Haggai 2:14
Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּ֨עַן
Then answered
H6030
וַיַּ֨עַן
Then answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 21
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
כֵּ֣ן
H3651
כֵּ֣ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
4 of 21
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
הָֽעָם
So is this people
H5971
הָֽעָם
So is this people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
5 of 21
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הַ֠זֶּה
H2088
וְכֵן
H3651
וְכֵן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
7 of 21
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
הַגּ֨וֹי
and so is this nation
H1471
הַגּ֨וֹי
and so is this nation
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
8 of 21
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
הַזֶּ֤ה
H2088
לְפָנַי֙
before
H6440
לְפָנַי֙
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
10 of 21
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
12 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְכֵ֖ן
H3651
וְכֵ֖ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
13 of 21
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
14 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה
and so is every work
H4639
מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה
and so is every work
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
15 of 21
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
יְדֵיהֶ֑ם
of their hands
H3027
יְדֵיהֶ֑ם
of their hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
16 of 21
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
17 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יַקְרִ֛יבוּ
and that which they offer
H7126
יַקְרִ֛יבוּ
and that which they offer
Strong's:
H7126
Word #:
18 of 21
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
שָׁ֖ם
H8033
Cross References
Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.Proverbs 28:9He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.Titus 1:15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Historical Context
This message came after the people had resumed building (three months into the project). They might have thought that because they were now obeying, all was well. God corrects this: obedience without genuine heart-repentance leaves them still unclean. They needed both to rebuild the temple and to deal with the heart-defilement that years of self-focused living had produced. True restoration required internal and external transformation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the truth that even "good works" can be defiled by impure hearts challenge your confidence in religious activity as earning God's favor?
- In what ways might you be substituting external obedience or ministry activity for genuine heart-repentance and spiritual purity?
- What does it mean to come to God acknowledging that even your best efforts are contaminated by sin, needing Christ's righteousness rather than your own?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean (וַיַּעַן חַגַּי וַיֹּאמַר כֵּן הָעָם־הַזֶּה וְכֵן הַגּוֹי־הַזֶּה לְפָנַי נְאֻם־יְהוָה וְכֵן כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם וַאֲשֶׁר יַקְרִיבוּ שָׁם טָמֵא הוּא/vaya'an Chaggai vayomer ken ha'am-hazeh vekhen hagoy-hazeh lefanai ne'um-YHWH vekhen kol-ma'aseh yedeihem va'asher yakrivu sham tame hu)—God springs the trap. The priests acknowledged that uncleanness contaminates; now God applies it: So is this people—like the defiled person, they contaminate everything they touch. Every work of their hands (כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם/kol-ma'aseh yedeihem)—even temple-building—is unclean (טָמֵא/tame).
This is shocking: even their obedience in rebuilding the temple couldn't make them acceptable to God if their hearts remained defiled. Religious activity—even commanded activity—doesn't automatically please God. Isaiah 64:6 declares, "All our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." God desires heart-purity, not merely external compliance. Jesus confronted Pharisees with similar truth: meticulous external religion while hearts harbored pride, greed, and hypocrisy (Matthew 23).
The shift from "my people" (1:2) to this people and this nation (הָעָם־הַזֶּה... הַגּוֹי־הַזֶּה/ha'am-hazeh... hagoy-hazeh) signals divine displeasure. When God calls them "nation" (גּוֹי/goy), the term usually applied to gentiles, He indicates they're acting like pagans, not His covenant people. Their defilement came from prolonged disobedience (sixteen years neglecting His house), creating spiritual contamination that infected everything.