Haggai
maleReturnMeaning: “Festive; my feast”
A post-exilic prophet who roused the returned exiles to finish rebuilding the temple, promising that its glory would surpass the former house.
Biography
Haggai was one of the first prophets after the return from Babylon. When the people had grown discouraged and let the half-built temple sit neglected for years while they paneled their own houses, Haggai delivered God's pointed rebuke: "Is it time for you... to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?" (Haggai 1:4).
Stirring up the work
His preaching worked: governor Zerubbabel, high priest Joshua, and "all the remnant of the people... came and did work in the house of the LORD" (Haggai 1:14). The whole book spans just a few months in 520 BC, and the temple was completed four years later.
The glory of the latter house
To those who wept that the new temple seemed poor beside Solomon's, Haggai brought a great promise: "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former... and in this place will I give peace" (Haggai 2:9) — fulfilled when the Lord Himself, the Messiah, would one day enter it.
Life Timeline
Rebukes the people for neglecting the temple
Promises the latter house’s glory will exceed the former
On the Bible timeline
Haggai belongs to the The Babylonian Exile era (c. 586 – 538 BC).
- 586 BCThe Fall of Jerusalem
- 538 BCThe Return from Exile
Themes & lessons from Haggai
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Haggai appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
11 verses in 2 booksEzra2 verses
Ezra 5:1
Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
Ezra 6:14
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. commandment: Chaldee, decree
Haggai9 verses
Haggai 1:1
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, by: Heb. by the hand of governor: or, captain
Haggai 1:3
Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
Haggai 1:12
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.
Haggai 1:13
Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.
Haggai 2:1
In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, by: Heb. by the hand of
Haggai 2:10
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 2:13
Then 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.
Haggai 2:14
Then 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.
Haggai 2:20
And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
Frequently asked about Haggai
Who was Haggai in the Bible?
A post-exilic prophet who roused the returned exiles to finish rebuilding the temple, promising that its glory would surpass the former house.
What does the name Haggai mean?
The name Haggai means “Festive; my feast”.
What did Haggai do in the Bible?
Haggai served as prophet.
Where does Haggai appear in the Bible?
Haggai is mentioned 11 times across 2 books: Ezra, Haggai.
What can we learn from Haggai?
The story of Haggai touches on themes of prophets, shealtiel, temple, the second, zerubbabel — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Haggai's life.
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