Haggai 2:15
What does Haggai 2:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Haggai 2:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Haggai 2:15 means
Haggai urges them to consider carefully the period before they resumed building—"before a stone was laid upon a stone" in Jehovah’s temple. Reflection is a spiritual discipline. Look back, he says, and weigh the results of neglecting God’s house. When priorities are misaligned, even hard work fails to satisfy. By inviting this review, God dignifies their experience: He wants them to connect the dots between their choices and their hardships. Remembering the past honestly prepares the heart to value obedience in the present. The prophet is not scolding; he is shepherding them toward wisdom by reading providence in the light of God’s word.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And now, I pray you, consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of Jehovah.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And now, I pray you, consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of Jehovah.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And now, give thought, looking back from this day to the time before one stone was put on another in the Temple of the Lord:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And now, lay <FI>it<Fi> , I pray you, to your heart, From this day, and onwards, Before the laying of stone to stone in the temple of Jehovah.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Haggai answered, and said: So is this people, and so is this nation before my face, saith the Lord, and so is all the work of their hands: and all that they have offered there, shall be defiled.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And now, I pray you, consider from this day and onward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of Jehovah,
Context
This verse transitions from diagnosis (verse 14) to reflection on the consequences. Verses 16–17 will detail the disappointing yields and afflictions they suffered, showing that God had been disciplining them to draw them back. Then verses 18–19 will mark a new "consider"—this time focused on the present day of renewed foundation-laying and the promise of blessing. The double call to consider (before and from this day) frames a turning point narrative: from unfruitful labor under neglect to fruitful blessing under obedience.
v.14Then answered Haggai and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith Jehovah; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
v.15This passage
v.16Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten; when one came to the winevat to draw out fifty vessels, there were but twenty.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 11:31
But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged.
- Ezra 4:24
Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
- Romans 6:21
What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
- Hosea 14:9
Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.
- Isaiah 5:12
And the harp and the lute, the tabret and the pipe, and wine, are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of Jehovah, neither have they considered the operation of his hands.
- Haggai 2:18
Consider, I pray you, from this day and backward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of Jehovah’s temple was laid, consider it.
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