The Meaning of Haggai 2:21 Explained

Haggai 2:21

KJV: Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

YLT: 'Speak unto Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying: I am shaking the heavens and the earth,

Darby: Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

ASV: Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Speak  to Zerubbabel,  governor  of Judah,  saying,  I will shake  the heavens  and the earth; 

What does Haggai 2:21 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Haggai was to tell Zerubbabel that Yahweh was going to shake the heavens and the earth. Again a divine judgment is in view (cf. Haggai 2:6). That Zerubbabel, not Joshua or the people, is the recipient suggests that the message deals with a royal prediction.

Context Summary

Haggai 2:10-23 - God's Judgment Upon The Nations
Two months after the foregoing prophecy, the prophet again remonstrated with the people for still neglecting the Temple, though they appear to have maintained religious rites. As the holy flesh did not sanctify what it touched, so religious observance did not compensate for neglecting the Temple; such neglect would make their service unclean, Haggai 2:14. The earnest toils of the people had met with persistent unsuccess because God was against them, but from the moment of their repentance He would bless them, Haggai 2:18-19. Amid all the upheavals described in Haggai 2:7 the Jews would be preserved, and their safety guaranteed. Disturbances preceded the Savior's first advent, as they will the second; but amid the shaking and overthrowing that are ushering in the new era, let us not fear. All that cannot be shaken will remain; and as God remembered Noah amid the tossings of the deluge, He will care for us, not because of our deserts, but because of His grace. We did not choose Him, but He us [source]

Chapter Summary: Haggai 2

1  He encourages the people to the work,
4  by promise of greater glory to the second temple than was in the first
10  In the type of holy things and unclean he shows their sins hindered the work
20  God's promise to Zerubbabel

What do the individual words in Haggai 2:21 mean?

speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah saying I will shake - heaven and earth
אֱמֹ֕ר אֶל־ זְרֻבָּבֶ֥ל פַּֽחַת־ יְהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אֲנִ֣י מַרְעִ֔ישׁ אֶת־ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־ הָאָֽרֶץ

אֱמֹ֕ר  speak 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
זְרֻבָּבֶ֥ל  Zerubbabel 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: זְרֻבָּבֶל  
Sense: the grandson of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon.
פַּֽחַת־  governor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּחָה  
Sense: governor.
יְהוּדָ֖ה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מַרְעִ֔ישׁ  will  shake 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָעַשׁ 
Sense: to quake, shake.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
הָאָֽרֶץ  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.