Haggai 2 · Verse 3

Haggai 2:3

Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

Haggai 2:3, King James Version

Haggai 2:3 in other translations

BSB	‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not appear to you like nothing in comparison?’
WEB	‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn’t it in your eyes as nothing?
ASV	Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?
YLT	Who among you hath been left that saw this house in its former honour? And what are ye seeing it now? Is it not, compared with it, as nothing in your eyes?
DARBY	Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?
BBE	Who is there still among you who saw this house in its first glory? and how do you see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?
Webster	Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

What does Haggai 2:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. Who is left ... that saw ... first glory--Many elders present at the laying of the foundation of the second temple who had seen the first temple (Ezr 3:12, 13) in all its glory, wept at the contrast presented by the rough and unpromising appearance of the former in its beginnings. From the destruction of the first temple to the second year of Darius Hystaspes, the date of Haggai's prophecy, was a space of seventy years (Zec 1:12); and to the first year of Cyrus, or the end of the captivity, fifty-two years; so that the elders might easily remember the first temple. The Jews note five points of inferiority: The absence from the second temple of (1) the sacred fire; (2) the Shekinah; (3) the ark and cherubim; (4) the Urim and Thummim; (5) the spirit of prophecy. The connection of it with Messiah more than counterbalanced all these; for He is the antitype to all the five (Hag 2:9). how do ye see it now?--God's estimate of things is very different from man's (Zec 8:6; compare 1Sa 16:7). However low their estimate of the present temple ("it") from its outward inferiority, God holds it superior (Zec 4:10; 1Co 1:27, 28).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? - Who of you has seen the temple built by Solomon? The foundation of the present house had been laid about fifty-three years after the destruction of the temple built by Solomon and though this prophecy was uttered fifteen years after the foundation of this second temple, yet there might still survive some of those who had seen the temple of Solomon. Is it not in your eyes - Most certainly the Jews at this time had neither men nor means to make any such splendid building as that erected by Solomon. The present was as nothing when compared with the former.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Haggai 2:1-9

Those who are hearty in the Lord's service shall receive encouragement to proceed. But they could not build such a temple then, as Solomon built. Though our gracious God is pleased if we do as well as we can in his service, yet our proud hearts will scarcely let us be pleased, unless we do as well as others, whose abilities are far beyond ours. Encouragement is given the Jews to go on in the work notwithstanding…

Read the full comment on Haggai 2:1-9 →

Haggai 2:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מִ֤יmiwho?H4310

בָכֶם֙va.Khemamong you

הַנִּשְׁאָ֔רha.nish.'Ar[is] the [one who] remainsH7604

אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherwhoH834

רָאָה֙ra.'Ahhe sawH7200

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

הַבַּ֣יִתha.Ba.yitthe houseH1004

הַזֶּ֔הha.Zeh<the> thisH2088

בִּכְבוֹד֖וֹbikh.vo.Doin splendor itsH3519

הָרִאשׁ֑וֹןha.ri.Shon<the> formerH7223

וּמָ֨הu.Mahand what?H4100

אַתֶּ֜ם'a.Tem[are] youH859

רֹאִ֤יםro.'ImseeingH7200

אֹתוֹ֙'o.To<obj.> itH853

עַ֔תָּה'A.tahnowH6258

הֲל֥וֹאha.Lo'¿ notH3808

כָמֹ֛הוּkha.Mo.hu[is] as itH3644

כְּאַ֖יִןke.'A.yinas nothingH369

בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם\׃be.'ei.nei.Khemin view yourH5869

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Haggai 2:3

Ezra 3:12
But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
Luke 21:5-6
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Haggai 2:9
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.
Zechariah 4:9-10
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Ezekiel 7:20
As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

is left.
Ezr 3:12; Zec 4:9,10
glory.
Eze 7:20; Lu 21:5,6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Haggai 2:2
Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
Haggai 2:3
Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
Haggai 2:4
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:

Read all of Haggai 2

Haggai 2:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	¿Quién ha quedado entre vosotros que haya visto esta casa en su primera gloria, y cual ahora la veis? ¿No es ella como nada delante de vuestros ojos?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Qui est de reste parmi vous qui ait vu cette maison dans sa première gloire, et comment la voyez-vous maintenant? N’est-elle pas comme rien à vos yeux?
German Elberfelder 1871	Wer ist unter euch übriggeblieben, der dieses Haus in seiner früheren Herrlichkeit gesehen hat? und wie sehet ihr es jetzt? Ist es nicht wie nichts in euren Augen?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Loquere ad Zorobabel, filium Salathiel, ducem Juda, et ad Jesum, filium Josedec, sacerdotem magnum, et ad reliquos populi, dicens: