Who was Haggai?

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Who was Haggai? Haggai 1:1–2:23

Little is known of Haggai other than he was a prophet raised up by God shortly after the remnant returned from Babylon under Zerubbabel, the account of which is recorded in Ezra. Haggai was obviously a man in touch with God and was therefore entrusted with divine communication for the people of his day. His ministry came with power, and arrested his generation, seeing them stirred-up to make adjustments.

At the time of the return, great optimism for better days existed among the people of God. The quest for prosperity had resulted in a number of industrial initiatives being taken, which occupied the time and energy of the people but brought dismal results. In all of these material disappointments the people failed to take time to consider the reasons for this lack of success. 

At this point Haggai is introduced on the scene and speaks with the ultimate authority; ‘thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Consider your ways’. The reason for all their labours being frustrated lay in the fact that they had offended God, investing everything in an attempt for material benefits when the Lord’s house lay waste.

Haggai’s uncompromising ministry dismissed excuse, attacked complacency and commanded the people to build the Lord’s house. The word from the Lord stirred up the ruler, the priest and the people, reminding us that everyone is needed when it comes to the building of the house, and the fruit of this movement brought a reversal in God’s dealings with His people. 

The land which gave nothing to them is now producing something for them, and recovery is being experienced, 1:6–9, 13. A derelict ruin in chapter one is presented in chapter two as a place of glory and peace. Perhaps the glory of the latter house being greater than the former points to the fact that Christ Himself would walk its precincts.

Haggai was a man of single purpose and a simple message, but he was clearly focused. The Lord’s message to the Lord’s people producing the building of the Lord’s House, which produced pleasure and glory for the Lord, 1:8. 

May we be encouraged in this noble exercise and see a similar result in our own day and generation. In such an exercise we have the promise, ‘I am with you saith the Lord’, 1:13.



Author Hutchison, C. (1999). August 28th: Haggai (Haggai 1:1–2:23). In Ivan Steeds (Ed.), Day by Day with Bible Characters (p. 257). West Glamorgan, UK: Precious Seed.

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