1. Haggai 1:14 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is the basic meaning of “to stir up”?

Haggai 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

To stir up means to wake up (Zechariah 4:1), to disturb (Deuteronomy 32:11), to move (Ezra 1:1, Ezra 1:5). The verb points to God's active role in prompting his people to respond to the message.