Haggai 2:23

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

Complete Jewish Bible:

When that day comes,' says ADONAI-Tzva'ot, 'I will take you, Z'rubavel, my servant, the son of Sh'alti'el,' says ADONAI, 'and wear you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,' says ADONAI-Tzva'ot."

Berean Standard Bible:

On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Hosts.”

American Standard Version:

In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

In that day^{H3117}, saith^{H5002} the LORD^{H3068} of hosts^{H6635}, will I take^{H3947} thee, O Zerubbabel^{H2216}, my servant^{H5650}, the son^{H1121} of Shealtiel^{H7597}, saith^{H5002} the LORD^{H3068}, and will make^{H7760} thee as a signet^{H2368}: for I have chosen^{H977} thee, saith^{H5002} the LORD^{H3068} of hosts^{H6635}.

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Commentary for Haggai 2:23

Haggai 2:23 is a prophetic verse set within the historical context of the post-exilic period, after the Babylonian exile, when the Jewish people were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their city and the Temple. Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah and a descendant of King David, was instrumental in leading this effort.

The verse speaks to the theme of divine election and restoration. God, through the prophet Haggai, reassures Zerubbabel of his special status as God's chosen servant. The imagery of a "signet" is significant, as signets in the ancient world were used as official seals, signifying authority, ownership, and honor. By promising to make Zerubbabel as His signet, God is affirming Zerubbabel's authority and His own commitment to the Davidic line, from which the Messiah was prophesied to come.

This promise also serves as a message of hope to the people of Judah. Despite the challenges they faced in rebuilding their nation, Haggai 2:23 conveys God's sovereign plan to restore and exalt His people. It is a declaration that, through Zerubbabel, God's promises to David would continue, and it foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of those promises in the coming Messiah, a descendant of Zerubbabel, who would bring salvation and establish an everlasting kingdom.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5002
   There are 358 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נְאֻם
   Transliteration: nᵉʼum
   Pronunciation: neh-oom'
   Description: from נָאַם; an oracle; (hath) said, saith.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6635
   There are 463 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָבָא
   Transliteration: tsâbâʼ
   Pronunciation: tsaw-baw'
   Description: or (feminine) צְבָאָה; from צָבָא; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship); appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).
   
5. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2216
   There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זְרֻבָּבֶל
   Transliteration: Zᵉrubbâbel
   Pronunciation: zer-oob-baw-bel'
   Description: from זָרַב and בָּבֶל; descended of (i.e. from) Babylon, i.e. born there; Zerubbabel, an Israelite; Zerubbabel.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5650
   There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶבֶד
   Transliteration: ʻebed
   Pronunciation: eh'-bed
   Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7597
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל
   Transliteration: Shᵉʼaltîyʼêl
   Pronunciation: sheh-al-tee-ale'
   Description: or שַׁלְתִּיאֵל; from שָׁאַל and אֵל; I have asked God; Shealtiel, an Israelite; Shalthiel, Shealtiel.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7760
    There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שׂוּם
    Transliteration: sûwm
    Pronunciation: soom
    Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work.
    
11. Strong's Number: H2368
    There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חוֹתָם
    Transliteration: chôwthâm
    Pronunciation: kho-thawm'
    Description: or חֹתָם; from חָתַם; a signature-ring; seal, signet.
    
12. Strong's Number: H977
    There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּחַר
    Transliteration: bâchar
    Pronunciation: baw-khar'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select; acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.