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.

Since those days were, when one came {H935} to an heap {H6194} of twenty {H6242} measures, there were but ten {H6235}: when one came {H935} to the pressfat {H3342} for to draw out {H2834} fifty {H2572} vessels out of the press {H6333}, there were but twenty {H6242}.

throughout that whole time, when someone approached a twenty-measure pile [of grain], he found only ten; and when he came to the winepress to draw out fifty measures, there were only twenty.

from that time, when one came expecting a heap of twenty ephahs of grain, there were but ten. When one came to the winepress to draw out fifty baths, there were but twenty.

Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten; when one came to the winevat to draw out fifty vessels, there were but twenty.

Commentary

Commentary on Haggai 2:16 (KJV)

Haggai 2:16 vividly illustrates the economic hardship and divine discipline faced by the post-exilic community in Judah. This verse, part of Haggai's second prophetic message, explains why their agricultural efforts were failing despite their hard work.

Context

The prophet Haggai was sent by God to stir up the Jewish exiles who had returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. While they had begun to rebuild the Temple, they soon abandoned the work, prioritizing their own homes and comforts. For about 16 years, the Temple lay in ruins. God's message through Haggai was clear: their lack of prosperity and persistent struggles were a direct consequence of their neglect of His house. This verse follows Haggai's earlier pronouncements in Haggai 1:6 and 1:9-11, where he similarly highlights their unfruitful labor.

Key Themes

  • Divine Discipline: God actively withheld blessings from the people as a consequence of their disobedience and misplaced priorities. He was teaching them that true prosperity comes from Him and is tied to their obedience.
  • Economic Hardship as a Consequence: The verse details specific agricultural failures: expecting "an heap of twenty measures" (of grain) but finding "but ten," and anticipating "fifty vessels" (of wine/oil) from the "pressfat" but only getting "twenty." This shows a consistent and severe reduction in expected yields, underscoring the severity of their situation.
  • God's Control Over Prosperity: Haggai emphasizes that God is sovereign over the land and its produce. He can either bless abundantly or diminish the harvest, as seen in the principles of Deuteronomy 28, where similar agricultural curses are promised for disobedience.

Linguistic Insights

The terms "heap of twenty measures" refer to dry goods, likely grain like barley or wheat, measured in units like the ephah or se'ah. The "pressfat" (Hebrew: yéqev) denotes the winepress or olive press, specifically the upper vat where grapes or olives were trampled to extract juice. The imagery is of widespread agricultural and economic failure, directly impacting their food and livelihood. The stark contrast between expectation and reality (20 to 10, 50 to 20) highlights the magnitude of God's withholding hand.

Practical Application

Haggai 2:16 serves as a powerful reminder that our priorities matter to God. When we neglect what God has commanded or place our own desires above His will, we may experience a "draining" of blessings in our lives, whether spiritual, relational, or even material. This passage encourages believers to:

  1. Examine Priorities: Are we truly putting God's kingdom first, as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33?
  2. Understand Consequences: Disobedience often carries natural consequences, even if God's discipline is ultimately for our good.
  3. Trust God's Provision: When we align our lives with His will, we can trust in His promise to bless and sustain us, as seen in the later promises of abundance in Haggai 2:19.
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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

  • 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.

  • Zechariah 8:10

    For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither [was there any] peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.

  • Zechariah 8:12

    For the seed [shall be] prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these [things].

  • Proverbs 3:9

    Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

  • Proverbs 3:10

    So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

  • 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.

  • 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.
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