Haggai 2:3
New International Version
Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?

New Living Translation
‘Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all!

English Standard Version
‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

Berean Standard Bible
‘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?’

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?

New American Standard Bible
‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?

NASB 1995
‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?

NASB 1977
‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Who among you remains who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes?

Amplified Bible
‘Who is left among you who saw this house (temple) in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?

Christian Standard Bible
‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem like nothing to you?

American Standard Version
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?

Contemporary English Version
Does anyone remember how glorious this temple used to be? Now it looks like nothing.

English Revised Version
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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Ask them, 'Is there anyone among the faithful few who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn't it seem like nothing to you?'

Good News Translation
"Is there anyone among you who can still remember how splendid the Temple used to be? How does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all.

International Standard Version
Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And what does it look like now? From what you can see, it seems like nothing, doesn't it?

Majority Standard Bible
‘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?’

NET Bible
Who among you survivors saw the former splendor of this temple? How does it look to you now? Isn't it nothing by comparison?

New Heart English Bible
'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?

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

World English Bible
‘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?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who among you has been left that saw this house in its former glory? And what are you seeing it now? Is it not, compared with it, as nothing in your eyes?

Young's Literal Translation
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?

Smith's Literal Translation
Who being left among you who saw this house in its first glory? and how see ye it now? Is it not in your eyes like it as nothing?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who is left among you, that saw this house in its first glory? and how do you see it now? is it not in comparison to that as nothing in your eyes?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Who is left among you, who saw this house in its first glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not, in comparison to that, as nothing in your eyes?

New American Bible
Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem like nothing in your eyes?

New Revised Standard Version
Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
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?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who is left among you who saw this house in its first glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not considered as nothing in your eyes?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is not such a one as nothing in your eyes?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Who is there of you that saw this house in her former glory? and how do ye now look upon it, as it were nothing before your eyes?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Greater Glory in the New Temple
2“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3‘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?’ 4But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts.…

Cross References
Ezra 3:12-13
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully. / The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.

Zechariah 4:10
For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”

1 Kings 6:14-15
So Solomon built the temple and finished it. / He lined the interior walls with cedar paneling from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and he covered the floor with cypress boards.

2 Chronicles 3:3-4
The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, according to the old standard. / The portico at the front, extending across the width of the temple, was twenty cubits long and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.

Jeremiah 33:10-11
This is what the LORD says: In this place you say is a wasteland without man or beast, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted—inhabited by neither man nor beast—there will be heard again / the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD.

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Zechariah 8:9-13
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were present when the foundations were laid to rebuild the temple, the house of the LORD of Hosts. / For before those days neither man nor beast received wages, nor was there safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I had turned every man against his neighbor. / But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the LORD of Hosts. ...

1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. / The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it. / When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”

Isaiah 64:11
Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised You, has been burned with fire, and all that was dear to us lies in ruins.

Matthew 12:6
But I tell you that One greater than the temple is here.

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” / But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.

Luke 24:26-27
Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” / And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

Hebrews 3:3-6
For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. / And every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. / Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later. ...

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? / If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.


Treasury of Scripture

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

is left.

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:

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…

glory.

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.

Luke 21:5,6
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, …

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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.














Who is left among you
This phrase calls attention to the remnant of the people who returned from the Babylonian exile. The Hebrew word for "left" is "שָׁאַר" (sha'ar), which implies a surviving remnant. This remnant is significant in biblical history, as it represents God's faithfulness in preserving His people despite their past disobedience. The question emphasizes the continuity of God's covenant with Israel, even through trials and exile.

who saw this house in its former glory?
The "house" refers to Solomon's Temple, which was renowned for its splendor and magnificence. The Hebrew word for "glory" is "כָּבוֹד" (kavod), often used to describe the weightiness or significance of God's presence. This phrase evokes a sense of nostalgia and loss, as the older generation remembers the temple's grandeur before its destruction. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of Israel's disobedience but also sets the stage for hope and restoration.

How does it look to you now?
This question invites the people to reflect on the current state of the temple, which was in ruins at the time. The Hebrew word for "look" is "רָאָה" (ra'ah), meaning to see or perceive. This reflection is not just about physical appearance but also about spiritual perception. It challenges the people to see beyond the physical desolation to the potential for renewal and God's promise of restoration.

Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?
The phrase "like nothing" uses the Hebrew word "כְּאַיִן" (ke'ayin), which means as if it were nonexistent or insignificant. This comparison highlights the stark contrast between the past glory and the present ruin. However, from a conservative Christian perspective, this is not a statement of despair but a call to faith. It encourages believers to trust in God's promises and His ability to bring about a greater glory, as prophesied later in the chapter. This serves as a powerful reminder that God's plans often transcend human understanding and expectations.

(3) Is it not . . .--Better, is not such a (Temple) as this like nothing in your eyes?

Verse 3. - Who is left among you! etc. It is quite possible that there should be some old people present who had seen Solomon's temple. Many have thought that Haggai himself was of the number. It was sixty-eight years ago that the temple was destroyed, and we can well believe that its remarkable features were deeply impressed on the minds of those who as boys or youths had loved and admired it. Ezra tells us (Ezra 3:12) that "many of the priests and Levites" [when the foundation first was laid] and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house,... wept with a loud voice." This house. The prophet identifies the present with Solomon's temple, as being adapted for the same purposes, to fill the same place in the national life, built on the same hallowed spot, and partly with the same materials. In the Jews' eyes there was one only temple, whatever might be the date of its erection or the comparative worth of its decorations and materials. First; former, as ver. 9. How do ye see it now? (Numbers 13:18). In what condition do ye see this house now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? The words, "in comparison of it," ought to be omitted, as not required by the Hebrew idiom. Does it not seem in your eyes as if it had no existence? If the injunction of Cyrus (Ezra 1:3, etc.) had been carried out, the dimensions cf. the new temple would have exceeded those of the old; but Zerubbabel seems to have been unable, with the small resources at his disposal, to execute the original design, though even so the proportions were not greatly inferior to those of the earlier temple. But the chief inferiority lay in the absence of the splendour and enrichment with which Solomon adorned his edifice. The gold which he had lavished on the house was no longer available; the precious stones could not be had. Besides. these defects, the Talmudists reckon five things wanting in this second temple, viz. the ark of the covenant, with the cherubim and mercy seat; the holy fire; the Shechinah; the spirit of prophecy; the Urim and Thnmmim. It was, according to Josephus, only half the height of Solomon's-sixty cubits ('Ant.,' 15:11, 1), and it appears to have been in many respects inferior to the first building ('Ant.,' 4:02). Hecabaeus of Abdera gives the dimensions of the courts as five hundred feet in length and a hundred cubits in breadth (double the width of the court of the tabernacle), and the size of the altar as twenty cubits square and ten cubits high (see Josephus, 'Cont. Ap.,' 1:22; Conder, 'Handbook to the Bible,' p. 370).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
‘Who
מִ֤י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

is left
הַנִּשְׁאָ֔ר (han·niš·’ār)
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

among you
בָכֶם֙ (ḇā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

who
אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

saw
רָאָה֙ (rā·’āh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

this
הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

house
הַבַּ֣יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

in its former
הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן (hā·ri·šō·wn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

glory?
בִּכְבוֹד֖וֹ (biḵ·ḇō·w·ḏōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness

How
וּמָ֨ה (ū·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

does it look
רֹאִ֤ים (rō·’îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

to you
אַתֶּ֜ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

now?
עַ֔תָּה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

Does it not
הֲל֥וֹא (hă·lō·w)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

appear to you
בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ (bə·‘ê·nê·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

like nothing
כְּאַ֖יִן (kə·’a·yin)
Preposition-k | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

in comparison?’
כָמֹ֛הוּ (ḵā·mō·hū)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when


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OT Prophets: Haggai 2:3 Who is left among you who saw (Hagg. Hag. Hg)
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