Haggai 1:11
And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
Original Language Analysis
וָאֶקְרָ֨א
And I called
H7121
וָאֶקְרָ֨א
And I called
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
1 of 24
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הֶהָרִ֗ים
and upon the mountains
H2022
הֶהָרִ֗ים
and upon the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
6 of 24
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ
and upon the new wine
H8492
הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ
and upon the new wine
Strong's:
H8492
Word #:
10 of 24
must or fresh grape-juice (as just squeezed out); by implication (rarely) fermented wine
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
11 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַיִּצְהָ֔ר
and upon the oil
H3323
הַיִּצְהָ֔ר
and upon the oil
Strong's:
H3323
Word #:
12 of 24
oil (as producing light); figuratively, anointing
וְעַ֛ל
H5921
וְעַ֛ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
13 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
תּוֹצִ֖יא
bringeth forth
H3318
תּוֹצִ֖יא
bringeth forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
15 of 24
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
הָאֲדָמָ֑ה
and upon that which the ground
H127
הָאֲדָמָ֑ה
and upon that which the ground
Strong's:
H127
Word #:
16 of 24
soil (from its general redness)
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
17 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָֽאָדָם֙
and upon men
H120
הָֽאָדָם֙
and upon men
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
18 of 24
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
19 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה
and upon cattle
H929
הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה
and upon cattle
Strong's:
H929
Word #:
20 of 24
properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
וְעַ֖ל
H5921
וְעַ֖ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
21 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
22 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Haggai 2:17I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.Deuteronomy 28:22The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.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.2 Kings 8:1Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.
Historical Context
The comprehensive nature of this drought indicates sustained agricultural failure affecting every sector of the economy. This wasn't one bad harvest but a pattern of futility over the sixteen years they neglected the temple. The people likely rationalized it as normal post-exilic hardship, but Haggai reveals divine intention: God was speaking through circumstances, calling them to repentance and renewed obedience.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you discern when difficulties are general trials of life versus specific divine discipline meant to expose sin or redirect priorities?
- What does God's willingness to discipline those He loves reveal about the nature of saving relationship versus mere religious affiliation?
- In what areas might God be allowing frustration or futility to prevent you from settling into comfortable self-focused living?
Analysis & Commentary
And I called for a drought upon the land (וָאֶקְרָא חֹרֶב עַל־הָאָרֶץ/va'ekra chorev al-ha'aretz)—God explicitly claims responsibility: I called (קָרָא/kara) for this drought (חֹרֶב/chorev, dryness, desolation). This wasn't impersonal fate or bad luck but personal, purposeful divine action. The comprehensive scope follows: upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands—eight areas of impact covering agriculture, livestock, human effort, and natural resources.
This list echoes covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:15-24, 38-42) that God promised would come if Israel forsook Him. Corn (דָּגָן/dagan, grain), new wine (תִּירוֹשׁ/tirosh), and oil (יִצְהָר/yitzhar) represent staple crops essential for survival. Men and cattle (בָּקָר/bakar) together encompass human and animal life. All the labour of the hands (כָּל־יְגִיעַ כַּפַּיִם/kol-yegia khapayim) indicates that human effort itself was rendered futile—not for lack of trying but because God withheld blessing.
Why would God do this? Not cruelty but covenant love. Discipline proves relationship (Hebrews 12:5-11). God could have abandoned them to their self-focused lives, allowing them to drift into permanent spiritual apathy. Instead, He used hardship to wake them up, expose their idolatry (self-worship masked as pragmatism), and call them back to Himself. Hosea 2:6-7 describes similar discipline: God blocks Israel's path with thorns so she'll return to her first husband.