front:intro hz6m 1 # Introduction to Haggai\n\n## Part 1: General Introduction\n\n### What is the book of Haggai about?\n\nIn 539 B.C., the Persian emperor Cyrus conquered the Babylonian empire. He permitted peoples whom the Babylonians had exiled to return to their homelands. So the next year, a group of Israelites from the former kingdom of Judah returned home from exile. Within two years, they began to repair Yahweh’s temple in Jerusalem. But after they had only laid the foundation, their enemies forced them to stop. However, around 520 B.C. a new king, Darius, became emperor of Persia, and he was likely to allow the Judeans to finish rebuilding the temple. Nevertheless, they neglected that work and built luxurious homes for themselves instead. In response, Yahweh prevented their crops from growing well, and the people became hungry and poor. Yahweh then sent the prophet Haggai to explain to them that he had done this because they had neglected his temple. Through Haggai, Yahweh promised that if they would rebuild his temple, he would bless them once again with abundant crops. Yahweh also promised their governor, Zerubbabel, that he would make him an honored leader among the nations of the world. The people responded to Haggai’s prophesies by obeying Yahweh and rebuilding his temple, and Yahweh blessed them once again.\n\n### Outline of Haggai\n\nThe book of Haggai consists of four oracles that Yahweh gave him to deliver to the Judeans who had returned from exile. Each oracle is dated on a particular day of a specific month in the second year of the reign of Darius as emperor of Persia.\n\n- First oracle (1:1–15a): The people must finish the temple so that Yahweh will bless them again\n- Second oracle (1:15b–2:9): The rebuilt temple will be more glorious than the first temple\n- Third oracle (2:10–19): Yahweh has withheld crops, but now he will bless the people\n- Fourth oracle (2:20–23): Yahweh will defeat the nations and establish Zerubbabel as his honored ruler\n\n### Who was the prophet Haggai?\n\nThe book of Haggai does not tell us very much about the prophet whose oracles it records. Haggai is mentioned briefly in one other book of the Bible. Ezra 5:1 tells us that Haggai “prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and in Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.” Ezra 6:14 adds that “the elders of the Jews were building and prospering by the prophesying of Haggai the prophet” and that “they built and completed” the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem. But we know nothing beyond this. Still, we can recognize that Haggai must have been a man of faith, courage, and conviction to challenge the Judeans in their comfortable complacency and inspire them to renew the work of rebuilding the temple.\n\n### How should the title of this book be translated?\n\nThis book traditionally has been titled “Haggai” or “The Book of Haggai.” Translators may also decide to give it a title such as “The Prophecies of Haggai” or “The Sayings of Haggai”\n\n## Part 2: Important Translation Issues\n\n### Hebrew months\n\nThe book of Haggai dates each of its four oracles by the day of a Hebrew month. In your translation, you could convert these Hebrew days and months into approximate dates on the calendar that your culture uses. Notes will give equivalents on Western calendars for those who wish to do this. However, the Jews used a lunar calendar, so if you use a solar calendar, the date will be different every year and the translation will often not be accurate. So it may be preferable to state the number of the day and the name of the month of the Hebrew calendar in the text of your translation and say in a footnote approximately what time of year that is on your calendar.\n\n### Quote marks\n\nThe oracles of Haggai are direct first-level quotations from Yahweh. They contain second-level and third-level quotations. If you decide to present those as direct quotations, you can indicate their beginnings and endings with second-level and third-level quotation marks or with whatever other
1:intro n84r 1 # Haggai 1 General Notes\n\n## Structure and Formatting\n\nThis chapter contains the first oracle that Haggai delivered from Yahweh to the Judeans who had returned from exile.\n\nSome translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in verses 4, 6, and 8–11.
1:1 mbyj rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit בִּשְׁנַ֤ת שְׁתַּ֨יִם֙ לְדָרְיָ֣וֶשׁ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 The **second year of Darius the king** implicitly means the second year of the reign of Darius as king. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers, here and in 1:15 and 2:10. Alternate translation: “In the second year of the reign of King Darius”
1:1 qt5i rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal בִּשְׁנַ֤ת שְׁתַּ֨יִם֙ & בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י & בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ 1 If your language does not use ordinal numbers, in your translation you could use cardinal numbers or equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “In year two of … on day one of month six”
1:1 y3ei rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ 1 The **sixth** month of the Hebrew calendar includes August and September on Western calendars. See the General Introduction to Haggai for a discussion of how you might express this date in your translation.
1:1 wn8q rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche הָיָ֨ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֜ה בְּיַד־חַגַּ֣י הַנָּבִ֗יא 1 Here one part of the prophet Haggai, his **hand**, represents all of him in bringing the **word of Yahweh** to the returned exiles. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Haggai the prophet brought the word of Yahweh”
1:1 ria7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy דְבַר־יְהוָ֜ה 1 The term **word** represents a message that Yahweh conveyed by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “a message from Yahweh”
1:2 mgwz rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹ֥א עֶת־בֹּ֛א עֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה לְהִבָּנֽוֹת 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “Yahweh of hosts is concerned that these people are saying that the time has not come to rebuild the house of Yahweh”
1:2 nnof rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת 1 The phrase **Yahweh of Armies** is a title for God that indicates his great power. It describes him as the commander of heavenly armies. If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, it may have a particular way of translating this phrase, and you may wish to use that in your translation. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to express the meaning of this phrase in some other way, here and throughout the book. Alternate translation: “Yahweh the Almighty”
1:2 cav8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ 1 The phrase **This people** refers to the people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylon. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “These returned Judean exiles”
1:2 ck31 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor עֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה 1 As the General Introduction to Haggai discusses, here and often throughout the book of Haggai, the word **house** means “temple.” The people are speaking of the temple as if it would be a house in which God lived, since God’s presence would be there. Alternate translation: “the temple of Yahweh”
1:3 xs12 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה בְּיַד־חַגַּ֥י הַנָּבִ֖יא 1 See how you translated this in [1:1](../01/01.md). Alternate translation: “Then Haggai the prophet brought this message from Yahweh”
1:4 ms19 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion הַעֵ֤ת לָכֶם֙ אַתֶּ֔ם לָשֶׁ֖בֶת בְּבָתֵּיכֶ֣ם סְפוּנִ֑ים וְהַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּ֖ה חָרֵֽב 1 Yahweh is using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use the question form for that purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: “Now is not a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house is desolate!”
1:4 av7y rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-yousingular לָכֶם֙ אַתֶּ֔ם & בְּבָתֵּיכֶ֣ם 1 As the General Introduction to Haggai discusses, here and throughout the book except for in the last verse, the words **you**, **yourselves**, and **your** are plural because Yahweh is addressing the returned exiles, so use the plural form in your translation if your language marks that distinction.
1:4 uga1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive סְפוּנִ֑ים 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The term **paneled** could describe: (1) houses whose walls are covered with panels of costly wood. Alternate translation: “in houses whose walls you have paneled with costly wood” (2) houses that have roofs. Alternate translation: “in your houses that have roofs”
1:5 xmjb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes וְעַתָּ֕ה כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת שִׂ֥ימוּ לְבַבְכֶ֖ם עַל־דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “So now Yahweh of Armies is telling you to set your heart upon your ways”
1:5 i8x9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שִׂ֥ימוּ לְבַבְכֶ֖ם עַל־דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם 1 Here, the **heart** figuratively represents the thoughts. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Focus your thoughts on your ways” or “Consider your ways carefully”
1:5 axkh rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-collectivenouns לְבַבְכֶ֖ם 1 Since Yahweh is speaking to many people, it may be more natural in your language to use the plural form of **heart**. Alternate translation: “your hearts”
1:5 jnk7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם 1 Yahweh is speaking of how the returned exiles have been living as if that were a series of **ways** or paths that they were walking along. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “how you have been living”
1:6 zecd rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns וְאֵין־לְשָׂבְעָה֙ 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **satiety**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “but not enough to satisfy your hunger”
1:6 rma3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְאֵין־לְשָׁכְרָ֔ה 1 In this culture, as in many cultures today, the water was not safe to drink, so people drank wine made from grapes. This wine contained a low level of alcohol. Yahweh is emphasizing that the people do not have enough to drink to satisfy their thirst. If they did, they would also experience a slight stimulating sensation. Yahweh is not suggesting that drunkenness is a good thing. It may be helpful to clarify the intended meaning of this statement. Alternate translation: “but you cannot drink enough to satisfy your thirst”
1:6 ep2p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person לָב֖וֹשׁ וְאֵין־לְחֹ֣ם ל֑וֹ 1 Since to this point Yahweh has been speaking to the Judeans in the second person, it may be natural in your language to translate this sentence in the second person as well. Alternate translation: “You wear clothes, but you are not able to warm yourselves”
1:6 wiii rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis וְהַ֨מִּשְׂתַּכֵּ֔ר מִשְׂתַּכֵּ֖ר אֶל־צְר֥וֹר נָקֽוּב 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “And the wage earner earns wages, only to put them into a punctured bag”
1:6 aw8t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וְהַ֨מִּשְׂתַּכֵּ֔ר מִשְׂתַּכֵּ֖ר אֶל־צְר֥וֹר נָקֽוּב 1 Yahweh is speaking as if the returned exiles were literally putting their **wages** in a **punctured bag**. The image suggests that when they have expenses, they do not have money available to meet them. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “And the money you earn seems to disappear quickly”
1:6 frez rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive צְר֥וֹר נָקֽוּב 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “a bag that someone has punctured” or “a bag that has a hole in it”
1:7 rzcl rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת שִׂ֥ימוּ לְבַבְכֶ֖ם עַל־דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “Yahweh of Armies is telling you to set your heart upon your ways”
1:7 u8ra rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שִׂ֥ימוּ לְבַבְכֶ֖ם עַל־דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם 1 See how you translated this in [1:5](../01/05.md). Alternate translation: “Focus your thoughts on how you have been living” or “Consider carefully how you have been living”
1:8 nk2p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes עֲל֥וּ הָהָ֛ר וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם עֵ֖ץ וּבְנ֣וּ הַבָּ֑יִת וְאֶרְצֶה־בּ֥וֹ ואכבד אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “Yes, Yahweh is telling you to go up to the mountain and bring timber and build the house, and he will take pleasure in it and he will be glorified”
1:8 g039 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-genericnoun הָהָ֛ר 1 Yahweh is not referring to a specific **mountain**. He means the various mountains around the city of Jerusalem, where his temple was located. It may be more natural in your language to express this meaning by using a plural form. Alternate translation: “to the mountains”
1:8 uu95 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive ואכבד 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. See the discussion in the General Notes to this chapter of the concept of God being **glorified**. Alternate translation: “and this will glorify me” or “and in this way you will honor me”
1:9 repd rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes פָּנֹ֤ה אֶל־הַרְבֵּה֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה לִמְעָ֔ט וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם הַבַּ֖יִת וְנָפַ֣חְתִּי ב֑וֹ יַ֣עַן מֶ֗ה נְאֻם֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת יַ֗עַן בֵּיתִי֙ אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא חָרֵ֔ב וְאַתֶּ֥ם רָצִ֖ים אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “You looked for much, but behold, little! And you brought it home, but he blew upon it! And Yahweh of Armies wants you to know why this happened. It is because of his house, that it is desolate, but you are running, a man to his house”
1:9 yx8d rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וְהִנֵּ֣ה 1 Yahweh is using the term **behold** to focus his listeners’ attention on what he is about to say. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation.
1:9 i3ca rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis וְהִנֵּ֣ה לִמְעָ֔ט 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “but you found only a little”
1:9 eb3a rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וְנָפַ֣חְתִּי ב֑וֹ 1 Yahweh is speaking as if he had literally blown on the crops that the Judeans brought home. The image is of the wind blowing hard and carrying off grain. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “but it was as if the wind carried it away”
1:9 wsac rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion יַ֣עַן מֶ֗ה & יַ֗עַן בֵּיתִי֙ 1 Yahweh is using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use the question form for that purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “There is an important reason for this! … It is because of my house”
1:9 g652 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns נְאֻם֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת 1 As the General Introduction to Haggai discusses, if your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **declaration**, you could express the same idea in another way, here and in the other occurrences of this phrase throughout the book. Alternate translation: “this is what Yahweh of Armies declares”
1:9 l8h5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-gendernotations וְאַתֶּ֥ם רָצִ֖ים אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ 1 Although the term **man** is masculine, Yahweh is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. In this context, it means “each one of you.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use language in your translation that indicates this. Alternate translation: “each one of you is running to his or her own house”
1:9 vl6m rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וְאַתֶּ֥ם רָצִ֖ים אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ 1 Yahweh is speaking as if the Judeans were literally **running** back to their homes whenever they had the opportunity to return to them. He means that they are eager to improve their own homes, even though they do not care about the temple. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “while you are eager to improve your own homes”
1:10 suc8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification כָּלְא֥וּ שָמַ֖יִם מִטָּ֑ל וְהָאָ֖רֶץ כָּלְאָ֥ה יְבוּלָֽהּ 1 Yahweh is speaking as if the **heavens** and the **earth** were living things that could actively withhold **dew** and **produce** from the Judeans. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “there is no dew from the heavens above you and there is no produce from the earth”
1:10 zjm1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם כָּלְא֥וּ שָמַ֖יִם מִטָּ֑ל 1 Yahweh is speaking as if **dew** fell from the **heavens**, that is, from the sky. He means implicitly that not only has rain not been falling from the sky, dew has not even been forming on the ground overnight. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “not only has it not been raining, dew has not even been forming,”
1:11 a7ds rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-litany עַל־הָאָ֣רֶץ וְעַל־הֶהָרִ֗ים וְעַל־הַדָּגָן֙ וְעַל־הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְעַל־הַיִּצְהָ֔ר וְעַ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תּוֹצִ֖יא הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וְעַל־הָֽאָדָם֙ וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וְעַ֖ל כָּל־יְגִ֥יעַ כַּפָּֽיִם 1 In this verse, Yahweh uses a series of repetitive phrases to show that the effects of the **desolation** he has **called for** are comprehensive. A series of phrases like this is called a litany. If your readers would not be familiar with this form, to help them appreciate it, you could put each of the phrases on a separate line in your translation, for example:\n“And I have called for desolation\nupon the land\nand upon the mountains\nand upon the grain\nand upon the new wine …”
1:11 v496 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns וָאֶקְרָ֨א חֹ֜רֶב עַל־הָאָ֣רֶץ וְעַל־הֶהָרִ֗ים וְעַל־הַדָּגָן֙ וְעַל־הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְעַל־הַיִּצְהָ֔ר וְעַ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תּוֹצִ֖יא הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וְעַל־הָֽאָדָם֙ וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וְעַ֖ל כָּל־יְגִ֥יעַ כַּפָּֽיִם 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **desolation**, you could express the same idea in another way. The word “desolation” is the noun form of the word whose adjective form “desolate” Yahweh uses in verses 4 and 9. Yahweh is saying that the land of Judah is experiencing desolation because the people have left his temple desolate. So if you would not use the abstract noun “desolation” in your language, an adjective such as “desolate” may be suitable here. Alternate translation: “And I have called for the land and the mountains and the grain and the new wine and the oil and what the ground produces and the man and the beast and all the labor of your hands to become desolate”
1:11 xrhu rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes וָאֶקְרָ֨א 1 If you have been translating this chapter so that there are not quotations within a quotation, for consistency you would say here, “And he has called for.”
1:11 v7pk rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy וְעַל־הַדָּגָן֙ וְעַל־הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְעַל־הַיִּצְהָ֔ר 1 Here, **grain**, **new wine**, and **oil** represent wheat and barley, grapes, and olives, of which they are the products. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and upon the wheat and barley and upon the grapes and upon the olives”
1:11 qur8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-genericnoun וְעַל־הָֽאָדָם֙ וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה 1 Yahweh is not referring to a specific **man** or to a specific **beast**. He means people and animals in general. It may be more natural in your language to express this meaning by using plural forms. Alternate translation: “and upon people and upon animals”
1:11 zygf rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche כַּפָּֽיִם 1 Yahweh is using one part of the Judeans, their **hands**, to mean all of them in the act of working. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “everything that you do”
1:12 c4he rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע & בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַל־דִּבְרֵי֙ חַגַּ֣י הַנָּבִ֔יא 1 Here the word **listened** implicitly means “obeyed.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Then … obeyed the voice of Yahweh their God and the words of Haggai the prophet”
1:12 bl1u rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע & בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַל־דִּבְרֵי֙ חַגַּ֣י הַנָּבִ֔יא 1 Here the term **voice** represents what Yahweh said by using his voice and the term **words** represents what Haggai said by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Then … obeyed what Yahweh their God and Haggai the prophet had said”
1:12 y6v7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַל־דִּבְרֵי֙ חַגַּ֣י הַנָּבִ֔יא 1 Here a single idea is expressed through two phrases connected with **and**. The second phrase tells by what means the action of the first phrase was accomplished. If it would be more natural in your language, you could convey this meaning with an equivalent expression that does not use “and.” Alternate translation: “what Yahweh their God had said through Haggai the prophet”
1:12 e9sl rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche וַיִּֽירְא֥וּ הָעָ֖ם מִפְּנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה 1 Here one part of Yahweh, his **face**, represents all of him. Alternate translation: “and the people feared Yahweh” or “and the people respected Yahweh”
1:13 dtj5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person אֲנִ֥י אִתְּכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “Yahweh declares that he is with you!”
1:14 z9kv rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche וַיָּ֣עַר יְהוָ֡ה אֶת־רוּחַ֩ זְרֻבָּבֶ֨ל בֶּן־שַׁלְתִּיאֵ֜ל פַּחַ֣ת יְהוּדָ֗ה וְאֶת־ר֨וּחַ֙ יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ בֶּן־יְהוֹצָדָק֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל וְֽאֶת־ר֔וּחַ כֹּ֖ל שְׁאֵרִ֣ית הָעָ֑ם 1 Here one part of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people, their **spirit** in each case, represents all of them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “And Yahweh awakened the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all of the remnant of the people”
1:14 n1e7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַיָּ֣עַר יְהוָ֡ה אֶת־רוּחַ֩ זְרֻבָּבֶ֨ל בֶּן־שַׁלְתִּיאֵ֜ל פַּחַ֣ת יְהוּדָ֗ה וְאֶת־ר֨וּחַ֙ יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ בֶּן־יְהוֹצָדָק֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל וְֽאֶת־ר֔וּחַ כֹּ֖ל שְׁאֵרִ֣ית הָעָ֑ם 1 Here Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people are described as if they had literally been asleep and Yahweh woke them up. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “And Yahweh motivated the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all of the remnant of the people”
1:15 vp6z rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths בְּי֨וֹם עֶשְׂרִ֧ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֛ה לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ בַּשִּׁשִּׁ֑י 1 The **sixth month** of the Hebrew calendar includes August and September on Western calendars. See how you decided to translate the similar reference to a day, month, and year in [1:1](../01/01.md).
1:15 cx2u rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal בְּי֨וֹם עֶשְׂרִ֧ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֛ה לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ בַּשִּׁשִּׁ֑י בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁתַּ֖יִם 1 If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you could use cardinal numbers here. Alternate translation: “on day 24 of month six. In year two”
2:intro ieh7 1 # Haggai 2 General Notes\n\n## Structure and Formatting\n\nThis chapter contains the second (2:1–9), third (2:10–19), and fourth (2:20–23) oracles that Haggai delivered from Yahweh to the Judeans who had returned from exile.\n\nSome translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in verses 6–7 and 21–22.\n\n## Translation Issues in This Chapter\n\n### The teaching example of uncleanness (verses 12–14)\n\nIn the third oracle, Yahweh has Haggai speak with the priests in front of the people in order to teach the people by using an example. Haggai has the priests confirm that a person in a state of holiness does not communicate that holy state to foods that he touches. Haggai then has the priests confirm that a person in a state of uncleanness does communicate that unclean state to foods that he touches. Haggai then tells the people that Yahweh considers them to be unclean, meaning not in a proper state to take part in worship, because they have not obeyed him and rebuilt the temple. They have communicated that unclean state to the foods that they have offered in sacrifice, and so those sacrifices are not acceptable to Yahweh. Stated plainly, the message of this example is that the sacrifices the people are offering on the altar do not make up for their disobedience in not rebuilding the temple. Rather, their disobedience in not rebuilding the temple is making their sacrifices unacceptable. Notes to verses 11–14 will suggest ways in which you can indicate this meaning in your translation.
2:1 j1p9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis בַּשְּׁבִיעִ֕י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ 1 Here some words are omitted that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month”
2:1 pyka rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal בַּשְּׁבִיעִ֕י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ 1 If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you could use cardinal numbers here. Alternate translation: “on day 21 of month seven”
2:1 v31v rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths בַּשְּׁבִיעִ֕י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ 1 The **twenty-first** day of the **seventh** month on the Hebrew calendar is near the middle of October on Western calendars. See how you decided to translate the similar reference to a day and month in [1:1](../01/01.md).
2:1 fm14 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche הָיָה֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה בְּיַד־חַגַּ֥י הַנָּבִ֖יא 1 See how you translated this same statement in [1:1](../01/01.md). Alternate translation: “Haggai the prophet brought a message from Yahweh”
2:2 q56p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר 1 You may decide to translate the rest of this oracle, through verse 9, so that there is not a direct quotation within a quotation. If so, you can translate this so that it does not introduce a direct quotation. Alternate translation, with no comma following: “the people and ask them”
2:3 m41e rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes מִ֤י בָכֶם֙ הַנִּשְׁאָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָאָה֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֔ה בִּכְבוֹד֖וֹ הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן וּמָ֨ה אַתֶּ֜ם רֹאִ֤ים אֹתוֹ֙ עַ֔תָּה הֲל֥וֹא כָמֹ֛הוּ כְּאַ֖יִן בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain direct quotations within a quotation, you can translate this verse as an indirect quotation, continuing the sentence that begins in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “who is left among them who saw this house in its former glory. Ask them how they are seeing it now and whether, compared with it, it is not like nothing in their eyes”
2:3 m1jr rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion מִ֤י בָכֶם֙ הַנִּשְׁאָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָאָה֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֔ה בִּכְבוֹד֖וֹ הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן וּמָ֨ה אַתֶּ֜ם רֹאִ֤ים אֹתוֹ֙ עַ֔תָּה הֲל֥וֹא כָמֹ֛הוּ כְּאַ֖יִן בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם 1 Yahweh is using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use the question form for that purpose in your language, you could translate these questions as statements or as exclamations. Alternate translation: “Some of you saw this temple in its former glory. I know that you are not pleased with the way it looks now. Compared with the way it looked before, it seems like nothing in your eyes.”
2:3 pbu9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive בָכֶם֙ הַנִּשְׁאָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָאָה֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֔ה 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the one among you who still remembers what this temple looked like”
2:3 a63w rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָאָה֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֔ה בִּכְבוֹד֖וֹ הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **glory**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “who saw how glorious this temple formerly was”
2:3 tsx7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion כָמֹ֛הוּ 1 The pronoun **that** refers to the former glory of the temple. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “Compared with its former glory”
2:3 ym2p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy הֲל֥וֹא כָמֹ֛הוּ כְּאַ֖יִן בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם 1 Yahweh is using the term **eyes** by association to mean sight. Sight, in turn, represents attention, perspective, and judgment. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Compared with that, do you not regard it as nothing”
2:4 iuno rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes וְעַתָּ֣ה חֲזַ֣ק זְרֻבָּבֶ֣ל ׀ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֡ה וַחֲזַ֣ק יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בֶּן־יְהוֹצָדָק֩ הַכֹּהֵ֨ן הַגָּד֜וֹל וַחֲזַ֨ק כָּל־עַ֥ם הָאָ֛רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י אִתְּכֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain direct quotations within a quotation, you can translate the second-level quotations in this verse as indirect quotations. Alternate translation: “But tell Zerubbabel that I, Yahweh, declare that he should now be strong, and that I, Yahweh, declare to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the people of the land that they should be strong, and that I, Yahweh of Armies, declare that they should work, for I am with them”
2:4 dtv1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom כָּל־עַ֥ם הָאָ֛רֶץ 1 Yahweh is using this expression to refer to the Judeans who have returned from exile. The phrase means the same thing as the term “remnant” in [1:12](../01/12.md) and [1:14](../01/14.md). However, the phrase “the people of the land” often has a different meaning elsewhere in the Bible. In other passages, it refers to the Canaanites who were living in the region before the Israelites arrived. So it may be helpful to your readers to state the plainly what “the people of the land” means here. Alternate translation: “all you Judeans who have returned from exile”
2:5 xjsq rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes אֶֽת־הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־כָּרַ֤תִּי אִתְּכֶם֙ בְּצֵאתְכֶ֣ם מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם וְרוּחִ֖י עֹמֶ֣דֶת בְּתוֹכְכֶ֑ם אַל־תִּירָֽאוּ 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain quotations within a quotation, you can translate this verse as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “Tell them that this is the word that I covenanted with them when they came out of Egypt, and my Spirit remains in their midst, so they should not fear”
2:5 f0fm rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis אֶֽת־הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־כָּרַ֤תִּי אִתְּכֶם֙ 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “This is the word that I covenanted with you”
2:5 i4cl rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy אֶֽת־הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־כָּרַ֤תִּי אִתְּכֶם֙ 1 Yahweh is using the term **word** to mean what he said to the Israelites by using words when he made a covenant with them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “This is the covenant promise that I made to you”
2:5 re44 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אֶֽת־הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־כָּרַ֤תִּי אִתְּכֶם֙ בְּצֵאתְכֶ֣ם מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם 1 By **The word that I covenanted with you**, Yahweh is referring to what he has just said, “I am with you.” Yahweh made this promise to the Israelites when they **came out of Egypt**. See, for example, [Exodus 29:45–46](../exo/29/45.md), “And I will live among the sons of Israel and will be their God. And they will know that I am Yahweh their God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt to live among them.” You could indicate this in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “This is the covenant promise that I made to you when you came out of Egypt, that I would be with you”
2:5 s0xn rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְרוּחִ֖י עֹמֶ֣דֶת בְּתוֹכְכֶ֑ם 1 With this statement, Yahweh is asserting that he is indeed fulfilling his covenant promise to be with the Israelites. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and indeed I am present in your midst through my Spirit, just as I promised”
2:6 ibcq rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת ע֥וֹד אַחַ֖ת מְעַ֣ט הִ֑יא וַאֲנִ֗י מַרְעִישׁ֙ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶת־הַיָּ֖ם וְאֶת־הֶחָרָבָֽה 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain quotations within a quotation, you can translate the second-level quotation in this verse as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “For I, Yahweh of Armies, say that yet once, it will be a little while, and I will be shaking the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land”
2:6 g6sp rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet ע֥וֹד אַחַ֖ת מְעַ֣ט הִ֑יא וַאֲנִ֗י מַרְעִישׁ֙ 1 These phrases **Yet once** and **it will be a little while**may mean similar things. The first phrase may mean “after only one more period of time.” The second phrase says basically the same thing but adds the information that this will be a brief period of time. Yahweh may be using the two phrases together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “I can assure you that after only a short time, I will be shaking”
2:6 e2qq rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַאֲנִ֗י מַרְעִישׁ֙ 1 Yahweh is speaking as if he would literally be **shaking** all of creation. The image is that of a great earthquake. (People in this culture considered the sky to be a solid object above the earth, so Yahweh could shake that as well as the earth with a great quake.) It becomes clear in the next verse that Yahweh is actually using all of creation to represent “all nations” in their relationship to his chosen people. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and I will bring about such changes in the attitude of the nations toward you that it will be as if I am shaking”
2:6 ehw1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-merism אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶת־הַיָּ֖ם וְאֶת־הֶחָרָבָֽה 1 Yahweh is using the two main components of creation, the **heavens** (the sky) and the **earth**, to mean all of creation. He is then using the two main components of creation below the sky, the **sea** and the **dry land**, to mean the entire world in which humans live. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “everything that I have created”
2:7 ewpa rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes וְהִרְעַשְׁתִּי֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וּבָ֖אוּ חֶמְדַּ֣ת כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּמִלֵּאתִ֞י אֶת־הַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ כָּב֔וֹד אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain quotations within a quotation, you can translate the second-level quotation in this verse as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “I, Yahweh of Armies, say that I will shake all of the nations, and they will come with the treasure of all of the nations, and I will fill this house with glory”
2:7 nmi4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וְהִרְעַשְׁתִּי֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם 1 Yahweh is speaking as if he were literally going to **shake** the **nations** with an earthquake. It is clear from the context that this represents Yahweh changing the attitude of the nations. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “And I will change the attitude of all the nations toward you”
2:7 kpek rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns וּמִלֵּאתִ֞י אֶת־הַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ כָּב֔וֹד 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **glory**, you could express the same idea in another way. In this context, the word **glory** could mean: (1) the **treasure** that the **nations** will bring to the temple as an offering to Yahweh. The next verse suggests that this may be the meaning. Alternate translation: “and I will fill this temple with glorious treasure” (2) the reputation that the temple would have. Alternate translation: “and I will give this temple a glorious reputation”
2:8 mv70 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes לִ֥י הַכֶּ֖סֶף וְלִ֣י הַזָּהָ֑ב נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain quotations within a quotation, you can translate the second-level quotation in this verse as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “I, Yahweh of Armies, declare that the silver is mine, and the gold is mine”
2:8 f56d rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit לִ֥י הַכֶּ֖סֶף וְלִ֣י הַזָּהָ֑ב 1 The implication of this statement seems to be that Yahweh can promise that the nations will bring their treasure to the rebuilt temple because all of that treasure actually belongs to him. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “I can promise you this because the silver and gold that the nations will bring to the temple actually belongs to me”
2:9 f506 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes גָּד֣וֹל יִֽהְיֶ֡ה כְּבוֹד֩ הַבַּ֨יִת הַזֶּ֤ה הָאַֽחֲרוֹן֙ מִן־הָ֣רִאשׁ֔וֹן אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וּבַמָּק֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן שָׁל֔וֹם נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain quotations within a quotation, you can translate the second-level quotations in this verse as indirect quotations. Alternate translation: “I, Yahweh of Armies, say that the latter glory of this house {will be} greater than the former, and I, Yahweh of Armies, declare that in this place I will give peace”
2:9 quq5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis גָּד֣וֹל יִֽהְיֶ֡ה כְּבוֹד֩ הַבַּ֨יִת הַזֶּ֤ה הָאַֽחֲרוֹן֙ מִן־הָ֣רִאשׁ֔וֹן 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “The latter glory of this temple {will be} greater than the former glory of this temple” or “The latter glory of this temple {will be} greater than its former glory”
2:9 s4di rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns גָּד֣וֹל יִֽהְיֶ֡ה כְּבוֹד֩ הַבַּ֨יִת הַזֶּ֤ה הָאַֽחֲרוֹן֙ מִן־הָ֣רִאשׁ֔וֹן 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of **glory**, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “This temple will become more glorious now than it was before”
2:9 ezgw rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor הַבַּ֨יִת 1 Here, as in many other instances throughout the book, Yahweh is speaking of his temple as if it were a **house** in which he lived. If you decided to translate the word **house** as “temple,” look back over your translation to make sure that you have done this consistently. Alternate translation: “temple”
2:9 uhag rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וּבַמָּק֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן שָׁל֔וֹם 1 By **this place**, Yahweh most likely means Judea and especially Jerusalem. The enemies of the Judeans destroyed the previous temple, but Yahweh is promising here that he will now cause the nations to be at **peace** with them so that enemy armies do not destroy the rebuilt temple. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and here in Jerusalem I will give peace” or “and I will not allow your enemies to come here to Jerusalem and destroy this temple again”
2:10 p988 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis בְּעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וְאַרְבָּעָה֙ לַתְּשִׁיעִ֔י 1 Here some words are omitted that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month”
2:10 if92 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal בְּעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וְאַרְבָּעָה֙ לַתְּשִׁיעִ֔י בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁתַּ֖יִם לְדָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ 1 If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you could use cardinal numbers here. Alternate translation: “on day 24 of month nine in year two of Darius”
2:10 wc9p rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths בְּעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וְאַרְבָּעָה֙ לַתְּשִׁיעִ֔י 1 The **twenty-fourth day** of the **ninth month** on the Hebrew calendar is near the middle of December on Western calendars. See how you decided to translate the similar reference to a day and month in [1:1](../01/01.md).
2:10 s26v rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom הָיָה֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־חַגַּ֥י הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר 1 See how you translated the similar statement in [1:1](../01/01.md). Alternate translation: “Haggai the prophet received a message from Yahweh, who told him”
2:11 t7n0 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotemarks כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת שְׁאַל־נָ֧א אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים תּוֹרָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “Yahweh of Armies says to ask the priests about the law. Ask them”
2:12 fv8t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes הֵ֣ן ׀ יִשָּׂא־אִ֨ישׁ בְּשַׂר־קֹ֜דֶשׁ בִּכְנַ֣ף בִּגְד֗וֹ וְנָגַ֣ע בִּ֠כְנָפוֹ אֶל־הַלֶּ֨חֶם וְאֶל־הַנָּזִ֜יד וְאֶל־הַיַּ֧יִן וְאֶל־שֶׁ֛מֶן וְאֶל־כָּל־מַאֲכָ֖ל הֲיִקְדָּ֑שׁ 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain direct quotations within a quotation, you can translate this verse as an indirect quotation, continuing the sentence that begins in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “whether bread or stew or wine or oil or any other food becomes holy if a man carries holy flesh in the fold of his garment and he touches with his fold upon it”
2:12 srd1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo הֵ֣ן ׀ יִשָּׂא־אִ֨ישׁ בְּשַׂר־קֹ֜דֶשׁ בִּכְנַ֣ף בִּגְד֗וֹ וְנָגַ֣ע בִּ֠כְנָפוֹ אֶל־הַלֶּ֨חֶם וְאֶל־הַנָּזִ֜יד וְאֶל־הַיַּ֧יִן וְאֶל־שֶׁ֛מֶן וְאֶל־כָּל־מַאֲכָ֖ל הֲיִקְדָּ֑שׁ 1 Yahweh is using a hypothetical situation in order to teach. Alternate translation: “Suppose a man carries holy flesh in the fold of his garment. And suppose that man touches bread or stew or wine or oil or any other food with that fold. Would that make the food holy?”
2:12 xeqr rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom בְּשַׂר־קֹ֜דֶשׁ 1 The expression **holy flesh** refers implicitly to meat that has been offered to Yahweh as a sacrifice. Only priests could eat such meat. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: “meat that is set apart for the priests to eat because it has been offered to Yahweh as a sacrifice”
2:12 vx79 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis לֹֽא 1 The priests mean implicitly that while touching **holy flesh** makes a person “holy” (and therefore conveys certain privileges but also makes the person subject to certain restrictions, see [Leviticus 6:27](../06/27.md)), that person does not communicate this holy state to objects that he touches. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: “No, a person who becomes holy by touching meat sacrificed to Yahweh does not communicate that holy state to objects that he touches’”
2:13 bg3q rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit טְמֵא־נֶ֛פֶשׁ 1 Haggai implicitly means a **person** who has died, and he is speaking specifically of that dead person’s body. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the unclean by contact with a dead body”
2:13 b246 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-nominaladj טְמֵא־נֶ֛פֶשׁ 1 Haggai is using the adjective **unclean** as a noun to mean a certain kind of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “a person who has become unclean by touching a dead body”
2:13 nky1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit טְמֵא־נֶ֛פֶשׁ 1 Haggai and the priests share the knowledge that if an Israelite touches a dead body, something that is ritually unclean, then that Israelite becomes ritually unclean himself for a certain period of time (see [Numbers 19:13](../num/19/13.md)). Such a person is not allowed to take part in public worship. It may be helpful to state this explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: “someone who has become ritually impure by contact with a dead body” or “someone who is unable to join in public worship because he has touched a dead body”
2:13 o2ew rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns בְּכָל־אֵ֖לֶּה הֲיִטְמָ֑א 1 The pronoun **these** refers to the foods that Haggai described in the previous verse, and the pronoun **it** refers to one of those foods that an unclean person might touch. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “any of these foods, will the food that he touched become unclean” or “any of these foods, would that make the food that he touched unclean”
2:13 pco4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit יִטְמָֽא 1 This is the counterpart to the priests’ answer in the previous verse. It may be helpful to indicate the implications of this answer explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: “While a holy person does not communicate a holy state to objects that he touches, an unclean person does communicate an unclean state to objects that he touches, so any food that an unclean person touches does become unclean”
2:14 a80m rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes כֵּ֣ן הָֽעָם־הַ֠זֶּה וְכֵן־הַגּ֨וֹי הַזֶּ֤ה לְפָנַי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וְכֵ֖ן כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְדֵיהֶ֑ם וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר יַקְרִ֛יבוּ שָׁ֖ם טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain quotations within a quotation, you can translate the second-level quotation in this verse as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “Yahweh of Armies declares that this people and this nation are thus to his face, and that every work of their hands is thus, and that what they offer there is unclean”
2:14 dv6p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit כֵּ֣ן הָֽעָם־הַ֠זֶּה וְכֵן־הַגּ֨וֹי הַזֶּ֤ה 1 The word **Thus** refers implicitly to a state of uncleanness. It may be helpful to indicate this in your translation. Alternate translation: “This people is unclean and this nation is unclean”
2:14 p9w9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet כֵּ֣ן הָֽעָם־הַ֠זֶּה וְכֵן־הַגּ֨וֹי הַזֶּ֤ה 1 In this context, the terms **people** and **nation** both refer to the Judeans who have returned from exile. Yahweh is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “These Judeans who have returned from exile are unclean”
2:14 ua4f rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy לְפָנַי֙ 1 Here Yahweh is using the term **face** to mean his presence, by association with the way people can see the face of someone who is present. Presence, in turn, represents Yahweh’s judgment by association with the way that he would assess anything that came to his attention in front of him. Alternate translation: “in my judgment”
2:14 ppt0 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit לְפָנַי֙ 1 Yahweh means implicitly that the Judeans are unclean because they have not obeyed him and rebuilt his temple. You could indicate that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “in my judgment because they have not obeyed me and rebuilt my temple”
2:14 l3ow rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche וְכֵ֖ן כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְדֵיהֶ֑ם 1 Yahweh is using one part of the Judeans, their **hands**, to mean all of them in the act of working. The reference is specifically to their **work** of growing crops and raising animals. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and thus is all of the food that they produce” or “and all of the food that they produce is therefore unclean as well”
2:14 nybp rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר יַקְרִ֛יבוּ שָׁ֖ם טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא 1 By **there**, Haggai implicitly means an altar that the returned exiles had set up at the temple site. This is described in [Ezra 3:1–6](../03/01.md). You can say that in your translation if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and so what they offer on the altar that they have set up at the temple site is also unclean”
2:15 zlfb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שִֽׂימוּ־נָ֣א לְבַבְכֶ֔ם 1 See how you translated this expression in [1:5](../01/05.md). Alternate translation: “consider carefully what has been happening”
2:15 l2sc rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit מִן־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וָמָ֑עְלָה 1 The word **before** refers back in time to the whole period after the Judeans returned from exile. Alternate translation: “from the time you returned from exile until now”
2:15 r7pr rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche מִטֶּ֧רֶם שֽׂוּם־אֶ֛בֶן אֶל־אֶ֖בֶן בְּהֵיכַ֥ל יְהוָֽה 1 Yahweh is using one part of the building process to represent the entire process of rebuilding the temple. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “before you began to rebuild the temple of Yahweh”
2:15 iq4w rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person בְּהֵיכַ֥ל יְהוָֽה 1 Yahweh is speaking about himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this in the first person. Alternate translation: “in my temple”
2:16 bguu rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns מִֽהְיוֹתָ֥ם 1 The pronoun **their** likely refers to the days that Haggai described in the previous verse, beginning with “this day” (the day on which he is speaking) and including all of the days since the return from exile before the Judeans began rebuilding the temple. Alternate translation: “During those days” or “During that whole time period”
2:16 a1et rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis בָּא֙ אֶל־עֲרֵמַ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וְהָיְתָ֖ה עֲשָׂרָ֑ה 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “when a person came to a heap of grain that he expected to contain twenty measures, he found that it contained only ten measures”
2:16 zx3c rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-bvolume בָּא֙ אֶל־עֲרֵמַ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וְהָיְתָ֖ה עֲשָׂרָ֑ה 1 By **twenty**, Yahweh most likely means twenty ephahs. An ephah was equivalent to about 22 liters. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express the quantity in modern measurements. Alternatively, to help your readers recognize that the biblical writings come from a long time ago when people used different measures, you could express the amount using the ancient measurement, the ephah, and explain the equivalent in modern measurements in a footnote. Alternate translation: “when a person came to a heap of grain that he expected to contain twenty ephahs, he found that it contained only ten ephahs” or “when a person came to a heap that he expected to contain over 400 kilograms of grain, he found that it contained only about 200 kilograms”
2:16 kxvt rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis בָּ֣א אֶל־הַיֶּ֗קֶב לַחְשֹׂף֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים פּוּרָ֔ה וְהָיְתָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִֽים 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “when a person came to a wine vat from which he expected he could draw fifty press-measures, he found that it contained only twenty press-measures”
2:16 ply4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-bvolume חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים פּוּרָ֔ה 1 The expression **from the press** probably describes a certain quantity of wine, a “press-measure,” the amount that a winepress would produce from a single pressing of a full load of grapes. However, it is no longer clear exactly what this quantity was. In your translation, you could use a liquid measure that your readers would recognize that would approximate this quantity, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “fifty gallons” or “fifty measures of wine”
2:17 s00e rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes הִכֵּ֨יתִי אֶתְכֶ֜ם בַּשִּׁדָּפ֤וֹן וּבַיֵּֽרָקוֹן֙ וּבַבָּרָ֔ד אֵ֖ת כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְדֵיכֶ֑ם וְאֵין־אֶתְכֶ֥ם אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain quotations within a quotation, you can translate the second-level quotation in this verse as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “Yahweh declares that he struck you with blight and with mildew and with hail, all of the work of your hands, but it was not you to him”
2:17 ua4w rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis אֵ֖ת כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְדֵיכֶ֑ם 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “I struck all of the work of your hands”
2:17 p7cx rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְדֵיכֶ֑ם 1 See how you translated the similar expression in [2:14](../02/14.md). Alternate translation: “all of the food that you were producing”
2:17 grkc rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וְאֵין־אֶתְכֶ֥ם אֵלַ֖י 1 Yahweh is using this expression to mean that the Judeans did not obey him and rebuild the temple. Instead, they continued to disobey, as if they had nothing to do with Yahweh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “but you still did not return to me” or “but it was as if you wanted to have nothing to do with me”
2:18 n5ib rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שִׂימוּ & לְבַבְכֶ֔ם 1 See how you translated the similar phrase in [1:5](../01/05.md). Alternate translation: “consider carefully what has been happening”
2:18 kpw8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit מִן־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה וָמָ֑עְלָה מִיּוֹם֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה לַתְּשִׁיעִ֗י לְמִן־הַיּ֛וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יֻסַּ֥ד הֵֽיכַל־יְהוָ֖ה 1 As in [2:15](../02/15.md), the word **before** refers back in time to the whole period after the Judeans returned from exile. The ** twenty-fourth day of the ninth month** means that date in the second year of Darius, as [2:10](../02/10.md) indicates. Alternate translation: “from the time you returned from exile until this day, that is, from the day that the temple of Yahweh was founded until this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of Darius”
2:18 ddb6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis מִיּוֹם֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה לַתְּשִׁיעִ֗י 1 Yahweh is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month”
2:18 b4ns rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal מִיּוֹם֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה לַתְּשִׁיעִ֗י 1 If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you could use cardinal numbers here. See what you did in [2:10](../02/10.md). Alternate translation: “from day 24 of month nine”
2:18 pcm4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive יֻסַּ֥ד הֵֽיכַל־יְהוָ֖ה 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “you laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh”
2:18 ridq rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person הֵֽיכַל־יְהוָ֖ה 1 Yahweh is speaking about himself in the third person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this in the first person. Alternate translation: “my temple”
2:18 jsi3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שִׂ֥ימוּ לְבַבְכֶֽם 1 See how you translated this phrase in [1:5](../01/05.md). Alternate translation: “Consider carefully”
2:19 mx58 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion הַע֤וֹד הַזֶּ֨רַע֙ בַּמְּגוּרָ֔ה 1 Yahweh is using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use the question form for that purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: “The seed is not yet in the storehouse!” or “There is no seed in the storehouse!”
2:19 xjtd rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes מִן־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲבָרֵֽךְ׃ס 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain quotations within a quotation, you can translate the second-level quotation in this verse as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “From this day he will bless you’”
2:19 glfn rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast מִן־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה 1 Yahweh is drawing a strong contrast. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate this in your translation by using a word that introduces a strong contrast. Alternate translation: “Nevertheless, from this day”
2:20 l5py rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַיְהִ֨י דְבַר־יְהוָ֤ה ׀ שֵׁנִית֙ אֶל־חַגַּ֔י 1 See how you translated the similar phrase in [2:10](../02/10.md). Alternate translation: “And Haggai received another message from Yahweh”
2:20 fy5n rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal שֵׁנִית֙ 1 If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you can use a cardinal number here or an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “again”
2:20 icl6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis בְּעֶשְׂרִ֧ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֛ה לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ 1 Here some of the words are omitted that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month”
2:20 a3ho rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal בְּעֶשְׂרִ֧ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֛ה לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ 1 If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you can use a cardinal number here or an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “on day 24 of month nine” or “on day 24 of the same month”
2:20 rru4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths בְּעֶשְׂרִ֧ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֛ה לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ 1 See how you translated the name of the Hebrew month in [2:10](../02/10.md).
2:21 hexi rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes אֱמֹ֕ר אֶל־זְרֻבָּבֶ֥ל פַּֽחַת־יְהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אֲנִ֣י מַרְעִ֔ישׁ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “Speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and tell him that I am shaking the heavens and the earth”
2:21 w9i2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor אֲנִ֣י מַרְעִ֔ישׁ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ 1 See how you translated the similar expression in [2:6](../02/06.md). Alternate translation: “I am bringing about such changes in the situation of the nations around you that it is as if I am shaking”
2:21 fbc6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-merism אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ 1 Yahweh is using the two main components of creation, the **heavens** (that is, the sky) and the **earth**, to represent all of creation. See how you translated the similar expression in [2:6](../02/06.md). Alternate translation: “everything that I have created”
2:22 ni5i rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-genericnoun כִּסֵּ֣א מַמְלָכ֔וֹת 1 Yahweh is not referring to a specific **throne**. He means the thrones of all of the **kingdoms** in the world. It may be more natural in your language to express this meaning by using a plural form. Alternate translation: “the thrones of kingdoms”
2:22 sv3n rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy כִּסֵּ֣א מַמְלָכ֔וֹת 1 Yahweh is referring to the ruling authority of **kingdoms** by association with the royal **throne** on which the rulers of those kingdoms sit. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the ruling authority of kingdoms”
2:22 jtdf rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-merism וְהָפַכְתִּ֤י מֶרְכָּבָה֙ וְרֹ֣כְבֶ֔יהָ וְיָרְד֤וּ סוּסִים֙ וְרֹ֣כְבֵיהֶ֔ם 1 Yahweh is using two components of an army, its chariot teams (the chariots and their riders) and its cavalry troops (the horses and their riders), to mean the entire army. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “I will destroy the entire armies of the kingdoms that oppose you”
2:22 wccb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy מֶרְכָּבָה֙ וְרֹ֣כְבֶ֔יהָ 1 Yahweh is not referring to a specific **chariot** and **rider**. He means all of the chariots and riders in the armies of the kingdoms opposed to the Judeans. It may be more natural in your language to express this meaning by using a plural form. Alternate translation: “the chariots and their riders”
2:22 t5ai rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy וְיָרְד֤וּ 1 Here the word **fall** means “die” by association with the way someone who dies will fall to the ground. Be sure that it is clear in your translation that these **horses** and **riders** will not fall down accidentally. Alternate translation: “and … will die”
2:22 rgfm rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom אִ֖ישׁ בְּחֶ֥רֶב אָחִֽיו 1 See how you translated the similar use of the phrase “a man” in [1:9](../01/09.md). Alternate translation: “each one of them by the sword of his brother”
2:22 js5m rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy אִ֖ישׁ בְּחֶ֥רֶב אָחִֽיו 1 Here, **the sword** represents a violent death. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “each one when his brother kills him”
2:22 tumq rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor אָחִֽיו 1 Yahweh is speaking of a fellow soldier as if he were literally the **brother** of another soldier whom he killed. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “his fellow solider”
2:23 mzdv rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotesinquotes בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֣וּא נְאֻם־יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֡וֹת אֶ֠קָּחֲךָ זְרֻבָּבֶ֨ל בֶּן־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵ֤ל עַבְדִּי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךָ כַּֽחוֹתָ֑ם כִּֽי־בְךָ֣ בָחַ֔רְתִּי נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת 1 If you have decided to translate this oracle so that it does not contain quotations within a quotation, you can translate the second-level quotations in this verse as indirect quotations. Alternate translation: “I, Yahweh of Armies, declare that on that day I will take him, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant, and I, Yahweh of Armies, declare that I will make him like a signet ring, for I have chosen him”
2:23 o3gw rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֣וּא 1 Yahweh is using the term **day** to refer to a specific time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “At that time” or “After I have done that”
2:23 dl8c rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-yousingular אֶ֠קָּחֲךָ & וְשַׂמְתִּ֖יךָ & בְךָ֣ בָחַ֔רְתִּי 1 The word **you** is singular here because it refers to Zerubbabel, so use the singular form in your translation if your language marks that distinction.
2:23 t8m9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown כַּֽחוֹתָ֑ם 1 A **signet ring** was a special ring that a ruler could use to imprint an official seal on a document. This ring bore the ruler’s name or some symbol representing him. The ruler would roll up an important document and put wax on it, then press the ring into the wax to create an official seal. If the document had this mark on its seal, people would know that what was written in the document was written with the king’s authority and had to be obeyed. You could describe this as “like a ring that a ruler uses to create official seals”
2:23 xdbq rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile כַּֽחוֹתָ֑ם 1 The point of this comparison is that **Zerubbabel** would be an instrument of Yahweh’s authority, just as a ruler uses a **signet ring** as an instrument of his authority. All the nations would have to obey Zerubbabel’s commands because Zerubbabel would be commanding them with authority that Yahweh had entrusted to him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this point explicitly. Alternate translation: “an instrument of my authority, like a signet ring”
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