Keraia
Haggai 2

Haggai 2:23

Zerubbabel the LORD’s Signet Ring · Haggai 2:20–23
Read Haggai 2

Translations

Modern
On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Hosts.”
Traditional
In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts.
Literal
On that day, a declaration of YHWH of Hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, My servant, a declaration of YHWH, and will set you as a signet ring, for I have chosen you, a declaration of YHWH of Hosts.”
Latin
In die illa, dicit Dominus exercituum, assumam te, Zorobabel, fili Salathiel, serve meus, dicit Dominus: et ponam te quasi signaculum, quia te elegi, dicit Dominus exercituum.

Original

Hebrew
English
On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will take you, My servant, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and I will make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of Hosts.”

Notes

Haggai 2:23

The signet ring was a symbol of kingship. It was a finger ring made of gold or silver with an engraved stone. People used it to seal or approve official documents.

This image shows the divine authority that God gave to Zerubbabel. It assured God’s people that the Lord was still involved in political life, even after the failures of the kings of Judah.

Calling Zerubbabel the Lord’s signet likely renewed hope for the Messiah (God's chosen leader), since Zerubbabel was a descendant of King David. However, this promise ultimately points beyond Zerubbabel (see study note on Haggai 2:21). It points to one of his descendants, the Messiah, who would come later (see Matthew 1:12; Luke 1:32–33; 3:27).

Haggai 2:20–23

Haggai's final message is perhaps the most important. It focuses on the importance of David's descendant in Israel's religious and political life. After the Babylonian exile, the family line of David, in which kings came from the same family, was essential to Israel’s hope of restoration (see Jeremiah 23:5; Ezekiel 37:24).

God had cursed David's descendant, King Jehoiachin, during the exile in Babylon (Jeremiah 22:24–30), but Haggai's last message lifts that curse. It restores the covenant with David (see 2 Samuel 7:4–17) as the way God will fulfill his promises to bless and restore Israel.

Events

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God Shealtiel: Grandfather of Zerubbabel, descendant of David Zerubbabel: Leader of the first Jewish exiles from Babylon

Glossary

Haggai, Book of Jehoiachin Postexilic Period Seal Servant of the Lord Zechariah, Book of Zerubbabel

Topics

Election: Zerubbabel God: Love of, Exemplified Predestination: Zerubbabel Seals: What is Dear or Valued Shealtiel: Father of Zerubbabel and an Ancestor of Jesus