Zerubbabel Appointed as God's Signet
Haggai 2:20-23
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Hag.2.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שנית: ADV
- אל: NEG
- חגי: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- בעשרים: PREP+NUM,card,pl
- וארבעה: CONJ+NUM,card,m,sg
- לחדש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Haggai 1:1 (verbal): Uses the same prophetic formula (“the word of the LORD came to Haggai”) and provides an earlier dated introduction to Haggai’s first oracle, paralleling 2:20’s dated second oracle.
- Haggai 2:1 (structural): Occurs in the same chapter and marks the beginning of the second oracle (dated on the 21st day); 2:20 records a subsequent dated word (24th day), showing the sequence of dated messages.
- Zechariah 1:1 (verbal): A contemporary postexilic prophet introduced with the identical formula (“the word of the LORD came to Zechariah”) and precise dating in the reign of Darius, illustrating the common prophetic dating/formula and contemporaneity.
- Jeremiah 1:4 (verbal): Typical prophetic introduction (“the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah”), reflecting the same verbal/structural pattern for announcing divine messages as in Haggai 2:20.
Alternative generated candidates
- On the twenty-fourth day of the month the word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai the prophet, saying,
- And the word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying:
Hag.2.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- זרבבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פחת: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- מרעיש: VERB,hiph,ptc,ms,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואת: CONJ
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Haggai 2:6 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same oracle: God declares 'yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth,' the same shaking language that is here addressed to Zerubbabel.
- Haggai 2:23 (structural): Direct continuation of the address to Zerubbabel: after the promise to 'shake the heavens and the earth' the text proceeds to name Zerubbabel 'my servant' and 'signet,' linking the shaking to Zerubbabel's exaltation.
- Hebrews 12:26-27 (quotation): The New Testament explicitly cites the shaking language ('Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven') from Haggai to make a typological point about God's final judgment and removal of shaken things.
- Isaiah 13:13 (verbal): Uses very similar imagery—'I will shake the heavens and the earth'—in an oracle announcing cosmic upheaval as judgment, showing that the phrase is common prophetic language for divine intervention.
- Zechariah 4:6-7 (thematic): Another oracle addressed to Zerubbabel: though different wording, it promises divine action to accomplish what human power cannot ('Not by might... but by my Spirit') and envisions obstacles made plain before Zerubbabel, thematically linked to the shaking and divine vindication in Haggai.
Alternative generated candidates
- Say to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I will shake the heavens and the earth.
- Say to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, 'I will shake the heavens and the earth.'
Hag.2.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והפכתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- כסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ממלכות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
- והשמדתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,na,sg
- חזק: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ממלכות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
- הגוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והפכתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- מרכבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ורכביה: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וירדו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- סוסים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ורכביהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 2:44 (thematic): God as sovereign overthrower of human kingdoms—an eternal kingdom set up that breaks and consumes prior earthly realms, paralleling Haggai's pronouncement to overturn thrones and strengths.
- Zechariah 9:10 (verbal): Explicitly promises removal of chariots and horses ('and he will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem'), echoing Haggai's image of overturning chariots and horses.
- Isaiah 19:2 (verbal): Predicts internal strife in Egypt—'they shall fight every one against his brother'—closely mirrors Haggai's line about combat and death by the sword of one's brother.
- Ezekiel 21:27 (allusion): Speaks of removing the scepter and ending a royal line ('I will overturn... and it shall be no more'), paralleling Haggai's theme of overturning thrones and destroying the power of nations.
- Zechariah 14:13 (thematic): Describes panic and neighbours rising against one another ('every man's hand shall be against his neighbor'), reflecting Haggai's motif of civil breakdown and fratricidal violence accompanying divine judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will overturn the thrones of kingdoms and dissolve the strength of the nations' powers; I will overturn chariot and rider, and the horses and their riders will fall—each by the sword of his brother.
- I will overturn the thrones of kingdoms and shatter the might of the nations' kingdoms; I will overturn chariot and rider, and the horses and their riders shall fall—each by the sword of his brother.
Hag.2.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אקחך: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg,obj:2,sg,m
- זרבבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שאלתיאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ושמתיך: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg,obj:2,f,sg
- כחותם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- בחרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,?,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Haggai 1:12 (structural): Same book and historical context: Zerubbabel is already presented as the governor and acknowledged leader of the people who obeyed the LORD’s word, preparing the way for the promise in 2:23.
- Zechariah 4:6-10 (thematic): Directly addresses Zerubbabel’s role in completing the temple and emphasizes God’s empowerment (‘not by might… but by my Spirit’), paralleling Haggai’s promise that God has chosen and will establish him.
- Zechariah 6:11-13 (allusion): Passage about the ‘Branch’ and the crowning/building motif associates the leadership/temple-building role with a divinely appointed figure (often linked with Zerubbabel), echoing the investiture language of Haggai 2:23.
- Isaiah 22:21-22 (verbal): God’s appointment imagery (placing a key, fastening a man like a peg) parallels Haggai’s image of making Zerubbabel like a signet—both convey divine selection and secured authority.
- Isaiah 42:1 (verbal): The formula ‘my servant… my chosen, in whom my soul delights’ parallels Haggai’s designation of Zerubbabel as ‘my servant’ and ‘I have chosen you,’ reflecting the theological motif of God’s chosen agent.
Alternative generated candidates
- On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant, declares the LORD, and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.
- On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel—my servant, declares the LORD—and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.
And the word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,
Say to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I will shake the heavens and the earth.
I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms and shatter the strength of the nations’ powers; I will overturn the chariot and its rider, and the horses and their riders shall fall—each by the sword of his brother.
On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant, declares the LORD, and I will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.