Haggai 2:4 (LSB)

Passage

But now, be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares Yahweh, ‘be strong also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land, be strong,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.

Nearby Context

Haggai 2:2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people saying,

Haggai 2:3 ‘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?

Haggai 2:4 But now, be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares Yahweh, ‘be strong also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land, be strong,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.

Haggai 2:5 ‘As for the promise which I cut with you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is standing in your midst; do not fear!’

Haggai 2:6 For thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Once more—in a little while—I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "strong", "zerubbabel", "declares", "yahweh", "joshua", "jehozadak", and "high". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "strong" and "zerubbabel", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "Who among you remains who saw this..." into verse 5's "As for the promise which I cut...", so "strong" and "zerubbabel" belong inside that flow. In Haggai context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "strong" and "zerubbabel" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.