Haggai 1:10
Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
Original Language Analysis
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
1 of 9
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כֵּ֣ן
H3651
כֵּ֣ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם
H5921
עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 9
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּלְאָ֥ה
is stayed
H3607
כָּלְאָ֥ה
is stayed
Strong's:
H3607
Word #:
4 of 9
to restrict, by act (hold back or in) or word (prohibit)
שָׁמַ֖יִם
Therefore the heaven
H8064
שָׁמַ֖יִם
Therefore the heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
5 of 9
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
Cross References
1 Kings 8:35When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:1 Kings 17:1And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.Leviticus 26:19And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
Historical Context
Archaeological and historical records indicate that the late sixth century BC (520 BC when Haggai prophesied) saw agricultural difficulties in Judah. Drought, poor harvests, and economic hardship characterized the period. Haggai interprets these circumstances theologically: they weren't random natural disasters but divine discipline for spiritual unfaithfulness. When the people repented and resumed building, conditions eventually improved—demonstrating the connection between obedience and blessing.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing God's sovereignty over natural provision (weather, health, crops, economy) affect how you view both blessings and hardships?
- In what ways might God use material frustration or limitation to expose spiritual priorities and prompt repentance?
- What is the relationship between faithfulness to God and experiencing His provision—and how do you avoid both prosperity gospel thinking and materialistic self-sufficiency?
Analysis & Commentary
Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit (עַל־כֵּן עֲלֵיכֶם כָּלְאוּ שָׁמַיִם מִטָּל וְהָאָרֶץ כָּלְאָה יְבוּלָהּ/al-ken aleikhem kalu shamayim mittal veha'aretz kal'ah yevulah)—God explains the mechanism of His discipline. Therefore (עַל־כֵּן/al-ken) connects consequence to cause (v.9): because they neglected His house, He withheld agricultural blessing. Is stayed (כָּלְאוּ/kalu) means restrained, withheld, held back—active divine intervention preventing natural provision.
Heaven... stayed from dew (שָׁמַיִם מִטָּל/shamayim mittal)—in Israel's climate, dew was essential for summer crops when rain ceased. Without dew, plants withered. Earth... stayed from her fruit (הָאָרֶץ כָּלְאָה יְבוּלָהּ/ha'aretz kal'ah yevulah)—even when they planted, the ground refused its normal productivity. This directly fulfills covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28:23-24: "The sky over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron."
This verse demonstrates God's sovereignty over nature. He controls weather, seasons, and crop yields. Materialistic worldviews assume prosperity results from human effort alone, but Scripture consistently affirms that God blesses or withholds according to covenant relationship. Paul echoes this: "God... gives you richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17)—all provision ultimately comes from God's hand.