Haggai 1:2

Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.

Thus speaketh {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}, saying {H559}, This people {H5971} say {H559}, The time {H6256} is not come {H935}, the time {H6256} that the LORD'S {H3068} house {H1004} should be built {H1129}.

"Here is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: 'This people is saying that now isn't the time - the time hasn't yet arrived for ADONAI's house to be rebuilt.'"

that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’”

Thus 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.

Commentary

Context

Haggai 1:2 opens the prophetic book of Haggai, setting the stage for a divine confrontation with the returned exiles in Jerusalem. Approximately 16 years after the initial decree by Cyrus the Great allowed the Jewish people to return from Babylonian captivity, they had made little progress on rebuilding the Temple of the Lord. The initial zeal under leaders like Zerubbabel and Jeshua had waned, largely due to opposition from surrounding peoples and a focus on their own personal dwellings and affairs.

This verse reveals the people's core excuse: "The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built." They rationalized their inaction, suggesting that economic conditions or other circumstances were not yet favorable for such a monumental undertaking. Haggai's prophecy directly challenges this human-centric perspective, asserting God's immediate and sovereign will.

Key Themes

  • Procrastination and Excuses: The central issue is the people's delay in obeying God's command. They articulate a common human tendency to postpone spiritual duties or significant acts of faith, often citing external circumstances as justification.
  • Misplaced Priorities: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the subsequent verses (e.g., Haggai 1:4) reveal that the people had prioritized building and adorning their own houses over the house of the Lord, highlighting a spiritual disconnect.
  • Divine Authority and Sovereignty: The phrase "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts" immediately establishes God's direct command and ultimate authority. It underscores that God's timing and will supersede human convenience or rationalization.
  • The Importance of God's House: The verse emphasizes the centrality of the Temple in the life of the nation, not merely as a building, but as a place of worship and God's dwelling among His people. Its neglect signified a deeper spiritual indifference.

Linguistic Insights

The title "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) is significant. It portrays God as the sovereign commander of all heavenly and earthly armies, emphasizing His immense power, authority, and ability to accomplish His will. This powerful title serves to counter the people's weak excuses, reminding them who is truly in control and whose command they are neglecting. The repetition of "the time is not come" highlights the stubbornness and collective agreement in their procrastination.

Practical Application

Haggai 1:2 serves as a timeless reminder about prioritizing God's will in our lives. Just as the people of Israel made excuses for delaying the rebuilding of the Temple, believers today can often find reasons to postpone acts of obedience, service, or spiritual growth. This verse challenges us to:

  • Examine Our Priorities: Are we prioritizing our own comfort, material gain, or personal projects over God's call on our lives or the needs of His church?
  • Beware of Procrastination: Delaying obedience can lead to spiritual stagnation and missed blessings, as seen in the economic struggles detailed later in Haggai. God's call is often for "now."
  • Recognize God's Authority: Understanding that God is the "LORD of hosts" should inspire prompt and willing obedience, trusting in His perfect timing and provision.
  • Act on God's Call: When God speaks, whether through Scripture, prayer, or the counsel of godly individuals, the "time" to act is always now, regardless of perceived obstacles. As James 4:17 says, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezra 4:23

    Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter [was] read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.

  • 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.

  • Nehemiah 4:10

    And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and [there is] much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.

  • 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 the grave, whither thou goest.

  • Ecclesiastes 11:4

    He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

  • Numbers 13:31

    But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they [are] stronger than we.

  • Proverbs 26:13

    ¶ The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.
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