Lexical Summary Chaggay: Haggai Original Word: חַגַּי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Haggai From chag; festive; Chaggai, a Heb. Prophet -- Haggai. see HEBREW chag Brown-Driver-Briggs חַגַּי proper name, masculine (festal; Phoenician חגי, חגת; Palmyrene חגגו VogNo. 61) — the prophet Haggai Haggai 1:1,3,12,13; Haggai 2:1,10,13,14,20; Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14; ᵐ5 Ἀγγαῖος. חַגַּי proper name, masculine prophet (Biblical Hebrew id.); — Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14. חַד, חֲדָה see אחד Topical Lexicon IdentityHaggai is the post-exilic prophet through whom the Lord called the returned remnant to resume and complete the rebuilding of the Second Temple. All biblical occurrences (eleven) refer to this one individual, the son of an otherwise unknown father. He is remembered for a brief but forceful ministry spanning less than four months in the second year of King Darius I (520 B.C.). Historical Context Haggai ministered after the first return from Babylonian exile under Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel. Initial enthusiasm for rebuilding the temple (Ezra 3:8–13) had cooled under external opposition and internal discouragement. By the time of Darius, the foundation still lay unfinished. Into this stagnation the word of the Lord came “through Haggai the prophet” (Ezra 5:1). His messages are precisely dated (Haggai 1:1; 2:1; 2:10; 2:20), underscoring their historical reliability and urgency. Ministry and Message 1. Call to Prioritize God’s House (Haggai 1:1–11) “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” (Haggai 1:4). Haggai exposes spiritual apathy, linking Israel’s agricultural failures to covenant neglect (Deuteronomy 28:22–24). 2. Encouragement and Empowerment (Haggai 1:12–15) The people “obeyed the voice of the Lord” (Haggai 1:12). Haggai’s title changes to “the Lord’s messenger” (Haggai 1:13), signaling a pastoral role as he conveys the divine promise, “I am with you.” 3. Assurance of Future Glory (Haggai 2:1–9) Though the second temple looked insignificant beside Solomon’s, the Lord promises, “The glory of this latter house will be greater than the former” (Haggai 2:9). The prophecy anticipates both the physical presence of Christ and eschatological fulfillment. 4. Cleansing and Covenant Blessing (Haggai 2:10–19) Using priestly rulings on ritual purity, Haggai teaches that holiness is not transmitted automatically, but defilement is. Once obedience resumes, God reverses the curse: “From this day on I will bless you” (Haggai 2:19). 5. Messianic Significance of Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:20–23) Zerubbabel is named “My servant” and the Lord declares, “I will make you like My signet ring” (Haggai 2:23). The prophetic horizon widens to the overthrow of nations and the ultimate enthronement of the Davidic Messiah. Relationship to Other Prophets Haggai’s contemporary Zechariah amplifies and extends these same themes (Zechariah 1–8). Both prophets function as covenant watchdogs and encouragers of the rebuilding project recorded in Ezra 5–6. Their combined ministry galvanized completion in 516 B.C. (Ezra 6:14–15). Occurrences and Patterns of Usage • Ezra 5:1; 6:14 portray Haggai as a prophetic partner with Zechariah, emphasizing corporate accountability. The repetition underscores that true revival flows from the authoritative word of God through recognized prophetic channels. Theological Themes • Covenant Faithfulness: Material hardship is traced to spiritual negligence, reinforcing Deuteronomic theology. Application for the Church Haggai confronts every generation tempted to prioritize personal comfort over kingdom mission. He reminds believers that God’s glory among His people takes precedence, that obedience invites divine presence and blessing, and that present labors participate in the unfolding of God’s unshakeable kingdom. Selected References Ezra 5:1; 6:14 Forms and Transliterations חַגַּ֔י חַגַּ֜י חַגַּ֞י חַגַּ֣י חַגַּ֥י חגי chagGai ḥag·gay ḥaggayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 5:1 HEB: וְהִתְנַבִּ֞י חַגַּ֣י [נְבִיאָה כ] NAS: When the prophets, Haggai the prophet KJV: Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, INT: prophesied Haggai prophesied and Zechariah Ezra 6:14 Haggai 1:1 Haggai 1:3 Haggai 1:12 Haggai 1:13 Haggai 2:1 Haggai 2:10 Haggai 2:13 Haggai 2:14 Haggai 2:20 11 Occurrences |
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