Haggai 1:11

And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, 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 labour of the hands.

And I called {H7121} for a drought {H2721} upon the land {H776}, and upon the mountains {H2022}, and upon the corn {H1715}, and upon the new wine {H8492}, and upon the oil {H3323}, and upon that which the ground {H127} bringeth forth {H3318}, and upon men {H120}, and upon cattle {H929}, and upon all the labour {H3018} of the hands {H3709}.

In fact, I called for a drought on the land and on the hills, on the grain, the wine and the olive oil, on what the ground brings up, on men, animals and on all that hands produce.'"

I have summoned a drought on the fields and on the mountains, on the grain, new wine, and oil, and on whatever the ground yields, on man and beast, and on all the labor of your hands.”

And 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.

Commentary on Haggai 1:11 (KJV)

Haggai 1:11 reveals the severe consequences of the people's disobedience and misplaced priorities, particularly their neglect of rebuilding the Lord's Temple. This verse starkly outlines the comprehensive nature of the divine judgment, showing God's direct hand in the hardships the people were experiencing.

Context

The book of Haggai is set in the post-exilic period, around 520 BC, shortly after the Jewish people returned from Babylonian captivity. Despite being allowed by Cyrus the Great to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (as recorded in Ezra 1:2-3), they had only laid the foundation and then ceased work for about 16 years. Instead, they focused on building and decorating their own homes, leaving God's house desolate. Verses Haggai 1:6 and Haggai 1:9 describe their economic struggles and lack of satisfaction, which are then explained in verse 11 as a direct result of God's judgment. This drought was not a natural occurrence but a divine intervention aimed at prompting repentance and action.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequence: The verse clearly states, "And I called for a drought." This highlights God's active involvement in the affairs of His people, sending specific hardships as a direct consequence of their spiritual neglect. It underscores the principle that disobedience can lead to tangible, adverse outcomes.
  • Comprehensive Hardship: The repetition of "upon" (land, mountains, corn, new wine, oil, ground's produce, men, cattle, labor) emphasizes the widespread and pervasive nature of the drought. It affected every aspect of their lives—agriculture, economy, food supply, and even their personal well-being and livestock. This total impact was designed to leave no doubt about the source of their troubles.
  • Priorities and Spiritual Neglect: The drought served as a potent reminder that their misplaced priorities—focusing on personal comfort over God's command to rebuild the Temple—had severe repercussions. God was essentially saying, "You neglected My house; now I will withhold the blessings from yours." This is a powerful lesson on seeking God's kingdom and righteousness first.
  • God's Sovereignty: This verse affirms God's ultimate control over nature, the harvest, and the prosperity of humanity. He is not merely an observer but the one who "calls for a drought," demonstrating His power and authority over all creation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "drought" is chorev (חֹרֶב), which implies desolation, dryness, or waste. It's a strong term indicating a severe and destructive lack of water. The repeated preposition "upon" (Hebrew: עַל, 'al) throughout the verse creates a powerful rhetorical effect, emphasizing the all-encompassing reach of God's judgment. It shows that no area of their life or land was untouched by this divine decree.

Practical Application

Haggai 1:11 serves as a timeless warning and a call to introspection. It prompts us to examine our own priorities: are we investing our time, energy, and resources primarily in our own comfort and pursuits, while neglecting what God has called us to do? God's discipline, as seen here, is often corrective, not merely punitive. It's an invitation to re-align our lives with His will.

Today, while divine judgment may not always manifest as a literal drought, the principle remains: neglecting our spiritual duties, failing to honor God with our firstfruits, or prioritizing worldly gains over Kingdom work can lead to a sense of spiritual emptiness, lack of fulfillment, or even tangible difficulties. This verse encourages us to actively participate in God's work, trusting that when we honor Him, He will bless our labor and provide for our needs, as seen in Haggai 2:19.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Haggai 2:17

    I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye [turned] not to me, saith the LORD.

  • Deuteronomy 28:22

    The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

  • 1 Kings 17:1

    ¶ And Elijah the Tishbite, [who was] of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, [As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

  • 2 Kings 8:1

    ¶ Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.

  • Amos 7:4

    Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.

  • Lamentations 1:21

    They have heard that I sigh: [there is] none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done [it]: thou wilt bring the day [that] thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.

  • Amos 5:8

    [Seek him] that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD [is] his name:

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