Haggai 2:15

Authorized King James Version

And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְעַתָּה֙
at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
#2
שֽׂוּם
And now I pray you consider
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#3
נָ֣א
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
#4
לְבַבְכֶ֔ם
the heart (as the most interior organ)
#5
מִן
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
#6
הַיּ֥וֹם
from this day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#7
הַזֶּ֖ה
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#8
וָמָ֑עְלָה
and upward
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
#9
מִטֶּ֧רֶם
from before
properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
#10
שֽׂוּם
And now I pray you consider
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#11
אֶ֖בֶן
H68
a stone
a stone
#12
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#13
אֶ֖בֶן
H68
a stone
a stone
#14
בְּהֵיכַ֥ל
in the temple
a large public building, such as a palace or temple
#15
יְהוָֽה׃
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis

Within the broader context of Haggai, this passage highlights salvation through simile or metaphorical language. The theological weight of divine sovereignty connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine sovereignty, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of Haggai.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection