Bible Strands
Haggai 1:5
Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD of Hosts addresses the returned exiles immediately after contrasting their comfortable paneled houses with the ruined temple (Haggai 1:4). He issues this command at the start of a prophetic message highlighting their economic frustration and misplaced priorities (Haggai 1:6).
The words — The imperative שִׂ֥ימוּ (Si.mu) means "set" or "place," and לְבַבְ/כֶ֖ם (le.vav./Khem) means "your heart." Together with עַל־ ('al-) = "on," the phrase literally commands the audience to "set on your heart" or give focused attention to their conduct.
The thread — The command to examine one's ways appears in Lamentations 3:40, which pairs self-examination with turning back to the LORD. It reappears in 2 Corinthians 13:5 as a directive to test oneself for genuine faith, and in Haggai 2:15 as a call to consider carefully from a specific turning point.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate self-assessment of one's actions and priorities in light of God's stated position. It requires the reader to align personal conduct with divine purpose rather than maintaining self-focused comfort.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
Cross-references
- Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?
- Haggai 2:15 Now consider carefully from this day forward: Before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD,
- Haggai 1:7 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways.
- Luke 15:17 Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I am, starving to death!
- Exodus 9:21 but those who disregarded the word of the LORD left their servants and livestock in the field.
- Galatians 6:4 Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.
- Exodus 7:23 Instead, Pharaoh turned around, went into his palace, and did not take any of this to heart.
- Psalms 48:13 consider her ramparts, tour her citadels, that you may tell the next generation.
- Ezekiel 40:4 “Son of man,” he said to me, “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything you see.”