What Does Haggai 1:12 Mean in the King James?
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word rendered “obeyed” is also the word for “hear,” showing hearing as the moment a voice becomes response.
THE MEANING
The LORD’s voice reaches you through a word carried by one who is sent, and hearing takes shape as response. Leaders and the remnant share that response, with awe before the LORD marking the moment.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that hearing is passive exposure: here, hearing includes a response.
THE ROOT
שָׁמַע
shamaʿ
GROWS FROM
שׁמע
To hear, listen, heed, or obey.
“obeyed” in this verse is shamaʿ. The same Hebrew verb can mean “hear” and “obey,” joining attention to response. In this verse, the voice is not merely received as sound; hearing it takes form in the people’s response.
ALSO GROWS
shema: Hear; listen and respond.
שְׁמַע
The familiar call “Shema” carries the same root, making hearing an active reception.
shemuʿah: A report or something heard.
שְׁמוּעָה
This branch shows what arrives at the ear; Haggai’s verse shows hearing carried through into response.
שָׁלַח
shalach
GROWS FROM
שלח
To send forth or release.
“sent” in this verse is shalach. Haggai’s word comes through someone the LORD sends. The root holds sending together with release: the message is set in motion, then received by the people.
ALSO GROWS
shaliach: A messenger or sent representative.
שָׁלִיחַ
The messenger’s role is contained in the act of being sent, as Haggai is here.
Shiloach: Sent forth; the name of the waters of Shiloah.
שִׁלֹחַ
This branch preserves the root’s sense of something sent outward, echoing the word released through the prophet.
יָרֵא
yareʾ
GROWS FROM
ירא
To fear or stand in awe.
“did fear” in this verse is yareʾ. The verse says the people fear before the LORD; here the word carries awe in the presence of God. Their response to the voice ends in a changed posture before the One who sent it.
ALSO GROWS
yirʾah: Awe, reverence, or fear.
יִרְאָה
This noun names the posture the people take before the LORD.
noraʾ: Awe-inspiring or dreadful.
נוֹרָא
This related form describes what evokes awe, illuminating the people’s response before the LORD.
THE PATTERN
A word is heard fully when hearing becomes response.
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.THE THREAD
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:Exodus uses the same root, שׁמע (shamaʿ, hear and respond), for “obey,” pairing it with “my voice.” Haggai makes that movement visible: the LORD’s voice and the sent word are heard, and the people respond.
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