Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: New Living Translation “Think about this eighteenth day of December, the day when the foundation of the LORD’s Temple was laid. Think carefully. English Standard Version Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider: Berean Standard Bible Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider carefully: Berean Literal Bible Set now your⁺ heart from this day and onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the temple of YHWH was founded—set your⁺ heart! King James Bible Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. New King James Version ‘Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider it: New American Standard Bible ‘Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, consider: NASB 1995 Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, consider: NASB 1977 ‘Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, consider: Legacy Standard Bible ‘Oh set your heart to consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of Yahweh was founded, set your heart to consider: Amplified Bible ‘Do consider from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, consider: Berean Annotated Bible Consider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s {YHWH} temple was laid—consider carefully: Christian Standard Bible From this day on, think carefully; from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid; think carefully. Holman Christian Standard Bible Consider carefully from this day forward; from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid; consider it carefully. American Standard Version Consider, I pray you, from this day and backward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of Jehovah's temple was laid, consider it. Contemporary English Version Today you have completed the foundation for my temple, so listen to what your future will be like. English Revised Version Consider, I pray you, from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. GOD'S WORD® Translation Carefully consider from now on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day when the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Carefully consider: Good News Translation Today is the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day that the foundation of the Temple has been completed. See what is going to happen from now on. International Standard Version Pay attention from now on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, when the foundation of the LORD's Temple was laid. Pay attention! NET Bible Think carefully about the past: from today, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, to the day work on the temple of the LORD was resumed, think about it. New Heart English Bible 'Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it. Webster's Bible Translation Consider now from this day, and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleConsider carefully from this day forward—from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider carefully: World English Bible ‘Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was laid, consider it. Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“Now set [it] to your heart, from this day and onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth [month], even from the day that the temple of YHWH has been founded, set [it] to your heart. Berean Literal Bible Set now your⁺ heart from this day and onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the temple of YHWH was founded—set your⁺ heart! Young's Literal Translation Set it, I pray you, to your heart, from this day and onwards, from the twenty and fourth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the temple of Jehovah hath been founded, set it to your heart. Smith's Literal Translation Set now your heart from this day and upward, from the twenty and fourth day to the ninth, from the day that the temple of Jehovah was founded, set ye your heart. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSet your hearts from this day, and henceforward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month: from the day that the foundations of the temple of the Lord were laid, and lay it up in your hearts. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Reflect from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. From the day on which the temple of the LORD was founded, reflect! New Revised Standard Version Consider from this day on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider: Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSubdue your hearts from this day and upward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Therefore subdue your hearts from this day and beyond, from the twenty fourth day in the ninth month, from the day when the foundation of the temple of LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts to be built was laid; lay down your hearts OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917consider, I pray you, from this day and forward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it; Brenton Septuagint Translation Set your hearts now to think from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day when the foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Blessings for a Defiled People…17I struck you—all the work of your hands—with blight, mildew, and hail, but you did not turn to Me, declares the LORD. 18Consider carefully from this day forward— from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid— consider carefully: 19Is there still seed in the barn? The vine, the fig, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet yielded fruit. But from this day on, I will bless you.”… Cross References Consider carefully from this day forward— Haggai 1:5 Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. Haggai 1:7 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom. from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, Haggai 1:15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius. Zechariah 1:7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo. Daniel 10:4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid— 1 Kings 6:37-38 The foundation of the house of the LORD was laid in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, in the month of Ziv. / In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in every detail and according to every specification. So he built the temple in seven years. Ezra 3:10-11 When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed. / And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid. Zechariah 4:9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you. consider carefully: Deuteronomy 32:46-47 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law. / For they are not idle words to you, because they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” Psalm 119:59 I considered my ways and turned my steps to Your testimonies. Proverbs 4:26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. 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. … Ezra 5:1-2 Later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. / Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them. Malachi 3:10-12 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure. / I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your land, and the vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the LORD of Hosts. / “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight,” says the LORD of Hosts. 2 Chronicles 24:10-13 All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought their contributions, and they dropped them in the chest until it was full. / Whenever the chest was brought by the Levites to the king’s overseers and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal scribe and the officer of the high priest would come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this daily and gathered the money in abundance. / Then the king and Jehoiada would give the money to those who supervised the labor on the house of the LORD to hire stonecutters and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, as well as workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD. … Treasury of Scripture Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it. Consider. Haggai 2:15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD: Deuteronomy 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! Luke 15:17-20 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! … even. Haggai 1:14,15 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, … Ezra 5:1,2 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them… Zechariah 8:9,12 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built… Jump to Previous Backward Base Careful Consider Forward Foundation Founded Four Heart House Jehovah's Laid Month Ninth Onward Onwards Please Temple Thought Time Twentieth Twenty Twenty-Fourth UpwardJump to Next Backward Base Careful Consider Forward Foundation Founded Four Heart House Jehovah's Laid Month Ninth Onward Onwards Please Temple Thought Time Twentieth Twenty Twenty-Fourth UpwardHaggai 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. Consider carefully from this day forward This phrase emphasizes the importance of reflection and mindfulness. In the context of Haggai, the prophet calls the people to pay attention to their actions and the consequences that follow. This is a pivotal moment for the Israelites, as they are urged to reflect on their past disobedience and the resulting hardships. The call to "consider" is a recurring theme in Haggai, urging the people to evaluate their spiritual priorities and align them with God's will. from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid consider carefully Persons / Places / Events 1. HaggaiA prophet sent by God to encourage the Israelites to rebuild the temple after their return from Babylonian exile. 2. Zerubbabel The governor of Judah, a key leader in the rebuilding of the temple. 3. Joshua The high priest at the time, working alongside Zerubbabel in the temple reconstruction. 4. The Israelites The people of Judah who returned from exile and were tasked with rebuilding the temple. 5. The Temple Foundation The physical and spiritual foundation of the temple, symbolizing the renewal of worship and commitment to God. Teaching Points The Importance of ReflectionHaggai urges the people to "consider" their ways and the significance of the day. Reflecting on our spiritual journey helps us realign with God's purposes. Foundation Matters Just as the physical foundation of the temple was crucial, our spiritual foundation in Christ is essential for a life that honors God. Obedience and Blessing The laying of the temple's foundation was an act of obedience that preceded God's blessing. Our obedience to God's commands often sets the stage for His blessings in our lives. God's Timing The specific date mentioned highlights God's perfect timing. Trusting in God's timing is vital, even when it doesn't align with our own plans. Community in God's Work The rebuilding was a communal effort, reminding us of the importance of working together in the body of Christ to accomplish His purposes. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Haggai 2:18?2. How does Haggai 2:18 encourage us to reflect on our past actions? 3. What significance does "from this day on" hold for personal spiritual renewal? 4. How can we apply Haggai 2:18's call to consider our ways today? 5. What scriptural connections exist between Haggai 2:18 and repentance in the New Testament? 6. How does reflecting on past actions help us align with God's will now? 7. What is the significance of the date mentioned in Haggai 2:18 for the Israelites? 8. How does Haggai 2:18 relate to the rebuilding of the temple? 9. What theological message does Haggai 2:18 convey about God's blessings? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Haggai 2? 11. How did early Israelites fulfill the centralized requirement of bringing firstfruits (Deuteronomy 26) before a formal temple or priesthood was consistently established? 12. What are feet like burnished bronze? 13. Haggai 2:19 promises a sudden blessing—why don’t contemporary records show any remarkable change in Judah’s fortunes? 14. Why prioritize homes over rebuilding the temple? What Does Haggai 2:18 Mean Consider carefully• Twice in the same sentence the Lord says, “Consider carefully” (Haggai 2:18). Repetition heightens urgency: the people must pause, reflect, and let the moment sink in. • Earlier, He had asked them to “give careful thought” to their ways (Haggai 1:5, 7); now He urges them to give careful thought to His promise. • Reflection is a biblical pattern: God calls His people to stop and think before acting (Deuteronomy 32:29; Psalm 4:4; 2 Timothy 2:7). • Practical implication: obedience begins with deliberate, mindful attention to God’s word rather than hurried reaction. from this day forward • The phrase signals a clear turning point. Up to this day the people had felt the sting of drought and meager harvests (Haggai 1:10–11), but from now on the Lord pledges blessing (Haggai 2:19). • Scripture often marks new beginnings with similar language—e.g., “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt” (Joshua 5:9) and “From that time Jesus began to preach” (Matthew 4:17). • The Lord is declaring that obedience to build His house resets the future; He will not hold yesterday’s failures against a repentant people (Isaiah 43:18–19). from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month • God identifies the exact calendar day: 24 Kislev, 520 BC. Precision underscores that His dealings are rooted in real history, not vague spiritual ideas (Luke 3:1–2 similarly dates John the Baptist’s ministry). • Marking the day helps the remnant track the change from discipline to blessing—when harvests begin to improve, they can look back and see that God kept His word. • Such time-stamped promises remind believers that the Lord’s faithfulness is measurable (Genesis 8:13–14; Ezra 6:15). the day the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid • Laying the foundation was more than a construction milestone; it was an act of worship, signaling renewed covenant allegiance (Ezra 3:10–11). • The temple represented God’s dwelling among His people (Exodus 25:8); rebuilding it showed they valued His presence above their own comfort (contrast Haggai 1:4). • Foundations matter spiritually (1 Corinthians 3:11). When the right foundation is set, future work can stand secure; when it is missing, effort collapses (Matthew 7:24–27). • By dating His promise to the foundation, God ties blessing directly to their obedience in prioritizing His house (Proverbs 3:9–10). consider carefully • The sentence ends as it began, forming a bracket that presses the lesson home. • Repetition invites the people to keep pondering, not just for the moment but continually. • It answers the human tendency to forget (James 1:23–24). The Lord knows attention drifts, so He repeats the call to “consider” until it sticks. • Response: remember this date, watch what God does, and keep obeying (Deuteronomy 8:2). summary • The verse is a divine “time-stamp” inviting deliberate reflection. • God declares a line in the sand: past lack came from neglect; future blessing flows from obedience. • He nails the promise to a specific day—the day they laid the temple’s foundation—to prove His faithfulness in tangible history. • Twice He commands them to “consider,” stressing that careful, ongoing reflection is essential for sustained obedience and gratitude. (18) Even from the day.--Better, even to the day. The rendering of the Authorised Version makes the passage quite unintelligible, for in no sense can the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month coincide with the day "that the foundation of the Lord's Temple was laid." The Temple had been founded fifteen years before, in the second month of the second year of Cyrus (Ezra 3:10). The work of building had been carried on intermittently till within two years of the present time. It had then been entirely suspended, and had only been actively taken in hand after Haggai's address in the sixth month of this year. The force of the passage is sufficiently plain if we render as above. "In order to make the blessings to be announced in Haggai 2:19 appear in strong contrast to the distress pictured in Haggai 2:16-17, the prophet repeats the injunction of Haggai 2:15, but with a larger range of retrospect. The whole period back to the time when the foundation of the Temple was laid in the reign of Cyrus was more or less one of distress on account of the unfaithfulness of the people; for between that time and the present all the efforts that had been made to complete the work were spasmodic and feeble" (McCurdy). The rendering "even to the day" is quite allowable, though the construction is certainly rare.Verses 18, 19. - § 2. On their obedience the blessings of nature shall again be theirs. Verse 18. - Consider now from this day and upward (see note on ver. 15.) For "upward" Jerome has here in futurum, though he translated the same word supra in ver. 15. Such a rendering is allowable, and affords a good sense, the prophet directing the people's attention to the happy prospect in the future announced in ver. 19. But it seems, best to keep to the same interpretation in two passages so closely allied. The prophet bids the people consider the period from the present, the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, when this prophecy was uttered (ver. 10), to the other limit explanatory of the term "upward" or "backward." Even from the day that the foundation, etc.; rather, since the day that, etc. This is obviously the same period as that named in ver. 15, after the foundation was completed, but before "stone was laid upon stone" of the superstructure (comp. Zechariah 8:9).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Consider carefullyשִׂימוּ־ (śî·mū-) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set from מִן־ (min-) Preposition Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of this הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that day הַיּ֥וֹם (hay·yō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day forward— וָמָ֑עְלָה (wā·mā·‘ə·lāh) Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person feminine singular Strong's 4605: The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top from לְמִן־ (lə·min-) Preposition-l Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of the twenty-fourth עֶשְׂרִ֨ים (‘eś·rîm) Number - common plural Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth day מִיּוֹם֩ (mî·yō·wm) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3117: A day of the ninth [month], לַתְּשִׁיעִ֗י (lat·tə·šî·‘î) Preposition-l, Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular Strong's 8671: Ninth (an ordinal number) the day הַיּ֛וֹם (hay·yō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day the foundation of the LORD’s יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel temple הֵֽיכַל־ (hê·ḵal-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1964: A large public building, palace, temple was laid— יֻסַּ֥ד (yus·saḏ) Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3245: To set, to found, to sit down together, settle, consult consider carefully: שִׂ֥ימוּ (śî·mū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set Links Haggai 2:18 NIVHaggai 2:18 NLT Haggai 2:18 ESV Haggai 2:18 NASB Haggai 2:18 KJV Haggai 2:18 BibleApps.com Haggai 2:18 Biblia Paralela Haggai 2:18 Chinese Bible Haggai 2:18 French Bible Haggai 2:18 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Haggai 2:18 Consider please from this day and backward (Hagg. 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