While the verse is often read as a prediction of Christ, the original Hebrew points to a slightly different, yet equally powerful, fulfillment: the "desire of all nations" refers not just to a singular person, but to the most valuable treasures and offerings of every nation coming into the temple. This means the glory of God's house would be built not just with stone, but with the literal riches and accumulated "best" of all peoples, demonstrating their devotion to Him.
And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people of Judah are discouraged because the new Temple they're building seems insignificant compared to Solomon's magnificent original Temple. God, through the prophet Haggai, responds by promising that the glory of this "latter house" will ultimately surpass the first. This verse is God's declaration that He will shake the nations, leading them to bring their treasures, and that He Himself will fill the Temple with His glorious presence.
God promises to 'shake all nations'—but this isn't chaos without purpose. What does this shaking bring, and how does it relate to His house?
The prophecy begins with a divine upheaval: "And I will shake all nations." This isn't random destruction, but a powerful, purposeful stirring that reshapes the world. It's the cosmic prelude to filling God's house with glory.
Global Transformation
This 'shaking' refers to significant shifts in world powers and human history. Empires rise and fall, political landscapes change, and cultures are impacted. The commentators suggest this points to major historical upheavals, like the conquests and the spread of empires leading up to the time of Christ.
The Influx of "Desire"
The crucial part is what follows: "and the desire of all nations shall come." This phrase has been debated, but the strongest interpretation, supported by the context and grammar, is that it refers to the valuable, precious things—the 'treasures'—of these nations. It signifies that people and their wealth, their most valued possessions, will ultimately flow into God's house.
This doesn't mean the nations themselves become the treasure, but rather that their resources and perhaps even their people, transformed by faith, will contribute to the glory of God's dwelling place.
The promise is to fill the house with 'glory.' What kind of glory surpasses even Solomon's magnificent temple?
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The ultimate promise is breathtaking: "and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts." This glory is not merely material splendor but a divine presence that eclipses all previous manifestations.
More Than Gold and Silver
While the previous verse speaks of treasures coming in, this verse speaks of glory filling the house. The commentators emphasize that this glory is far superior to the material riches of Solomon's temple. It's a spiritual and divine glory.
The Presence of the Messiah
The profound understanding is that this unparalleled glory is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate 'Desire of all nations'—the one whom people, consciously or unconsciously, long for. His presence in the Second Temple, even in its less magnificent state compared to Solomon's, represented a greater glory than all the gold and silver combined.
His advent brought divine wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, filling the temple and ultimately the church (believers) with His magnificent presence and the Holy Spirit.
Understand the original words
kabod · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the manifestation of God’s presence, splendor, majesty, and moral character. In the temple context, it signifies the indwelling presence of God among His people.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew term denotes completeness, wholeness, welfare, and relational harmony. In a biblical context, it is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of God-given well-being and reconciliation.
This prophecy looks beyond the immediate rebuilding of the Temple to a future glory that surpasses Solomon's Temple, pointing to the coming of the Messiah and the gathering of people from all nations as the ultimate fulfillment.
c. 538 BC
First Return from Exile
Following Cyrus the Great's decree, many Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, marking the initial phase of post-exilic restoration.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The Second Temple was completed and dedicated, but it was a modest structure compared to Solomon's magnificent original Temple, leading to lamentations from older generations.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Return to Jerusalem
Ezra the scribe returned to Jerusalem with a large group, focusing on religious reform and the strict adherence to the Law.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah's Return to Jerusalem
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, returned to Jerusalem to oversee the rebuilding of the city walls, facing significant opposition.
c. 520 BC— this verse
Haggai and Zechariah Preach
Haggai and Zechariah prophesied during the reign of Darius I, urging the returned exiles to resume the rebuilding of the Temple after a period of neglect.
c. 330s BC
Alexander the Great's Conquests
Alexander's sweeping conquests led to the fall of the Persian Empire and the Hellenistic period, dramatically reshaping the political landscape of the ancient Near East.
c. 63 BC - AD 14
Reign of Augustus Caesar
The Roman Empire was consolidated under Augustus, a period of relative peace ('Pax Romana') that facilitated the spread of the Gospel, and during which significant political and social 'shaking' occurred leading up to Christ's birth.
This passage echoes Haggai's prophecy by speaking of wealth and treasures from nations flowing to Israel, highlighting a theme of global acknowledgment and contribution to God's people and presence.
Zechariah 14:14Similar to Haggai's vision of nations brought into God's presence, Zechariah speaks of nations dwelling in Jerusalem, suggesting a fulfillment where the 'treasures' and 'glory' are not just material but people themselves coming to worship.
Luke 21:24Jesus quotes and applies the 'shaking of nations' concept to the impending destruction of Jerusalem, showing how divine judgment and upheaval often precede a new era or the fulfillment of God's purposes.
Acts 10:34-35Peter's declaration that God shows no favoritism and that in every nation the one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable, provides a theological lens for understanding how the 'treasures of all nations' could come into God's house – through people from all backgrounds.
Revelation 21:24-26This passage vividly describes the New Jerusalem where the nations walk in its light and bring their glory and honor into it, representing a final, ultimate fulfillment of the idea that the wealth and glory of all peoples will be part of God's dwelling place.
clarkeHaggai 2:7: "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts."
And the Desire of all nations shall come - The present Hebrew text is as follows: ובאו חמדת כל הגוים. This is a difficult place if understood of a person: but חמדת chemdath, desire, cannot well agree with באו bau, they shall come. It is true that some learned men suppose that חמדות chemdoth, desirable things, may have been the original reading:…
cambridgeHaggai 2:7: "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts."
7 . I will shake all nations ] “There was a general shaking upon earth before our Lord came. Empires rose and fell. The Persian fell before Alexander’s; Alexander’s world-empire was ended by his sudden death in youth; of his four successors two only continued, and they, too, fell before the Romans; then were the Roman civil wars, until under Augus…
While the verse is often read as a prediction of Christ, the original Hebrew points to a slightly different, yet equally powerful, fulfillment: the "desire of all nations" refers not just to a singular person, but to the most valuable treasures and offerings of every nation coming into the temple. This means the glory of God's house would be built not just with stone, but with the literal riches and accumulated "best" of all peoples, demonstrating their devotion to Him.
The people of Judah are discouraged because the new Temple they're building seems insignificant compared to Solomon's magnificent original Temple. God, through the prophet Haggai, responds by promising that the glory of this "latter house" will ultimately surpass the first. This verse is God's declaration that He will shake the nations, leading them to bring their treasures, and that He Himself will fill the Temple with His glorious presence.
The people of Judah are discouraged because the new Temple they're building seems insignificant compared to Solomon's magnificent original Temple. God, through the prophet Haggai, responds by promising that the glory of this "latter house" will ultimately surpass the first. This verse is God's declaration that He will shake the nations, leading them to bring their treasures, and that He Himself will fill the Temple with His glorious presence.
"And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this…" — While the verse is often read as a prediction of Christ, the original Hebrew points to a slightly different, yet equally powerful, fulfillment: the "desire of all nations" refers not just to a singul…
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Last reviewed October 2026
