The Meaning of Haggai 2:3 Explained

Haggai 2:3

KJV: Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

YLT: Who among you hath been left that saw this house in its former honour? And what are ye seeing it now? Is it not, compared with it, as nothing in your eyes?

Darby: Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

ASV: Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who [is] left  among you that saw  this house  in her first  glory?  and how do ye see  it now? [is it] not in your eyes  in comparison  of it as nothing? 

What does Haggai 2:3 Mean?

Study Notes

house in her first glory
The prophet calls upon the old men who remembered Solomon's temple to witness to the new generation how greatly that structure exceeded the present in magnificence; and then utters a prophecy ( Haggai 1:7-9 ) which can only refer to the future kingdom temple described by Ezekiel. It is certain that the restoration temple and all subsequent structures, including Herod's, were far inferior in costliness and splendour to Solomon's. The present period is described in Hosea 3:4 ; Hosea 3:5 . Habakkuk 2:6 is quoted in Hebrews 12:26 ; Hebrews 12:27 . Habakkuk 2:7 : "I will shake all nations," refers to the great tribulation and is followed by the coming of Christ in glory, as in Matthew 24:29 ; Matthew 24:30 . "The desire of all nations" is Christ.
Lord
The f.c. of Malachi 3:1 is quoted of John the Baptist; Matthew 11:10 ; Mark 1:2 ; Luke 7:27 but the second clause, "the Lord whom ye see," etc., is nowhere quoted in the N.T. The reason is obvious: in everything save the fact of Christ's first advent, the latter clause awaits fulfilment Habakkuk 2:20 . Malachi 3:2-5 speak of judgment, not of grace. Malachi, in common with other O.T. prophets, saw both advents of Messiah blended in one horizon, but did not see the separating interval described in Matthew 13. consequent upon the rejection of the King Matthew 13:16 ; Matthew 13:17 . Still less was the Church-age in his vision; Ephesians 3:3-6 ; Colossians 1:25-27 . "My messenger" Malachi 3:1 is John the Baptist; the "messenger of the covenant" is Christ in both of His advents, but with especial reference to the events which are to follow His return.

Verse Meaning

The Lord asked if the older members of the restoration community who had seen Solomon"s temple, which perished66 years earlier, did not think the present temple was nothing in comparison (cf. Zechariah 4:10). The Lord"s three questions forced the people to admit that the present temple was not as grand as the former one had been. The older returnees had made a similar negative comparison when the foundation of the temple was laid16 years earlier in536 B.C (cf. Ezra 3:8-13). The dedication of Solomon"s temple took place440 years earlier at the feast of Tabernacles ( 1 Kings 8:2; 2 Chronicles 7:8-10), so that was perhaps the reason the Lord gave this message to Haggai on this day.

Context Summary

Haggai 2:1-9 - The True Glory Of God's House
One earnest man can arouse an entire community. Let a fire glow in our hearts, and it will spread. Assured of God's presence and favor, within three weeks the whole land was awake. Note the cooperation of God's Spirit with the message of His servant, "the Lord stirred up." Let us ever seek and rely on His cooperation! "We are witnesses, so also is the Holy Spirit!" Three prophecies occupy the following chapter. In the first, Haggai 1:1-9, the Jews are encouraged to persevere. Although there was no comparison between the glory of Solomon's Temple and the splendor of this, they must not be discouraged. Though they might deplore the absence of the sacred fire of the Shekinah, of the Ark with its cherubim, of the Urim and Thummim, and of the spirit of prophecy, yet the Messiah's presence, which would be associated with the second Temple would more than compensate for their deficiency, since He was the antitype of them all. If we lack many of the advantages and attractions in which others excel, let us be more than satisfied to possess Christ. And be it always remembered that Christian worship seeks to realize the presence of Him who said: "I am in the midst." Without that a cathedral is an empty void; with that, a barn will be heaven. For Haggai 1:6-7 see Hebrews 12:26-28. This little while in God's arithmetic lasted for 517 years. [source]

Chapter Summary: Haggai 2

1  He encourages the people to the work,
4  by promise of greater glory to the second temple than was in the first
10  In the type of holy things and unclean he shows their sins hindered the work
20  God's promise to Zerubbabel

What do the individual words in Haggai 2:3 mean?

who [is] among you left who saw - temple this in its glory former and how you do see it now [is this] not in comparison with it as nothing in your eyes
מִ֤י בָכֶם֙ הַנִּשְׁאָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָאָה֙ אֶת־ הַבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֔ה ؟ בִּכְבוֹד֖וֹ הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן וּמָ֨ה אַתֶּ֜ם רֹאִ֤ים אֹתוֹ֙ ؟ עַ֔תָּה הֲל֥וֹא כָמֹ֛הוּ כְּאַ֖יִן ؟ בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם

מִ֤י  who  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
בָכֶם֙  among  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
הַנִּשְׁאָ֔ר  left 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַר  
Sense: to remain, be left over, be left behind.
רָאָה֙  saw 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַבַּ֣יִת  temple 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הַזֶּ֔ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
؟ בִּכְבוֹד֖וֹ  in  its  glory 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן  former 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
וּמָ֨ה  and  how 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
רֹאִ֤ים  do  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
؟ עַ֔תָּה  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
הֲל֥וֹא  [is  this]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
כָמֹ֛הוּ  in  comparison  with  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
כְּאַ֖יִן  as  nothing 
Parse: Preposition-k, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
؟ בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם  in  your  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, second person masculine plural
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.

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