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Selected Verse: Haggi 2:21 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Hag 2:21	Strong Concordance	Speak [0559] to Zerubbabel [02216], governor [06346] of Judah [03063], saying [0559], I will shake [07493] the heavens [08064] and the earth [0776];
	King James	Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
to Zerubbabel--Perhaps Zerubbabel had asked as to the convulsions foretold (Hag 2:6-7). This is the reply: The Jews had been led to fear that these convulsions would destroy their national existence. Zerubbabel, therefore, as their civil leader and representative is addressed, not Joshua, their religious leader. Messiah is the antitypical Zerubbabel, their national Representative and King, with whom God the Father makes the covenant wherein they, as identified with Him, are assured of safety in God's electing love (compare Hag 2:23, "will make thee as a signet"; "I have chosen thee"). shake . . . heavens--(see on Hag 2:6-7); violent political convulsions accompanied with physical prodigies (Mat 24:7, Mat 24:29).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

to Zerubbabel--Perhaps Zerubbabel had asked as to the convulsions foretold (Hag 2:6-7). This is the reply: The Jews had been led to fear that these convulsions would destroy their national existence. Zerubbabel, therefore, as their civil leader and representative is addressed, not Joshua, their religious leader. Messiah is the antitypical Zerubbabel, their national Representative and King, with whom God the Father makes the covenant wherein they, as identified with Him, are assured of safety in God's electing love (compare Hag 2:23, "will make thee as a signet"; "I have chosen thee").

shake . . . heavens--(see on Hag 2:6-7); violent political convulsions accompanied with physical prodigies (Mat 24:7, Mat 24:29).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
I will shake - Haggai closes by resuming the words of a former prophecy to Zerubbabel and Joshua, which ended in the coming of Christ. Even thus it is plain, that the prophecy does not belong personally to Zerubbabel, but to him and his descendants, chiefly to Christ. There was in Zerubbabel's time no shaking of the heaven or of nations. Darius had indeed to put down an unusual number of rebellions in the first few years after his accession; but, although he magnified himself on occasion of their suppression, they were only so many distinct and unconcerted revolts, each under its own head. All were far away in the distant East, in Babylonia, Susiana, Media, Armenia, Assyria, Hyrcania, Parthia, Sagartia, Margiana, Arachosia. The Persian empire, spread "probably over 2,000,000 square miles, or more than half of modern Europe," was not threatened; no foreign enemy assailed it; one impostor only claimed the throne of Darius. This would, if successful, have been, like his own accession, a change of dynasty, affecting nothing externally. But neither were lasting, some were very trifling. Two decisive battles subdued Babylonia: of Media the brief summary is given "the Medes revolted from Darius, and having revolted were brought back into subjection, defeated in battle." The Susianians killed their own pretender, on the approach of the troops of Darius. We have indeed mostly the account only of the victor. But these are only self-glorying records of victories, accomplished in succession, within a few years. Sometimes the satrap of the province put the revolt down at once. At most two battles ended in the crucifixion of the rebel. The Jews, if they heard of them, knew them to be of no account. For the destroyer of the Persian empire was to come from the West Dan 8:5, the fourth sovereign was to stir up all against the realm of Grecia Dan 11:2, and Darius was but the third. In the same second year of Darius, in which Haggai gave this prophecy, the whole earth was exhibited to Zechariah as Zac 1:11, "sitting still and at rest." The overthrow prophesied is also universal. It is not one throne only, as of Persia, but "the throne," i. e., the sovereigns, "of kingdoms;" not a change of dynasty, but a destruction of their "strength;" not of a few powers only, but "the kingdoms of the pagan;" and that, in detail; that, in which their chief strength lay, the chariots and horsemen and their riders, and this, man by man, "every one by the sword of his brother." This mutual destruction is a feature of the judgments at the end of the world against Gog and Magog Eze 38:21; and of the yet unfulfilled prophecies of Zechariah Zac 14:17. Its stretching out so far does not hinder its partial fulfillment in earlier times. Zerubbabel stood, at the return from the captivity, as the representative of the house of David and heir of the promises to him, though in an inferior temporal condition; thereby the rather showing that the main import of the prophecy was not temporal. As then Ezekiel prophesied, Eze 34:23. "I will set up One Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, My servant David" Eze 37:24-25; "And David My servant shall be king over them; and My servant David shall be their prince forever;" and Jeremiah Jer 30:9. "They shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them; and Hosea, that Hos 3:5. after many days shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king," meaning by David, the great descendant of David, in whom the promises centered, so in his degree, the promise to Zerubbabel reaches on through his descendants to Christ; that, amid all the overthrow of empires, God would protect His sons' sons until Christ should come, the King of kings and Lord of lords, whose Dan 2:44. "kingdom shall never be destroyed, but it shall break in pieces and consume all those kingdoms, and shall stand fast forever."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

I will shake - Haggai closes by resuming the words of a former prophecy to Zerubbabel and Joshua, which ended in the coming of Christ. Even thus it is plain, that the prophecy does not belong personally to Zerubbabel, but to him and his descendants, chiefly to Christ. There was in Zerubbabel's time no shaking of the heaven or of nations. Darius had indeed to put down an unusual number of rebellions in the first few years after his accession; but, although he magnified himself on occasion of their suppression, they were only so many distinct and unconcerted revolts, each under its own head. All were far away in the distant East, in Babylonia, Susiana, Media, Armenia, Assyria, Hyrcania, Parthia, Sagartia, Margiana, Arachosia. The Persian empire, spread "probably over 2,000,000 square miles, or more than half of modern Europe," was not threatened; no foreign enemy assailed it; one impostor only claimed the throne of Darius. This would, if successful, have been, like his own accession, a change of dynasty, affecting nothing externally.

But neither were lasting, some were very trifling. Two decisive battles subdued Babylonia: of Media the brief summary is given "the Medes revolted from Darius, and having revolted were brought back into subjection, defeated in battle." The Susianians killed their own pretender, on the approach of the troops of Darius. We have indeed mostly the account only of the victor. But these are only self-glorying records of victories, accomplished in succession, within a few years. Sometimes the satrap of the province put the revolt down at once. At most two battles ended in the crucifixion of the rebel. The Jews, if they heard of them, knew them to be of no account. For the destroyer of the Persian empire was to come from the West Dan 8:5, the fourth sovereign was to stir up all against the realm of Grecia Dan 11:2, and Darius was but the third. In the same second year of Darius, in which Haggai gave this prophecy, the whole earth was exhibited to Zechariah as Zac 1:11, "sitting still and at rest."

The overthrow prophesied is also universal. It is not one throne only, as of Persia, but "the throne," i. e., the sovereigns, "of kingdoms;" not a change of dynasty, but a destruction of their "strength;" not of a few powers only, but "the kingdoms of the pagan;" and that, in detail; that, in which their chief strength lay, the chariots and horsemen and their riders, and this, man by man, "every one by the sword of his brother." This mutual destruction is a feature of the judgments at the end of the world against Gog and Magog Eze 38:21; and of the yet unfulfilled prophecies of Zechariah Zac 14:17. Its stretching out so far does not hinder its partial fulfillment in earlier times. Zerubbabel stood, at the return from the captivity, as the representative of the house of David and heir of the promises to him, though in an inferior temporal condition; thereby the rather showing that the main import of the prophecy was not temporal. As then Ezekiel prophesied, Eze 34:23. "I will set up One Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, My servant David" Eze 37:24-25; "And David My servant shall be king over them; and My servant David shall be their prince forever;" and Jeremiah Jer 30:9. "They shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them; and Hosea, that Hos 3:5. after many days shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king," meaning by David, the great descendant of David, in whom the promises centered, so in his degree, the promise to Zerubbabel reaches on through his descendants to Christ; that, amid all the overthrow of empires, God would protect His sons' sons until Christ should come, the King of kings and Lord of lords, whose Dan 2:44. "kingdom shall never be destroyed, but it shall break in pieces and consume all those kingdoms, and shall stand fast forever."

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
I will shake the heavens and the earth - Calmet supposes that the invasion of Cambyses, and his death, are what the prophet has in view by this shaking of the heavens and the earth: but this invasion and defeat happened three years before they had begun to work at the temple; and how could it be made a matter of interest to Zerubbabel? Calmet answers this, by translating the words in the past tense; and shows that the fact was recalled to Zerubbabel's attention, to fix his confidence in God, etc. Bp. Newcome says we may well understand this and the twenty-second verse of the calamity undergone by Babylon in the reign of Darius; of the Macedonian conquests in Persia; and of the wars which the successors of Alexander waged against each other: others under stand it of the Romans.

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²⁹ Immediately [1161] [2112] after [3326] the tribulation [2347] of those [1565] days [2250] shall the sun [2246] be darkened [4654], and [2532] the moon [4582] shall [1325] not [3756] give [1325] her [846] light [5338], and [2532] the stars [792] shall fall [4098] from [575] heaven [3772], and [2532] the powers [1411] of the heavens [3772] shall be shaken [4531]:

⁷ For [1063] nation [1484] shall rise [1453] against [1909] nation [1484], and [2532] kingdom [932] against [1909] kingdom [932]: and [2532] there shall be [2071] famines [3042], and [2532] pestilences [3061], and [2532] earthquakes [4578], in divers [2596] places [5117].

⁶ For thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; Yet once [0259], it is a little while [04592], and I will shake [07493] the heavens [08064], and the earth [0776], and the sea [03220], and the dry [02724] land;
⁷ And I will shake [07493] all nations [01471], and the desire [02532] of all nations [01471] shall come [0935]: and I will fill [04390] this house [01004] with glory [03519], saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].

²³ In that day [03117], saith [05002] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], will I take [03947] thee, O Zerubbabel [02216], my servant [05650], the son [01121] of Shealtiel [07597], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], and will make [07760] thee as a signet [02368]: for I have chosen [0977] thee, saith [05002] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].

⁴⁴ And in the days [03118] of these [0581] kings [04430] shall the God [0426] of heaven [08065] set up [06966] a kingdom [04437], which shall never [05957] [03809] be destroyed [02255]: and the kingdom [04437] shall not [03809] be left [07662] to other [0321] people [05972], but it shall break in pieces [01855] and consume [05487] all [03606] these [0459] kingdoms [04437], and it [01932] shall stand [06966] for ever [05957].

⁵ Afterward [0310] shall the children [01121] of Israel [03478] return [07725], and seek [01245] the LORD [03068] their God [0430], and David [01732] their king [04428]; and shall fear [06342] the LORD [03068] and his goodness [02898] in the latter [0319] days [03117].

⁹ But they shall serve [05647] the LORD [03068] their God [0430], and David [01732] their king [04428], whom I will raise up [06965] unto them.

²⁴ And David [01732] my servant [05650] shall be king [04428] over them; and they all shall have one [0259] shepherd [07462]: they shall also walk [03212] in my judgments [04941], and observe [08104] my statutes [02708], and do [06213] them.
²⁵ And they shall dwell [03427] in the land [0776] that I have given [05414] unto Jacob [03290] my servant [05650], wherein your fathers [01] have dwelt [03427]; and they shall dwell [03427] therein, even they, and their children [01121], and their children's [01121] children [01121] for ever [05769]: and my servant [05650] David [01732] shall be their prince [05387] for [05704] ever [05769].

²³ And I will set up [06965] one [0259] shepherd [07462] over them, and he shall feed [07462] them, even my servant [05650] David [01732]; he shall feed [07462] them, and he shall be their shepherd [07462].

¹⁷ And it shall be, that whoso will not come up [05927] of all the families [04940] of the earth [0776] unto Jerusalem [03389] to worship [07812] the King [04428], the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], even upon them shall be no rain [01653].

²¹ And I will call [07121] for a sword [02719] against him throughout all my mountains [02022], saith [05002] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]: every man's [0376] sword [02719] shall be against his brother [0251].

¹¹ And they answered [06030] the angel [04397] of the LORD [03068] that stood [05975] among the myrtle trees [01918], and said [0559], We have walked to and fro [01980] through the earth [0776], and, behold, all the earth [0776] sitteth still [03427], and is at rest [08252].

² And now will I shew [05046] thee the truth [0571]. Behold, there shall stand up [05975] yet three [07969] kings [04428] in Persia [06539]; and the fourth [07243] shall be far [06239] richer [06238] than they all [01419]: and by his strength [02393] through his riches [06239] he shall stir up [05782] all against the realm [04438] of Grecia [03120].

⁵ And as I was considering [0995], behold, an he [05795] goat [06842] came [0935] from the west [04628] on the face [06440] of the whole earth [0776], and touched [05060] not the ground [0776]: and the goat [06842] had a notable [02380] horn [07161] between his eyes [05869].