Haggai 1:9

Authorized King James Version

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Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

Original Language Analysis

פָּנֹ֤ה Ye looked H6437
פָּנֹ֤ה Ye looked
Strong's: H6437
Word #: 1 of 23
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 2 of 23
near, with or among; often in general, to
הַרְבֵּה֙ for much H7235
הַרְבֵּה֙ for much
Strong's: H7235
Word #: 3 of 23
to increase (in whatever respect)
וְהִנֵּ֣ה H2009
וְהִנֵּ֣ה
Strong's: H2009
Word #: 4 of 23
lo!
לִמְעָ֔ט and lo it came to little H4592
לִמְעָ֔ט and lo it came to little
Strong's: H4592
Word #: 5 of 23
a little or few (often adverbial or comparative)
וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם and when ye brought H935
וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם and when ye brought
Strong's: H935
Word #: 6 of 23
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ it home H1004
לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ it home
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 7 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְנָפַ֣חְתִּי I did blow H5301
וְנָפַ֣חְתִּי I did blow
Strong's: H5301
Word #: 8 of 23
to puff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow hard, scatter, kindle, expire; figuratively, to disesteem)
ב֑וֹ H0
ב֑וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 9 of 23
יַ֗עַן Because H3282
יַ֗עַן Because
Strong's: H3282
Word #: 10 of 23
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
מֶ֗ה H4100
מֶ֗ה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 11 of 23
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
נְאֻם֙ upon it Why saith H5002
נְאֻם֙ upon it Why saith
Strong's: H5002
Word #: 12 of 23
an oracle
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 13 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֔וֹת of hosts H6635
צְבָא֔וֹת of hosts
Strong's: H6635
Word #: 14 of 23
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
יַ֗עַן Because H3282
יַ֗עַן Because
Strong's: H3282
Word #: 15 of 23
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ it home H1004
לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ it home
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 16 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲשֶׁר H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 17 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
ה֣וּא H1931
ה֣וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 18 of 23
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
חָרֵ֔ב that is waste H2720
חָרֵ֔ב that is waste
Strong's: H2720
Word #: 19 of 23
parched or ruined
וְאַתֶּ֥ם H859
וְאַתֶּ֥ם
Strong's: H859
Word #: 20 of 23
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
רָצִ֖ים and ye run H7323
רָצִ֖ים and ye run
Strong's: H7323
Word #: 21 of 23
to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush)
אִ֥ישׁ every man H376
אִ֥ישׁ every man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 22 of 23
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ it home H1004
לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ it home
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 23 of 23
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

Analysis & Commentary

Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little (פָּנֹה אֶל־הַרְבֵּה וְהִנֵּה לִמְעָט/panoh el-harbeh vehineh lim'at)—God exposes the gap between expectation and reality. They worked hard, planted extensively, anticipated abundance, yet harvested scarcity. And when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it (וַהֲבֵאתֶם הַבַּיִת וְנָפַחְתִּי בוֹ/vahavetem habayit venafachti vo)—the verb נָפַח (nafach) means to blow, breathe upon, scatter. God personally acted to dissipate their meager harvest, preventing even small gains from providing satisfaction.

Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house (יַעַן בֵּיתִי אֲשֶׁר־הוּא חָרֵב וְאַתֶּם רָצִים אִישׁ לְבֵיתוֹ/ya'an beiti asher-hu charev ve'atem ratzim ish leveito)—God Himself answers the "why" question. Their futility had a direct cause: His house lay in ruins (חָרֵב/charev, desolate, destroyed) while they each "ran" (רָצִים/ratzim, actively hurrying) to their own houses. The contrast is devastating: God's house—waste; their houses—priority. God's work—neglected; their work—pursued with energy.

This verse establishes a crucial biblical principle: God will not bless self-centered living. When His people chronically marginalize Him, He withdraws blessing not vindictively but correctively. The futility was meant to prompt self-examination (v.5, 7) and repentance. Malachi 3:8-12 later reiterates this pattern with tithes—robbing God brings curse; honoring Him brings blessing.

Historical Context

For sixteen years, the people experienced this frustrating pattern. Archaeology confirms that post-exilic Judah struggled economically. Populations were small, agriculture was difficult, and prosperity was limited. Yet Haggai identifies the root cause: not merely circumstances but spiritual priorities. They had time and resources to panel their houses (v.4) but claimed they couldn't afford to rebuild the temple. God's discipline exposed that rationalization.

Questions for Reflection