‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The question "Is it not as nothing in your eyes?" isn't just about the building's diminished appearance, but a challenge to their entire perspective, implying their current low view overlooks God's potential presence and future glory within it. This subtle phrasing highlights how easily our own standards and comparisons can blind us to God's purposes, even when His work is just beginning.
‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Haggai has just urged the people to return to rebuilding the Temple, and now he directly addresses their potential discouragement. He asks if any among them still remember the breathtaking glory of Solomon's original Temple, pointing out that the current structure, even in its early stages, seems insignificant by comparison. This poignant contrast highlights the deep sense of loss and disillusionment the returned exiles felt as they looked at the humble beginnings of their new house of worship.
Imagine seeing your childhood home after decades of neglect. Now imagine it was once a palace. How would you feel seeing it now?
The prophet Haggai asks a poignant question: 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory?' He's talking about the magnificent Temple built by Solomon, a wonder of its time, adorned with gold and precious stones. For the older generation, the new Temple being rebuilt after exile was a heartbreaking comparison. It was a shadow of its former self, lacking the dazzling splendor they remembered.
A Faded Grandeur
What if God sees immense value in something you consider worthless?
The sting of Haggai's question comes from the stark contrast between human memory and God's perspective. The elders saw the new Temple as 'nothing' compared to the first. Their eyes were fixed on the missing gold, the reduced scale, the lack of certain sacred symbols like the Ark.
Ask a follow-up
A Different Measure
What if the true glory of a place isn't in its past, but in its future potential?
The elders' lament over the second Temple's inferiority was valid in terms of its physical splendor compared to Solomon's. However, Haggai points towards a future glory that would far surpass the first Temple's magnificence.
A Greater Presence
This promise shifts the focus from what was lost to what was to come, encouraging the people to press on, knowing God's ultimate plan was far grander than their current disappointment.
Understand the original words
kabod · Hebrew Noun
The glory of God refers to the manifestation of His divine presence, majesty, and holiness, often associated with His dwelling place among His people.
Haggai's question taps into a deep sense of loss felt by many older Jews who remembered the breathtaking splendor of Solomon's original Temple. The Second Temple, though a place of worship, was physically far less grand, leading to discouragement. This verse highlights the challenge of maintaining faith and zeal when current realities don't match past glories or future promises.
c. 587-586 BC
Destruction of Solomon's Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II destroy Jerusalem and Solomon's magnificent Temple, ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah and initiating the Babylonian exile.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, opening the way for the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem.
c. 537 BC
First Return of Exiles
Under the decree of Cyrus, a large group of Jewish exiles returns to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding their city and the Temple. Many older people would remember the glory of Solomon's Temple.
c. 535 BC
Foundation of the Second Temple Laid
The foundation for the Second Temple is laid by the returning exiles. However, opposition and the immense task lead to a long halt in construction.
c. 520 BC— this verse
Haggai's Ministry Begins
The prophet Haggai begins to deliver messages from God to encourage the people and leaders, Zerubbabel and Joshua, to resume the work on the Temple.
c. 516 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
After years of interruption and renewed effort spurred by prophets like Haggai and Zechariah, the Second Temple is finally completed and dedicated.
This passage describes the elders who had seen Solomon's first temple weeping when they saw the foundations of the second temple, highlighting the stark contrast in glory that Haggai addresses.
Ezekiel 40:1-4Ezekiel receives a detailed vision of a future temple; while Haggai's audience mourns the inferiority of their current building, God's future plans for His dwelling place are being laid out in prophetic vision.
Isaiah 40:3-5This prophecy speaks of preparing the way for the Lord, a theme that resonates with the rebuilding of the temple, which ultimately points to the coming of Christ who would fill the 'later house' with greater glory.
John 2:19-21Jesus refers to his own body as the temple, pointing to a future and greater fulfillment of God's presence than even the magnificent first temple, which addresses the inferiority Haggai's audience felt.
1 Corinthians 3:16This verse reveals that believers themselves are now the temple of God's Spirit, showing how God's dwelling place finds its ultimate and most glorious expression not in bricks and mortar, but in His people.
barnesHaggai 2:3: "Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?"
Who is left among you? - The question implies that there were those among them, who had seen the first house in its glory, yet but few. When the foundations of the first temple were laid, there were many Ezra 3:12 . "Many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundations of…
clarkeHaggai 2:3: "Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?"
Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? - Who of you has seen the temple built by Solomon? The foundation of the present house had been laid about fifty-three years after the destruction of the temple built by Solomon and though this prophecy was uttered fifteen years after the foundation of this second temple, yet the…
The question "Is it not as nothing in your eyes?" isn't just about the building's diminished appearance, but a challenge to their entire perspective, implying their current low view overlooks God's potential presence and future glory within it. This subtle phrasing highlights how easily our own standards and comparisons can blind us to God's purposes, even when His work is just beginning.
The prophet Haggai has just urged the people to return to rebuilding the Temple, and now he directly addresses their potential discouragement. He asks if any among them still remember the breathtaking glory of Solomon's original Temple, pointing out that the current structure, even in its early stages, seems insignificant by comparison. This poignant contrast highlights the deep sense of loss and disillusionment the returned exiles felt as they looked at the humble beginnings of their new house of worship.
The prophet Haggai has just urged the people to return to rebuilding the Temple, and now he directly addresses their potential discouragement. He asks if any among them still remember the breathtaking glory of Solomon's original Temple, pointing out that the current structure, even in its early stages, seems insignificant by comparison. This poignant contrast highlights the deep sense of loss and disillusionment the returned exiles felt as they looked at the humble beginnings of their new house of worship.
"‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?" — The question "Is it not as nothing in your eyes?" isn't just about the building's diminished appearance, but a challenge to their entire perspective, implying their current low view overlooks God's p…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026