Haggai 1:12

What does Haggai 1:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Haggai 1:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Haggai 1:12 means

Here the leaders and the remnant respond rightly: they obey God’s voice delivered by Haggai, and they fear before Jehovah. Reverent fear is not panic; it is a humbled recognition of God’s holiness and authority. Obedience begins at the top, with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, and spreads to the people. The mention that Haggai’s words were sent by God affirms the legitimacy they honor. This is the heart God sought—not merely feeling bad, but doing what He says. Their fear recalibrates priorities. The community that once ran to their own houses now gathers under God’s word to resume His work, showing the fruit of true repentance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the rest of the people, gave ear to the voice of the Lord their God and to the words of Haggai the prophet, because the Lord their God had sent him, and the people were in fear before the Lord.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Joshua son of Josedech, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people, do hearken to the voice of Jehovah their God, and unto the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him, and the people are afraid of the face of Jehovah.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Then Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, and all the remnant of the people hearkened to the voice of the Lord their God, and to the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God sent him to them: and the people feared before the Lord.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people, hearkened to the voice of Jehovah theirGod, and the words of Haggai the prophet, according as Jehovah theirGod had sent him, and the people feared before Jehovah.

Context

After the severe diagnosis of verses 6 and 9–11, this verse marks the hinge of hope. It precedes God’s gracious assurance in verse 13 and the divine stirring in verse 14, showing the pattern: word, conviction, obedience, then empowerment. The leaders’ example is crucial, as they will spearhead the rebuilding effort that the people had long delayed. This turning begins to reverse the chapter’s earlier themes of neglect and frustration.

v.11And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.

v.12This passage

v.13Then spake Haggai Jehovah’s messenger in Jehovah’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith Jehovah.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Deuteronomy 31:12

    Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy sojourner that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Jehovah your God, and observe to do all the words of this law;

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.

  • Acts 9:31

    So the church throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.

  • 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 Jehovah by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,

  • Colossians 1:6

    which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

  • Ezra 5:2

    Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.

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