Haggai 1:6

KJV

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes.

KJV (with Strong's)

Ye have sown {H2232} much {H7235}, and bring {H935} in little {H4592}; ye eat {H398}, but ye have not enough {H7654}; ye drink {H8354}, but ye are not filled with drink {H7937}; ye clothe {H3847} you, but there is none warm {H2527}; and he that earneth wages {H7936} earneth wages {H7936} to put it into a bag {H6872} with holes {H5344}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You sow much but bring in little; you eat but aren't satisfied; you drink but never have enough; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who works for a living earns wages that are put in a bag full of holes.'"

Berean Standard Bible

You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”

American Standard Version

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Haggai 1:6 serves as a stark divine indictment against the post-exilic community in Judah, articulating the futility and pervasive dissatisfaction that plagued their lives. Despite diligent labor in agriculture, consumption, and personal provision, the people experienced a profound lack of lasting benefit and true contentment. This verse vividly illustrates God's direct withdrawal of blessing, manifesting as economic hardship and personal discomfort, all attributed to their misplaced priorities and neglect of the Lord's Temple.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Haggai 1:6 is strategically positioned within the prophet Haggai’s opening message, delivered in the second year of King Darius (520 BC). The preceding verses establish the core issue: the people have prioritized building and dwelling in their "ceiled houses" while the Temple of the Lord lies in ruins ([Haggai 1:4](/haggai/1-4 "Haggai 1:4 - Neglecting the Temple")). Verse 5 directly precedes our text, urging the people to "Consider your ways!" ([Haggai 1:5](/haggai/1-5 "Haggai 1:5 - Consider Your Ways")), setting the stage for the detailed explanation of their current misfortunes in verse 6. This verse then provides the tangible evidence of God's displeasure, leading directly into the call for action in [Haggai 1:7-8](/haggai/1-7-8 "Haggai 1:7-8 - God's Command to Rebuild"). The entire first chapter builds a compelling case for the urgency of Temple reconstruction, linking the people's material struggles directly to their spiritual apathy.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is approximately 16 years after the initial return of the Jewish exiles from Babylonian captivity under Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest, as recorded in [Ezra 2](/ezra/2 "Ezra 2 - The Return from Exile"). While the foundation of the Temple had been laid shortly after their return ([Ezra 3:8-13](/ezra/3-8-13 "Ezra 3:8-13 - Laying the Temple Foundation")), opposition from surrounding peoples and internal discouragement had led to a cessation of work for over a decade ([Ezra 4:1-5](/ezra/4-1-5 "Ezra 4:1-5 - Opposition to Rebuilding")). The people, having settled into their own lives and homes, had become complacent, rationalizing their inaction by claiming "The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built" ([Haggai 1:2](/haggai/1-2 "Haggai 1:2 - The Time Has Not Come")). Economically, the community was agrarian, heavily reliant on successful harvests and stable wages, making the descriptions of agricultural failure, lack of satiety, and financial loss in Haggai 1:6 particularly devastating and relatable to their daily experiences.

* **Key Themes:** Haggai 1:6 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Haggai and broader prophetic literature. The most prominent theme is **Divine Discipline and Consequence**, where God directly intervenes in the natural and economic affairs of His people as a consequence of their disobedience and spiritual neglect. Their struggles are not random misfortunes but divinely orchestrated judgments, emphasizing that true prosperity is contingent upon spiritual alignment. This verse also highlights the **Futility of Human Effort Without God's Blessing**, echoing principles found in [Psalm 127:1](/psalms/127-1 "Psalm 127:1 - Unless the Lord Builds the House"), demonstrating that human toil, no matter how great, cannot bring lasting satisfaction or success apart from God's favor. Furthermore, it underscores the theme of **Misplaced Priorities**, revealing the people's focus on personal comfort and material gain over God's glory and the restoration of His dwelling place, a common prophetic critique against Israel's spiritual apathy.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sown (Hebrew, _zâraʻ'_):** (H2232) A primitive root meaning "to sow," but figuratively extending to "disseminate, plant, fructify." In this context, it refers to the people's diligent efforts in agriculture, the fundamental act of planting seeds in the hope of a bountiful harvest. The irony is that despite "sowing much," their efforts yield "little," indicating a divine withholding of the expected fruit of their labor.
* **not enough (Hebrew, _sobʻâh'_):** (H7654) Derived from a root meaning "satiety" or "fullness," this word, when negated, describes a profound lack of satisfaction or sufficiency. It's not merely a lack of food or drink, but an inability to feel truly nourished or content, even when consuming. This points to a spiritual emptiness that material provisions cannot fill, a direct consequence of God's judgment on their physical well-being.
* **holes (Hebrew, _nâqab'_):** (H5344) A primitive root meaning "to puncture" or "perforate," often with violence. Here, it vividly describes the condition of the "bag" (H6872, _tsᵉrôwr'_), emphasizing that any earnings are immediately lost. This powerful imagery conveys a constant, inescapable drain on their resources, symbolizing the futility of their financial endeavors and the divine curse upon their material gains.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Ye have sown much, and bring in little":** This clause highlights agricultural futility. Despite expending significant effort in planting and cultivating, the yield from their fields is meager. This directly contrasts the expected blessing of a plentiful harvest, indicating divine withholding of fertility and productivity.
* **"ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink":** This segment addresses personal consumption and satisfaction. Even when they manage to acquire food and drink, it fails to provide true nourishment or quench their thirst. This speaks to a deeper spiritual hunger and dissatisfaction that physical provisions cannot remedy, a direct result of God's curse on their sustenance.
* **"ye clothe you, but there is none warm":** This clause points to a lack of comfort and protection. Despite acquiring garments, they offer no real warmth or comfort, suggesting poor quality, insufficient quantity, or a pervasive chill that their clothing cannot ward off. It symbolizes a lack of divine provision for their basic needs and well-being.
* **"and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes":** This powerful metaphor encapsulates the financial futility. Any money earned, no matter how hard-won, immediately slips away as if placed into a purse with holes. This signifies a constant drain on their resources, preventing any accumulation of wealth or security, illustrating a divine curse on their economic endeavors.

#### Literary Devices
Haggai 1:6 employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its message of divine judgment and futility. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically a form of antithetical parallelism, where each clause presents an action followed by its frustratingly opposite or insufficient outcome ("sown much, bring in little"; "eat, not enough"; "drink, not filled"; "clothe, none warm"). This repetitive structure emphasizes the pervasive nature of their dissatisfaction and the direct cause-and-effect relationship between their spiritual neglect and their material struggles. Furthermore, the verse culminates in a powerful **Metaphor**: "a bag with holes." This vivid image, easily understood by an agrarian society, perfectly illustrates the constant, inexplicable loss of their hard-earned wages, symbolizing the divine curse that prevents any lasting financial security or prosperity. The cumulative effect of these devices is to create a strong sense of futility and divine displeasure, compelling the people to "consider their ways."

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Haggai 1:6 is a profound theological statement on the direct correlation between spiritual obedience and material blessing, or conversely, spiritual neglect and divine discipline. It teaches that God is sovereign over all aspects of life, including economic prosperity and personal well-being. The futility experienced by the people of Judah was not random misfortune but a deliberate act of God to draw their attention back to His priorities. This principle underscores that true prosperity is not merely the accumulation of wealth or goods, but the experience of God's favor and blessing, which brings genuine satisfaction and lasting benefit. When God's people prioritize their own comfort over His kingdom, He may withdraw His blessing, causing their efforts to be unproductive and their gains to be fleeting, thereby revealing the emptiness of a life lived apart from His purposes.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15-19](/deuteronomy/28-15-19 "Deuteronomy 28:15-19 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Malachi 3:9-11](/malachi/3-9-11 "Malachi 3:9-11 - Robbing God and His Blessing")
* [Proverbs 10:22](/proverbs/10-22 "Proverbs 10:22 - The Blessing of the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Haggai 1:6 serves as a timeless mirror for self-examination, challenging believers to honestly assess their priorities and the true source of their satisfaction. In a world that often measures success by material accumulation and personal comfort, this verse reminds us that genuine fulfillment and lasting prosperity are not found in the abundance of possessions or the fruit of our own labor alone, but in aligning our lives with God's will and prioritizing His kingdom. It prompts us to consider if our own "bags" have "holes"—whether our efforts, time, and resources are being invested in pursuits that ultimately leave us feeling empty, unfulfilled, or perpetually struggling, perhaps because we have neglected our spiritual foundation or God's explicit commands. The call to "consider your ways" is not a condemnation but an invitation to re-evaluate, repent, and reorient our lives towards what truly matters, trusting that God's blessing, though not always material, brings a deep and abiding satisfaction that worldly gains cannot provide.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I feel like I'm "sowing much but bringing in little," or experiencing a lack of true satisfaction despite my efforts?**
* **Am I prioritizing my own comfort and desires over God's purposes and the advancement of His kingdom?**
* **What might be the "holes" in my "bag" that are preventing my efforts from yielding lasting fruit or true contentment?**
* **How can I practically reorient my priorities to seek God's kingdom first, trusting Him for the blessings that truly satisfy?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the phrase "bag with holes"?**

Answer: The phrase "bag with holes" (Hebrew: _tsᵉrôwr nâqab_) is a powerful and vivid metaphor for financial futility and constant loss. A "tsᵉrôwr" was a small purse or bundle used to carry money or valuables. The imagery of it being "perforated" or "holed" means that any money placed into it immediately slips out, providing no lasting benefit or security. In the context of [Haggai 1:6](/haggai/1-6 "Haggai 1:6 - The Bag with Holes"), it symbolizes the divine judgment on the people's economic endeavors: despite their hard work and earning wages, their money provided no real comfort or accumulation, as if a curse caused it to constantly dissipate. It highlights the pervasive sense of frustration and the futility of their labor when God's blessing was withheld.

**How does Haggai 1:6 relate to God's discipline?**

Answer: Haggai 1:6 is a direct declaration of God's disciplinary action. The prophet Haggai explicitly states that the people's economic hardships—their poor harvests, lack of satisfaction from food and drink, inadequate clothing, and vanishing wages—are not random misfortunes but are divinely orchestrated consequences of their disobedience. Specifically, God is withholding His blessing because the people have neglected to rebuild His Temple, prioritizing their own "ceiled houses" over God's dwelling ([Haggai 1:4](/haggai/1-4 "Haggai 1:4 - Neglecting the Temple")). This verse demonstrates God's active involvement in the affairs of His people, using material scarcity and dissatisfaction as a means to call them to repentance and reorder their priorities, urging them to "Consider your ways!" ([Haggai 1:5](/haggai/1-5 "Haggai 1:5 - Consider Your Ways")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Haggai 1:6, with its vivid portrayal of human futility and dissatisfaction apart from divine blessing, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The "bag with holes" that characterized the Old Covenant people's efforts to find satisfaction through their own labor and material pursuits ultimately points to the inherent insufficiency of anything apart from Christ. Humanity, in its fallen state, constantly "sows much" in the fields of self-righteousness, worldly ambition, and fleeting pleasures, yet inevitably "brings in little," eating and drinking without being truly satisfied, and earning wages that vanish into empty pursuits. Jesus, however, declares Himself to be the true source of ultimate satisfaction and lasting provision. He is the "bread of life" who, when eaten, ensures one "shall never hunger" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), and the "living water" that, when drunk, becomes "a well of water springing up into everlasting life" ([John 4:13-14](/john/4-13-14 "John 4:13-14 - Living Water")). The warmth and security that eluded the people of Haggai's day are found in Christ, who clothes us in His righteousness ([Isaiah 61:10](/isaiah/61-10 "Isaiah 61:10 - Garments of Salvation")) and provides perfect peace and contentment. The ultimate "bag with holes" is the attempt to earn salvation or true life through human works; but in Christ, we receive a full and complete inheritance, freely given by grace ([Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace")). He is the one in whom "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Treasures in Christ")), and in Him, we are made complete, having no need for anything else ([Colossians 2:10](/colossians/2-10 "Colossians 2:10 - Complete in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Haggai 1:9

Ye looked for much, and, lo, [it came] to little; and when ye brought [it] home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that [is] waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

Deuteronomy 28:38

Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather [but] little in; for the locust shall consume it.

Deuteronomy 28:40

Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint [thyself] with the oil; for thine olive shall cast [his fruit].

Hosea 4:10

For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

Malachi 3:9

Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.

Malachi 3:11

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Hosea 8:7

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.