Haggai 1:2
What does Haggai 1:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Haggai 1:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Haggai 1:2 means
The Lord exposes the popular excuse: the people claim it is not yet the time to rebuild Jehovah’s house. By calling them “This people,” rather than “My people,” God subtly shows displeasure. Their statement sounds prudent, perhaps blaming difficult circumstances or waiting for a better season. But it masks spiritual apathy and misplaced priorities. They wait for ideal conditions while God’s central dwelling place remains in ruins. The One titled Jehovah of hosts, Lord of angelic armies, challenges their timetable. If He commands, it is the right time. Their delay reveals hearts content with God at the margins, comfortable with worship postponed while personal affairs receive first allegiance.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, This people say, It is not the time for us to come, the time for Jehovah’s house to be built.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, This people say, It is not the time for us to come, the time for Jehovah’s house to be built.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949These are the words of the Lord of armies: These people say, The time has not come for building the Lord's house.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Thus spake Jehovah of Hosts, saying: This people! --they have said, `The time hath not come, The time the house of Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> to be built.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: This people saith: The time is not yet come for building the house of the Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that Jehovah's house should be built.
Context
Having introduced the prophet and audience, the chapter now announces the core problem: a cultural consensus that temple-building can wait. This prepares for God’s probing question in verse 4 that exposes hypocrisy and for the repeated call to consider their ways (verses 5 and 7). The contrast between their “not yet” and God’s “now” frames the tension of the chapter, which will resolve as the people are stirred to obedience (verses 12–14).
v.1In 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,
v.2This passage
v.3Then came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ecclesiastes 11:4
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
- Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.
- Proverbs 26:13
The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.
- Ezra 4:23
Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
- Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe.
- Numbers 13:31
But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Haggai 1
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Haggai 1.