Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's command isn't just about rebuilding a structure; it’s a call to personal effort, urging them to actively go out and gather the materials themselves. This emphasizes that true worship requires more than just intention; it demands tangible action and personal involvement, not just outsourcing the labor.
Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people of Judah have returned from exile but are neglecting the rebuilding of the temple, prioritizing their own homes instead. God, through the prophet Haggai, confronts them about this lack of priority, pointing out that their current hardships are a direct result of their disobedience. This verse is God's direct command to stop making excuses and to actively gather the necessary materials to finally proceed with the construction of His house.
The people had been discouraged and let the temple project slide. God’s message is direct: It’s time to act!
The people had neglected the command to rebuild the temple, prioritizing their own homes and comfort. The prophet Haggai is sent with a strong, clear command: 'Go up to the mountain and bring wood, and build the house.'
Why build? It wasn't just about bricks and mortar, but about God’s deep desires for His dwelling place.
The ultimate purpose behind the command to build the temple is deeply personal to God. He states two reasons for His desire for the house to be rebuilt:
Ask a follow-up
This dual focus – God's pleasure and His glory – reveals that obedience in serving God is rooted in our love for Him and our desire to honor Him.
Understand the original words
bayit · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew term for the dwelling place of God; in the Old Testament, this specifically refers to the Temple in Jerusalem as the place where God’s presence uniquely dwelt among His people.
kābad · Hebrew Verb
The manifestation of God’s supreme worth, honor, and majesty; the reflection of His character as it is recognized and acknowledged by His creation.
This command to 'go up to the mountain' comes after years of neglect, highlighting that the people had been prioritizing their own comfort and prosperity over God's dwelling place, leading to economic hardship and divine displeasure.
538 BC
First Return from Exile
Following Cyrus the Great's decree, a large contingent of Jews, led by Zerubbabel, returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. They began rebuilding the Temple on its original site.
c. 536-520 BC
Temple Construction Halted
Opposition from surrounding peoples and internal discouragement led to the suspension of the Temple rebuilding project for about 15 years. The people focused on rebuilding their own homes instead.
520 BC— this verse
Prophets Haggai and Zechariah Emerge
God sends the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to stir the people and leaders, Zerubbabel and Joshua, to resume the Temple construction.
c. 520 BC
Haggai's First Message
Haggai confronts the people with their misplaced priorities, rebuking them for living in well-built homes while the Lord's house lies in ruins, and links their economic hardship to this neglect.
c. 520 BC
Haggai's Call to Action
In this verse, Haggai delivers God's direct command: 'Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house,' urging immediate and personal involvement in the reconstruction.
c. 516 BC
Temple Rebuilding Completed
Spurred by the prophets' messages and God's promises, the Jews successfully completed the Second Temple, dedicating it to the Lord after years of neglect.
This passage describes the initial efforts to gather materials, including timber from Lebanon, for rebuilding the temple, directly paralleling Haggai's instruction to procure wood for the same purpose.
Nehemiah 2:8Nehemiah requests timber from the king's forest for rebuilding the temple walls, showing a similar need to actively obtain building materials for God's house in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 7:16God declares His intention to dwell in and sanctify the Temple, echoing Haggai's promise that He will 'take pleasure in it' and 'be glorified' if it is rebuilt.
Luke 12:48Jesus speaks about accountability, stating that much will be demanded of those to whom much is given; this resonates with the people's responsibility to rebuild the temple after their return from exile, as neglecting it had consequences.
1 Corinthians 3:16Paul teaches that believers themselves are the temple of God, highlighting the spiritual significance of 'building' God's house, which can be seen as an extension of the literal rebuilding commanded in Haggai.
clarkeHaggai 1:8: "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD."
Go up to the mountain, and bring wood - Go to Lebanon, and get timber. In the second year of the return from the captivity, they had procured cedar trees from Lebanon, and brought them to Joppa, and had hired masons and carpenters from the Tyrians and Sidonians; but that labor had been nearly lost by the long suspension of the building. Ezra 3:7 .
ellicottHaggai 1:8: "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD."
(8) The mountain. —No one mountain is thought of. The term implies the high lands generally, as growing the most suitable timber for building purposes.
God's command isn't just about rebuilding a structure; it’s a call to personal effort, urging them to actively go out and gather the materials themselves. This emphasizes that true worship requires more than just intention; it demands tangible action and personal involvement, not just outsourcing the labor.
The people of Judah have returned from exile but are neglecting the rebuilding of the temple, prioritizing their own homes instead. God, through the prophet Haggai, confronts them about this lack of priority, pointing out that their current hardships are a direct result of their disobedience. This verse is God's direct command to stop making excuses and to actively gather the necessary materials to finally proceed with the construction of His house.
The people of Judah have returned from exile but are neglecting the rebuilding of the temple, prioritizing their own homes instead. God, through the prophet Haggai, confronts them about this lack of priority, pointing out that their current hardships are a direct result of their disobedience. This verse is God's direct command to stop making excuses and to actively gather the necessary materials to finally proceed with the construction of His house.
"Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD." — God's command isn't just about rebuilding a structure; it’s a call to personal effort, urging them to actively go out and gather the materials themselves. This emphasizes that true worship requires m…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026