Haggai 2:22
And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָפַכְתִּ֤י
And I will overthrow
H2015
וְהָפַכְתִּ֤י
And I will overthrow
Strong's:
H2015
Word #:
1 of 16
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
מַמְלְכ֣וֹת
of kingdoms
H4467
מַמְלְכ֣וֹת
of kingdoms
Strong's:
H4467
Word #:
3 of 16
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
מַמְלְכ֣וֹת
of kingdoms
H4467
מַמְלְכ֣וֹת
of kingdoms
Strong's:
H4467
Word #:
6 of 16
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
הַגּוֹיִ֑ם
of the heathen
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֑ם
of the heathen
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
7 of 16
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
וְהָפַכְתִּ֤י
And I will overthrow
H2015
וְהָפַכְתִּ֤י
And I will overthrow
Strong's:
H2015
Word #:
8 of 16
to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert
וְרֹ֣כְבֵיהֶ֔ם
and their riders
H7392
וְרֹ֣כְבֵיהֶ֔ם
and their riders
Strong's:
H7392
Word #:
10 of 16
to ride (on an animal or in a vehicle); causatively, to place upon (for riding or generally), to despatch
וְיָרְד֤וּ
shall come down
H3381
וְיָרְד֤וּ
shall come down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
11 of 16
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
וְרֹ֣כְבֵיהֶ֔ם
and their riders
H7392
וְרֹ֣כְבֵיהֶ֔ם
and their riders
Strong's:
H7392
Word #:
13 of 16
to ride (on an animal or in a vehicle); causatively, to place upon (for riding or generally), to despatch
אִ֖ישׁ
every one
H376
אִ֖ישׁ
every one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
14 of 16
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)
Cross References
Micah 5:10And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:Judges 7:22And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath.Psalms 46:9He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.Zechariah 4:6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.Zechariah 10:11And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.Matthew 24:7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.Ezekiel 39:20Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.Micah 5:15And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.Zephaniah 3:8Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.Psalms 76:6At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
Historical Context
In 520 BC, Persia seemed invincible—the superpower controlling from India to Egypt. Yet God promised its eventual overthrow (fulfilled in 331 BC by Alexander). Alexander's empire fragmented. Rome rose and fell. Every kingdom that seemed permanent proved temporary. Only God's kingdom—inaugurated by Christ, advancing through the church—endures eternally. History vindicates God's word: earthly powers are dust, but His kingdom stands forever (Isaiah 40:15-17, 23-24).
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing the temporary nature of all earthly kingdoms—political, economic, ideological—free you from either fear or idolatrous hope in them?
- What does it mean to live as citizens of God's unshakable kingdom while earthly systems rise and fall?
- How does Jesus Christ fulfill this prophecy as the King whose kingdom destroys all opposing powers and reigns eternally (Revelation 19:11-16)?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother (וְהָפַכְתִּי כִּסֵּא מַמְלָכוֹת וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּי חֹזֶק מַמְלְכוֹת הַגּוֹיִם וְהָפַכְתִּי מֶרְכָּבָה וְרֹכְבֶיהָ וְיָרְדוּ סוּסִים וְרֹכְבֵיהֶם אִישׁ בְּחֶרֶב אָחִיו/vehafakhti kise mamlakhot vehishmadti chozek mamlakhot hagoyim vehafakhti merkavah verokhveiha veyaredu susim verokhveihem ish becherev achiv)—God elaborates the "shaking" with vivid destruction imagery. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms (הָפַכְתִּי כִּסֵּא מַמְלָכוֹת/hafakhti kise mamlakhot)—the verb הָפַךְ (hafakh) means overturn, overthrow, turn upside down—total reversal. Every earthly throne—symbol of human power and authority—will be toppled.
I will destroy the strength of kingdoms (הִשְׁמַדְתִּי חֹזֶק מַמְלְכוֹת/hishmadti chozek mamlakhot)—not merely defeat but destroy (שָׁמַד/shamad, annihilate, obliterate) their strength (חֹזֶק/chozek, power, might). Military power—chariots (מֶרְכָּבָה/merkavah), horses (סוּסִים/susim), riders (רֹכְבִים/rokhvim)—will be overthrown. Every one by the sword of his brother (אִישׁ בְּחֶרֶב אָחִיו/ish becherev achiv)—internal conflict will destroy them, echoing Judges 7:22 (Gideon's victory) and 1 Samuel 14:20 (Jonathan's triumph).
This prophecy assures that no earthly power can ultimately oppose God's kingdom. Rome seemed invincible yet fell. Every empire that seemed permanent crumbled. Meanwhile, God's kingdom—established through Christ—advances irresistibly (Daniel 2:44-45). The stone cut without hands smashes all earthly kingdoms and fills the earth.