Haggai – Chapter 1

Old Testament • 14 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 1 of Haggai begins: "In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai…" The chapter centers on Zerubbabel and Darius. Across its 14 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and the work of the Spirit. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, to Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, governor of Juda, and to Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, saying:

2Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: This people saith: The time is not yet come for building the house of the Lord.

3And the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying:

4Is it time for you to dwell in ceiled houses, and this house lie desolate?

5And now thus saith the Lord of hosts: Set your hearts to consider your ways.

6You have sowed much, and brought in little: you have eaten, but have not had enough: you have drunk, but have not been filled with drink: you have clothed yourselves, but have not been warmed: and he that hath earned wages, put them into a bag with holes.

7Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Set your hearts upon your ways:

8Go up to the mountain, bring timber, and build the house: and it shall be acceptable to me, and I shall be glorified, saith the Lord.

9You have looked for more, and behold it became less, and you brought it home, and I blowed it away: why, saith the Lord of hosts? because my house is desolate, and you make haste every man to his own house.

10Therefore the heavens over you were stayed from giving dew, and the earth was hindered from yielding her fruits:

11And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the wine, and upon the oil, and upon all that the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon beasts, and upon all the labour of the hands.

12Then Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, and all the remnant of the people hearkened to the voice of the Lord their God, and to the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God sent him to them: and the people feared before the Lord.

13And Haggai the messenger of the Lord, as one of the messengers of the Lord, spoke, saying to the people: I am with you, saith the Lord.

14And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zorobabel the son of Salathiel governor of Juda, and the spirit of Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people: and they went in, and did the work in the house of the Lord of Hosts their God.

Important Verses in Haggai 1

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: This people saith: The time is not yet come for building the house of the Lord.”

Haggai 1:2

“And now thus saith the Lord of hosts: Set your hearts to consider your ways.”

Haggai 1:5

“Go up to the mountain, bring timber, and build the house: and it shall be acceptable to me, and I shall be glorified, saith the Lord.”

Haggai 1:8

“And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zorobabel the son of Salathiel governor of Juda, and the spirit of Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people: and they went in, and did the work in the house of the Lord of Hosts their God. ”

Haggai 1:14

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Haggai was written with the returned exiles, called to put God's house first in view. Chapter 1 of 2 opens the book and sets the stage for everything that follows. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 14 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on Zerubbabel and Darius, the principal figures named in this chapter. It opens with the line: "In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by…" It concludes: "And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zorobabel the son of Salathiel governor of Juda, and the spirit of Jesus the son…" In terms of historical background, Eighteen years after returning from exile, the people had rebuilt their own houses while God's Temple lay in ruins. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Precisely dated: August to December, 520 BC.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Haggai

When It Was Written

Precisely dated: August to December, 520 BC

Catholic Commentary

The prophet addresses Israel with a message rooted in covenant fidelity and the hope of restoration. A pivotal line is verse 2: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: This people saith: The time is not yet come for building the house of the Lord." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Haggai 1 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. the Temple points to Christ and the Church (CIC 756). St. John Damascene and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1362).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that Consider your ways and build God's house. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Haggai 1 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • ✓The Holy Spirit is the giver of life who animates creation, the prophets, and the Church.
  • ✓From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.

People in This Chapter

Zerubbabel3 mentionsDarius1 mention

Reflection for Today

Catholic exegesis approaches Haggai Chapter 1 with reverence, seeking both the literal sense and the spiritual meaning ordered to Christ.

Catholic theology recognizes that rebuilding the Temple and God's presence is not an abstract idea but a reality encountered in prayer, sacraments, and charity. This chapter contributes to that vision by stressing forgiveness and reconciliation.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 1604) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Haggai Chapter 1 about?

Haggai 1 contains 14 verses. It opens with "In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by…" and closes with "And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zorobabel the son of Salathiel governor of Juda, and the spirit of Jesus the son…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles.

What is a key verse in Haggai 1?

One of the most significant verses is verse 2: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: This people saith: The time is not yet come for building the house of the Lord." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Haggai Chapter 1?

This chapter mentions Zerubbabel, Darius.

Who wrote Haggai and when?

The prophet Haggai. Precisely dated: August to December, 520 BC.

Related Chapters

Ezra 4Shares people and themes with this chapterNehemiah 12Shares people and themes with this chapterDaniel 5Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Prayer for the Family🙏Novena to the Holy Family🙏Prayer to the Holy Spirit🙏Holy Spirit Novena

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