Desire of All Nations

"The desire of all nations" is a messianic phrase from Haggai 2:7, where the prophet promises that God will shake the nations and the desire (or treasures) of all nations will come to fill the second temple with glory surpassing the first. The Hebrew chemdah (desire, treasure, delight) has been interpreted in two ways: (1.) as the precious things or tribute of the nations flowing into Jerusalem (as in Isaiah 60:5–7), giving the verse an economic and political sense; or (2.) messianically, as the one yearned for by all peoples — identifying the promised one with Christ, whose coming to the second temple in his incarnation fulfilled the prophecy's deeper intent. The Vulgate's rendering desideratus cunctis gentibus (the Desired of All Nations) gave rise to the messianic interpretation prominent in Christian hymnody and devotion.