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.

Ye looked {H6437} for much {H7235}, and, lo, it came to little {H4592}; and when ye brought {H935} it home {H1004}, I did blow {H5301} upon it. Why? saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}. Because {H3282} of mine house {H1004} that is waste {H2720}, and ye run {H7323} every man {H376} unto his own house {H1004}.

'You looked for much, but it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?' asks ADONAI-Tzva'ot. 'Because my house lies in ruins, while every one of you runs to take care of his own house.

You expected much, but behold, it amounted to little. And what you brought home, I blew away. Why? declares the LORD of Hosts. Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.

Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith Jehovah of hosts. Because of my house that lieth waste, while ye run every man to his own house.

Haggai 1:9 serves as a powerful divine indictment against the people of Judah who had returned from Babylonian exile but neglected the rebuilding of the Lord's Temple.

Context

This verse is part of God's direct message through the prophet Haggai, delivered around 520 BC. The Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel and Joshua, and while the foundation of the Temple had been laid years prior, its construction had stalled for over a decade. The people prioritized building and decorating their own homes, while the "house of the LORD" remained in ruins (Haggai 1:4). God explains the futility of their labor and economic struggles as a direct consequence of their misplaced priorities.

Key Themes

  • Divine Discipline: God explicitly states that He is actively hindering their efforts ("I did blow upon it"). Their hard work yielded little because God was withholding His blessing. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over prosperity and adversity.
  • Misplaced Priorities: The core issue was neglecting God's dwelling place ("mine house that is waste") while every man "ran unto his own house" – investing time, energy, and resources into personal comfort and gain over spiritual and communal duties.
  • Futility of Self-Centered Labor: The verse highlights that efforts disconnected from God's will or undertaken with wrong motives will ultimately prove unfruitful. They "looked for much" but found "little."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I did blow upon it" powerfully conveys God's active opposition to their efforts. It implies scattering, dissipating, or rendering their labor useless, much like wind scatters chaff. The title "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) emphasizes God's supreme power and authority as the commander of heavenly armies, underscoring His ability to enforce His will and bring about the consequences described.

Related Scriptures

This principle of seeking God first is echoed throughout Scripture. Jesus taught, "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Similarly, the book of Malachi connects obedience and giving to God's provision, promising that He will "open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing" (Malachi 3:10).

Practical Application

Haggai 1:9 remains highly relevant today. It challenges believers to examine their own priorities: where do we invest our primary time, energy, and resources? Are we more concerned with personal comfort, material gain, or worldly pursuits than with building up God's kingdom, serving His church, and advancing His purposes? The verse reminds us that true and lasting prosperity, both spiritual and material, flows from honoring God first and aligning our lives with His will. Neglecting our spiritual foundations for self-interest can lead to a sense of unfulfillment and futility, even amidst outward success.

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 1:4

    [Is it] time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house [lie] waste?

  • Haggai 2:16

    Since those [days] were, when [one] came to an heap of twenty [measures], there were [but] ten: when [one] came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty [vessels] out of the press, there were [but] twenty.

  • 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.

  • Revelation 3:19

    As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

  • Haggai 1:6

    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.

  • Isaiah 40:7

    The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people [is] grass.

  • Malachi 2:2

    If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.

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