Haggai 2:5

[According to] the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

According to the word {H1697} that I covenanted {H3772} with you when ye came {H3318} out of Egypt {H4714}, so my spirit {H7307} remaineth {H5975} among {H8432} you: fear {H3372} ye not.

"This is in keeping with the word that I promised in a covenant with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit remains with you, so don't be afraid!"

This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you; do not be afraid.”

according to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, and my Spirit abode among you: fear ye not.

Commentary

Haggai 2:5 KJV serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness and His abiding presence with His people. Delivered to the post-exilic community facing discouragement while rebuilding the Second Temple, this verse directly connects God's past promises with His current commitment.

Context of Haggai 2:5

The prophet Haggai ministered to the Jewish exiles who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity, around 520 BC. Their initial zeal for rebuilding the temple had waned, and the work had stopped for many years. When they finally resumed building, many of the elders who remembered Solomon's magnificent temple were disheartened by the humble appearance of the new foundation (Haggai 2:3). This verse is part of a series of divine encouragements delivered through Haggai, urging the people, particularly the governor Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua, to be strong and continue the work (Haggai 2:4).

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Enduring Covenant Faithfulness: The phrase "According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt" explicitly links God's present promise to His ancient covenant with Israel, particularly the Mosaic Covenant established at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:5-6). This underscores that God's character is consistent; He remembers and upholds His promises across generations.
  • The Abiding Presence of God's Spirit: "So my spirit remaineth among you" is a profound assurance. Despite their past failures and current discouragement, God's active, empowering presence, through His Ruach (Spirit), had not departed. This divine presence was not merely symbolic but a dynamic reality empowering them to complete the work and live righteously. It foreshadows the even fuller outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament era (John 14:16, Acts 2:4).
  • Divine Command to "Fear Ye Not": This repeated biblical imperative is a direct antidote to the despondency and fear gripping the people. It is not an arbitrary command but flows directly from the preceding promises of God's covenant faithfulness and the abiding presence of His Spirit. When God is present and faithful, there is no legitimate cause for fear, even in challenging circumstances (Isaiah 41:10).

Linguistic Insights

The term "covenanted" in Hebrew is berith, signifying a solemn, binding agreement or treaty. This emphasizes the unbreakable nature of God's promises. The word "spirit" is ruach, which can mean wind, breath, or the divine Spirit. Here, it refers to God's animating, powerful, and sustaining presence among His people, enabling them to fulfill His will.

Practical Application

Haggai 2:5 offers timeless encouragement for believers today. Just as God was faithful to His ancient covenant and remained present with His people through His Spirit, He is faithful to His New Covenant promises and indwells believers through the Holy Spirit. When facing daunting tasks, spiritual battles, or personal anxieties, this verse reminds us:

  • God's past faithfulness is a guarantee of His future reliability.
  • We are not left alone; the Holy Spirit remains with us, empowering us for His purposes.
  • Therefore, we can "fear ye not." Trusting in God's presence and power allows us to overcome discouragement and persevere in faith, knowing that He is with us in every endeavor He calls us to (Philippians 4:6-7).
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

  • Exodus 34:10

    ¶ And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou [art] shall see the work of the LORD: for it [is] a terrible thing that I will do with thee.

  • Nehemiah 9:20

    Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

  • Exodus 29:45

    And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

  • Exodus 29:46

    And they shall know that I [am] the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I [am] the LORD their God.

  • Isaiah 41:13

    For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

  • Zechariah 8:13

    And it shall come to pass, [that] as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, [but] let your hands be strong.

  • Exodus 33:12

    ¶ And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
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