Haggai 2:17

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

I smote {H5221} you with blasting {H7711} and with mildew {H3420} and with hail {H1259} in all the labours {H4639} of your hands {H3027}; yet ye turned not to me, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I struck you with blasting winds, mildew and hail on everything your hands produced; but you still wouldn't return to me,' says ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Haggai 2:17 serves as a poignant divine lament, recounting the Lord's disciplinary actions against the post-exilic community in Judah. Despite God's direct intervention through agricultural blights—blasting, mildew, and hail—intended to awaken them from their spiritual apathy and redirect their focus from personal gain to the rebuilding of His temple, the people stubbornly refused to turn back to Him. This verse underscores God's active involvement in human affairs, His use of hardship as a means of correction, and the tragic reality of human resistance to divine prompting.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Haggai 2:17 is situated within the second chapter of the prophet Haggai's message, delivered to the Jewish community in Jerusalem around 520 BC. This chapter follows Haggai's initial exhortation in [Haggai 1](/haggai/1 "Haggai 1 - Call to Rebuild the Temple"), where he directly confronts the people's misplaced priorities, arguing that their economic struggles were a direct result of neglecting God's house while focusing on their own. Chapter 2 offers further encouragement and promises of future glory, but also includes stern reminders of past failures. Verse 17 specifically looks back, recalling the divine discipline that had already occurred, serving as a powerful rhetorical device to underscore the people's stubbornness before moving on to promises of blessing for obedience. It functions as a bridge, contrasting their past unresponsiveness with the potential for future favor if they now obey.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is crucial for understanding Haggai 2:17. The Jewish exiles had returned from Babylonian captivity under the decree of Cyrus the Great, and while they had laid the foundation of the second temple around 536 BC ([Ezra 3:8-13](/ezra/3-8-13 "Ezra 3:8-13 - Foundation of the Second Temple")), the work had ceased for approximately 16 years. This cessation was due to Samaritan opposition and, more significantly, the people's waning enthusiasm and self-centeredness. They prioritized building and decorating their own homes, living in "ceiled houses" ([Haggai 1:4](/haggai/1-4 "Haggai 1:4 - Dwelling in Ceiled Houses")) while the Lord's house lay in ruins. The agricultural disasters mentioned—blasting, mildew, and hail—were common threats to ancient agrarian societies and were specifically listed in the Mosaic Law as curses for disobedience to the covenant ([Deuteronomy 28:22](/deuteronomy/28-22 "Deuteronomy 28:22 - Curses for Disobedience")). God's use of these natural phenomena was therefore understood by the people as direct divine judgment, a clear sign that He was actively involved in their circumstances.

* **Key Themes:** Haggai 2:17 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Haggai and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Active Intervention**, demonstrating that God is not a distant deity but one who actively intervenes in the lives of His people, even through hardship, to achieve His purposes. Secondly, the verse underscores the **Consequences of Disobedience and Misplaced Priorities**. The "blasting," "mildew," and "hail" are direct results of the people's neglect of God's house and their self-serving focus, illustrating the principle that spiritual neglect often leads to material or relational barrenness, as seen in [Haggai 1:6](/haggai/1-6 "Haggai 1:6 - You Sow Much and Bring in Little"). Finally, the phrase "yet ye turned not to me" emphasizes the theme of **Human Stubbornness and the Call to Repentance**. Despite clear divine discipline, the people remained unrepentant, revealing the deep-seated resistance of the human heart to God's call, a theme echoed throughout Israel's history, from the wilderness wanderings to the prophetic laments.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **smote (Hebrew, _nâkâh'_):** From H5221, meaning "to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)." This word indicates a direct, intentional act of God. It's not a passive allowance of misfortune but an active, decisive blow. The severity of the striking is left open, but in the context of agricultural devastation, it implies a significant, impactful judgment. This highlights God's sovereignty and His willingness to use even harsh measures to get His people's attention.
* **labours (Hebrew, _maʻăseh'_):** From H4639, meaning "an action... a product... work." This refers to the tangible results of their efforts, specifically their agricultural output. The phrase "labours of your hands" emphasizes the personal investment and hard work they put into their fields. By striking these "labours," God directly attacked the very source of their self-sufficiency and the objects of their misplaced priorities, demonstrating that their efforts were futile without His blessing and alignment with His will.
* **saith (Hebrew, _nᵉʼum'_):** From H5002, meaning "an oracle." This term is a prophetic formula, emphasizing the divine origin and authority of the statement. It's not merely a human observation but a direct declaration from God Himself, lending absolute weight and truthfulness to the preceding words. When the Lord "saith," it signifies an authoritative, undeniable truth, reinforcing the divine authorship of the judgment and the call to repentance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail":** This opening clause immediately establishes God as the active agent of the suffering experienced by the people. The triple enumeration of "blasting," "mildew," and "hail" describes specific, devastating agricultural scourges. "Blasting" (Hebrew: _shᵉdêphâh_) refers to a scorching wind that withers crops, while "mildew" (Hebrew: _yêrâqôwn_) denotes a pale, yellowish blight that causes plants to rot. "Hail" (Hebrew: _bârâd_) refers to destructive ice pellets. Together, these represent a comprehensive assault on their harvest, leaving no doubt that their economic hardship was divinely orchestrated.
* **"in all the labours of your hands;":** This phrase specifies the target and extent of God's judgment. It was not a random misfortune but directly affected their diligent work—their farming, their vineyards, and all their efforts to provide for themselves. This connection underscores the direct link between their spiritual negligence (neglecting the temple) and their material unfulfillment, demonstrating that God was withholding His blessing from their self-focused endeavors.
* **"yet ye turned not to me,":** This is the poignant and central indictment of the verse. Despite the clear, undeniable signs of divine displeasure and the direct impact on their livelihoods, the people remained unrepentant and unresponsive. The phrase "turned not to me" signifies a failure to repent, to reorient their lives and priorities back towards God. It highlights their spiritual stubbornness and apathy, revealing a heart resistant to God's disciplinary love.
* **"saith the LORD.":** This concluding phrase serves as an authoritative divine stamp on the entire statement. It confirms that the preceding words are not the prophet's opinion but the direct, unadulterated declaration of Yahweh (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh_), the covenant-keeping God of Israel. This reinforces the truthfulness, solemnity, and ultimate authority of God's assessment of their past actions and their spiritual condition.

#### Literary Devices
Haggai 2:17 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in God's declaration, "I smote you," attributing human-like action (striking) to the divine. This emphasizes God's direct and personal involvement in the events, rather than portraying Him as a distant, passive observer. The **enumeration** of "blasting and with mildew and with hail" serves to highlight the comprehensive and devastating nature of the judgment, stressing that the people's agricultural efforts were afflicted from multiple angles, leaving no room for attributing their failures to mere chance. Furthermore, the verse uses **contrast** to underscore the people's spiritual state: God's active, severe discipline is set against their passive, unrepentant response ("yet ye turned not to me"). This stark juxtaposition amplifies the tragedy of their stubbornness. Finally, the concluding phrase, "saith the LORD," functions as an **oracle formula**, lending divine authority and irrefutable truth to the entire statement, transforming it from a mere observation into a solemn, prophetic declaration.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Haggai 2:17 profoundly illustrates God's active sovereignty over creation and human affairs, demonstrating that He uses even natural phenomena as instruments of His discipline and a means to call His people to repentance. It underscores the biblical principle that disobedience, particularly the neglect of God's priorities, carries tangible consequences, and that God's discipline is not punitive in a vengeful sense, but redemptive, designed to turn hearts back to Him. The verse also highlights the persistent human tendency towards spiritual apathy and stubbornness, even in the face of clear divine prompting, emphasizing the need for a responsive and repentant heart.

* [Deuteronomy 28:22](/deuteronomy/28-22 "Deuteronomy 28:22 - Curses of Blasting and Mildew")
* [Amos 4:9](/amos/4-9 "Amos 4:9 - God's Discipline Through Famine")
* [Jeremiah 2:30](/jeremiah/2-30 "Jeremiah 2:30 - Discipline Without Repentance")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Haggai 2:17 offers a timeless challenge for believers today, prompting us to examine our own priorities and responsiveness to God's voice. Just as the post-exilic community prioritized their own "ceiled houses" over God's temple, we can easily become consumed by personal ambitions, material comforts, and worldly pursuits, neglecting the spiritual "house" – whether that be our personal devotion, the health of the church, or God's kingdom work. When we experience periods of "blasting," "mildew," or "hail" in our lives – unexpected difficulties, lack of fruitfulness despite hard work, or a sense of spiritual barrenness – this verse calls us to pause and consider if these are not merely random misfortunes, but rather God's loving discipline, designed to draw us back to Him. It challenges us to move beyond superficial acknowledgment of God to a deep, transformative turning of our hearts and actions towards His will, ensuring that our "labours" are aligned with His purposes and that we are quick to respond to His promptings, rather than displaying the stubborn apathy of Haggai's generation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prioritizing my "own house" (personal comfort, ambition, material gain) over God's "house" (His kingdom, His will, His church)?**
* **Have I experienced any "blasting," "mildew," or "hail" in my life—difficulties or lack of fruitfulness—that might be God's way of calling me to re-evaluate my priorities?**
* **How quickly and genuinely do I "turn to the Lord" when faced with challenges or conviction, or do I tend to remain stubborn or apathetic?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure my "labours of my hands" are truly consecrated to God's purposes and aligned with His will?**

### FAQ

**What does "blasting and mildew and hail" refer to in Haggai 2:17?**

Answer: "Blasting" (Hebrew: _shᵉdêphâh_) refers to a scorching wind or blight that withers crops, causing them to shrivel and die. "Mildew" (Hebrew: _yêrâqôwn_) denotes a pale, yellowish blight or disease that affects plants, causing them to rot or become unproductive. "Hail" (Hebrew: _bârâd_) refers to destructive ice pellets that fall from the sky, capable of flattening crops and causing significant damage. Together, these terms describe a series of severe agricultural disasters that directly impacted the people's food supply and livelihood. These were not random occurrences but were divinely sent judgments, explicitly stated by God as a means of discipline, echoing curses found in the Mosaic Law, such as in [Deuteronomy 28:22](/deuteronomy/28-22 "Deuteronomy 28:22 - Curses for Disobedience").

**Why did God "smite" His people in Haggai 2:17?**

Answer: God "smote" His people because they had neglected His command to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem after returning from Babylonian exile. While they were busy building and decorating their own homes, the Lord's house lay in ruins. This misplaced priority indicated a spiritual apathy and a lack of true devotion to God. The agricultural disasters—blasting, mildew, and hail—were God's direct disciplinary actions, intended to get their attention, expose their sin, and prompt them to repent and reorder their priorities, turning back to Him and focusing on His will. This is clearly articulated in [Haggai 1:9](/haggai/1-9 "Haggai 1:9 - Consequences of Neglecting God's House"), where God states, "Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little... because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Haggai 2:17, with its depiction of divine discipline and the people's stubborn refusal to "turn" to the Lord, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament reveals God's use of external judgments to call His people to repentance, the New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ, offers a new and internal means of transformation. Jesus Himself is the ultimate "turning" point, the one to whom all people are called to repent and believe ([Mark 1:15](/mark/1-15 "Mark 1:15 - Repent and Believe the Gospel")). He bore the ultimate "smiting" for humanity's stubbornness and sin, taking upon Himself the divine judgment that we deserved ([Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4-5 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - Christ's Suffering for Our Sins")). Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, He provides the means for true spiritual fruitfulness, contrasting with the barren "labours" of those who neglect God ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Abiding in Christ for Fruitfulness")). Moreover, the New Covenant promises a new heart and a new spirit, enabling God's people to genuinely "turn" to Him, not out of fear of external judgment, but by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells them, writing God's laws on their hearts ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant")). Thus, Christ not only fulfills the need for repentance but also empowers it, transforming resistant hearts into ones eager to obey and prioritize God's kingdom.

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

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.

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.

Amos 4:8

So two [or] three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Amos 4:11

I have overthrown [some] of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

1 Kings 8:37

If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, [or] if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness [there be];

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.

Jeremiah 5:3

O LORD, [are] not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, [but] they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.