in their own context. See Haggai 2:6, Hebrews 12:26, Hebrews 12:27. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Examine priorities and respond faithfully to the work actually entrusted to you. Do not turn a message to this rebuilding community into an automatic guarantee of wealth for a modern project. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Haggai 2
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Haggai dates his messages to Darius' second year and names Zerubbabel and Joshua. Its appeals address the returned community's neglect of the LORD's house in that setting. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The next message encourages the workers by setting their present task beside the LORD's promised purpose.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The final message addresses Zerubbabel with a promise set amid the overturning of kingdoms.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Haggai
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Haggai dates his messages to Darius' second year and names Zerubbabel and Joshua. Its appeals address the returned community's neglect of the LORD's house in that setting.