And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about a lack of rain; God explicitly states He "called for" this drought, meaning it was a direct, intentional action on His part. It’s a striking parallel to how the people ignored God's call to rebuild His house, while the elements immediately obeyed His command to bring desolation.
And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Haggai has just delivered a strong rebuke to the people, pointing out that their own homes are finished while God's house lies in ruins. This verse reveals God's direct response: He has sent a devastating drought upon everything – the land, the crops, the wine, the oil, and even the people and their animals – to punish their neglect and disobedience. This widespread scarcity is a consequence of their prioritizing their own comfort over God's dwelling place, a stark contrast to the natural elements that readily obey God's call.
Ever felt like your actions have unintended consequences? In Haggai's day, God’s people neglected His house, and the land itself cried out in response.
Haggai's message is a stark reminder that God notices our priorities. The people of Judah had returned from exile but were busy rebuilding their own homes while God's temple lay in ruins.
A Divine Retaliation
God’s response wasn't random; it was a deliberate act of judgment. He 'called for a drought' – a withering of the land, the crops, the very resources they relied on. This drought was a direct echo of their sin. They had left God's house 'waste,' and in turn, God brought a 'wasting' drought upon everything they labored for.
This principle of correspondence – where the punishment mirrors the sin – is a powerful theme in Scripture. It highlights that our disobedience doesn't happen in a vacuum; it has ripple effects, and God can use even natural forces to bring His justice.
God’s voice isn’t just heard by prophets; it resonates through creation itself. Haggai shows us that even the natural world responds to God’s command.
In Haggai 1:11, God doesn't just state a fact; He declares, 'And I called for a drought.' This is a profound statement of divine sovereignty. While the people of Judah ignored God's word through Haggai, the elements of nature obeyed Him instantly.
The Obedience of Creation
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The passage lists a sweeping list of what was affected: the land, the mountains, the grain, the new wine, the oil, the fruits of the earth, man, cattle, and all their labor. Every part of their world felt the impact of this drought.
This contrasts sharply with the people’s disobedience. God called them to build, and they refused. But when God called the drought, the land, the crops, and the livestock obeyed. It’s a powerful illustration that God is the ultimate controller of all things, and His authority extends to every corner of His creation.
Understand the original words
choreb · Hebrew Noun
A period of prolonged lack of rain, often depicted in Scripture as a form of divine judgment or discipline intended to turn the hearts of the people back to God. It results in agricultural failure and suffering for both humanity and livestock.
dagan · Hebrew Noun
The collective products of the earth, often used to signify material prosperity and the covenant blessings promised to Israel if they remained faithful to God. Its presence or absence is frequently tied to the nation's spiritual condition.
The drought described here is a direct consequence of the people's neglect: they left God's house 'waste' after their return from exile, and God sent a 'wasting' drought upon their land and labors in return.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple, and exile many citizens. This marks the end of the Davidic monarchy and a period of national trauma and spiritual crisis.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Decree
The Persian King Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon and issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their religious centers.
538 BC
First Return of Exiles
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, a significant number of Jewish exiles return to Jerusalem. They begin the process of rebuilding the community and laying the foundation for the Second Temple.
c. 530 BC
Temple Foundation Laid
The foundation of the Second Temple is laid amidst celebrations and tears, but opposition from surrounding peoples and internal discouragement soon halt the construction.
c. 520 BC— this verse
Haggai's Ministry Begins
The prophet Haggai begins to prophesy in Jerusalem, challenging the returned exiles for prioritizing their own homes and livelihoods over the rebuilding of God's Temple.
520 BC
Temple Reconstruction Resumes
Spurred by Haggai's message and encouraged by the ongoing prophecy, Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people recommit to rebuilding the Temple, and construction resumes with renewed vigor.
This passage directly parallels Haggai's prophecy by stating that if Israel disobeys, their sky will be made of bronze and the ground beneath them iron, causing drought and infertility.
2 Kings 8:1This verse shows a similar divine action where Elisha declares, 'The Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land seven years,' illustrating God's power to 'call' natural disasters as judgment.
Hosea 2:9This prophetic passage declares God's judgment, 'Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my new wine in its season; and I will snatch away my wool and my linen, which were to cover her nakedness,' showing God withholding produce as a consequence of unfaithfulness.
Leviticus 26:20This text echoes Haggai's message by warning that disobedience will lead to labor being spent in vain, with the land yielding no produce and the trees no fruit, directly connecting fruitless labor to God's displeasure.
gillHaggai 1:11: "And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands."
And I called for a drought upon the land,.... Upon the whole land of Judea; as he withheld the dew and rain from falling on it to moisten it, refresh it, and make it fruitful; so he ordered a vehement heat to dry and parch it; and directed th…
barnesHaggai 1:11: "And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands."
And I called for a drought upon the land - God called to the people and they would not hear. It is His ever-repeated complaint to them. "I called unto you, and ye would not hear." He called to His inanimate creatures to punish them, and "they…
This isn't just about a lack of rain; God explicitly states He "called for" this drought, meaning it was a direct, intentional action on His part. It’s a striking parallel to how the people ignored God's call to rebuild His house, while the elements immediately obeyed His command to bring desolation.
The prophet Haggai has just delivered a strong rebuke to the people, pointing out that their own homes are finished while God's house lies in ruins. This verse reveals God's direct response: He has sent a devastating drought upon everything – the land, the crops, the wine, the oil, and even the people and their animals – to punish their neglect and disobedience. This widespread scarcity is a consequence of their prioritizing their own comfort over God's dwelling place, a stark contrast to the natural elements that readily obey God's call.
The prophet Haggai has just delivered a strong rebuke to the people, pointing out that their own homes are finished while God's house lies in ruins. This verse reveals God's direct response: He has sent a devastating drought upon everything – the land, the crops, the wine, the oil, and even the people and their animals – to punish their neglect and disobedience. This widespread scarcity is a consequence of their prioritizing their own comfort over God's dwelling place, a stark contrast to the natural elements that readily obey God's call.
"And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”" — This isn't just about a lack of rain; God explicitly states He "called for" this drought, meaning it was a direct, intentional action on His part. It’s a striking parallel to how the people ignored G…
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Last reviewed October 2026