Haggai 1:2
The Indifference of the People
1:2 The Lord who rules over all 1 says this: “These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’” 2
Haggai 1:13
1:13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s word to the people: 3 “I am with you!” says the Lord.
Haggai 2:2
2:2 “Ask the following questions to 4 Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, 5 and the remnant of the people:
Haggai 2:14
2:14 Then Haggai responded, “‘The people of this nation are unclean in my sight,’ 6 says the Lord. ‘And so is all their effort; everything they offer is also unclean. 7
1 sn The epithet Lord who rules over all occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Haggai (see 1:5, 7, 9, 14; 2:4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 23). This name (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, yÿhvah tsÿva’ot), traditionally translated “Lord of hosts” (so KJV, NAB, NASB; cf. NIV, NLT “Lord Almighty”; NCV, CEV “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123-57.
2 tn Heb “the time has not come, the time for the house of the Lord to be built” (similar KJV). A number of English versions refer to “rebuilding” (so NAB, NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT) since the reconstruction of Solomon’s temple is actually in view.
3 tn Heb “Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, said by the message of the Lord to the people.” The Hebrew is highly repetitive; in keeping with contemporary English style this has been simplified in the translation.
4 tn Heb “say to”; NAB “Tell this to.”
5 tn Many English versions have “Joshua (the) son of Jehozadak the high priest,” but this is subject to misunderstanding. See the note on the name “Jehozadak” at the end of v. 1.
6 tn Heb “so this people, and so this nation before me.” In this context “people” and “nation” refer to the same set of individuals; the repetition is emphatic. Cf. CEV “this entire nation.”
7 sn The point here is that the Jews cannot be made holy by unholy fellowship with their pagan neighbors; instead, they and their worship will become corrupted by such associations.