Haggai 2:3

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?

1. “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?...”

a. 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?  [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. 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? [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is not this in your sight as nothing in comparison to that?  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: Who is left among you who remembers this Temple in its original glory, and how do you view it now? i s it not nothing in your eyes?  [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

e. Peshitta Eastern Text: Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not now in your sight considered as nothing?  [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT.Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

f. The Israel Bible: Who is there left among you who saw this House in its former splendor? How does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing to you.  [The English Translation was adapted by Israel 365 from the JPS Tanakh. Copyright Ⓒ 1985 by the Jewish Publication Society. All rights reserved.]

1. “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?...”

a. Who [Strong: 4310 miy me an interrogative pronoun of persons, as 4100 is of things, who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix:--any (man), X he, X him, + O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), + would to God.]

b. [is] left [Strong: 7604 sha'ar shaw-ar' a primitive root; properly, to swell up, i.e. be (causatively, make) redundant:--leave, (be) left, let, remain, remnant, reserve, the rest.]

c. [among] you [Strong: 859 'attah at-taw' or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine (irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem {at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah {at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you:--thee, thou, ye, you.]

d. that [Strong: 834 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]

e. saw [Strong: 7200 ra'ah raw-aw' a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]

f. [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

g. this [Strong: 2088 zeh zeh a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that:--he, X hence, X here, it(-self), X now, X of him, the one...the other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, X thus, very, which.]

h. house [Strong: 1004 bayith bah'-yith probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court, daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet, temple, web, + within(-out).

i. [in her] first [Strong: 7223 ri'shown ree-shone' or riishon {ree-shone'}; from 7221; first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun):--ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past.]

j. glory [Strong: 3519 kabowd kaw-bode' rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from 3513; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).]

1). Between the destruction of the Temple in 586 B.C. and the beginning of the rebuilding of the Temple in 536 B.C. was of course 50 years. The entire 70 year captivity of Israel began in 605 and was played out in three stages, the last stage being the destruction of the Temple. Because there were only 50 years between the destruction of the Temple and the beginning of the rebuild there were people who had seen the Temple of Solomon and it caused a conflict of joy and sadness.

a). Ezra 3:10-13 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

3:11 And they sung together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever towards Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised thee LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

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 for joy:

3:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

2). David M. Levy, When the Prophets speak of Judgment, p.165: Many had witnessed the beauty of Solomon’s Temple, which had been destroyed 66 years earlier, [from the times of Haggai 2] Possibly Haggai was one of them. The glory of Solomon’s Temple was something to behold. It was twice the size of the Tabernacle: 90 feet lont, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high. It was strikingly beautiful in appearance because of its white limestone, cedat, and gold exterior. The entire interior of the Temple was covered with cedar (walls) and pine (floor) boards, all overlaid with gold. The holy place was 60 feet long, decorated with carved gourds, cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. The altar was made of cedar overlaid with gold. Gold chains were hung in the holy place across the doors that led into the holy of holies. The holy place contained ten golden lampstands and ten golden tables of shewbread. The holy of holies was a 30-foot cube, all overlaid with gold. Two gigantic cherubim, made of olive wood and covered with gold, extended the length of the room with their outstretched wings touchings the tips. The walls of the temple were decorated with carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. All of the doors were decorated like the walls. Years ago, it was estimated that more than $20,ooo,ooo worth of gold was used to just  to cover the holy of holies. One writer stated, “The Babylonian Talmud indicated that Zerubbabel’ Temple lacked five glories that were present in Solomon’s Temple: the Ark of the Covenant, the holy fire; the Shekina glory; the Spirit of Prophecy (Holy Spirit) and the Urim and Thummim.”

a). Don Costello: I can understand the missing Ark of the Covenant and the Urim and Thummim and maybe the holy fire because it is not mentioned, but not the Spirit of Prophecy because it was the Spirit of God speaking through Haggai.     

2. “...And how do ye see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?”

a. [And] how [Strong: 4100 mah maw or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (- soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.]

b. [do] ye [Strong: 859 'attah at-taw' or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine (irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem {at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah {at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you:--thee, thou, ye, you.]

c. see [Strong: 7200 ra'ah raw-aw' a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]

d. it [Strong [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

e. now [Strong: 6258 `attah at-taw' from 6256; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive:--henceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas.]

f. [is it] not [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.] 

g. [in your] eyes [Strong: 5869 `ayin ah'-yin probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).]

h. [in] comparison [Strong: 3644 kmow kem-o' or kamow {kaw-mo'}; a form of the prefix "k-", but used separately (Compare 3651); as, thus, so:--according to, (such) as (it were, well as), in comparison of, like (as, to, unto), thus, when, worth.] 

i. [of it] as nothing [Strong: 369 'ayin ah'-yin as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. 

1). J.Vernon McGee: God’s response to the discouragement was a simple solution: 

a). Haggai 2:4-9 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:

2:5 5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

2:6 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.

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.

b). We will go through this utterance verse by verse.