Book of Haggai is also the name of a person, Haggai.

With the Babylonian exile in the past, and a newly returned group of Jews back in the land, the work of rebuilding the temple can begin. However, sixteen years after the process had begun, the people have yet to finish the project, for their personal affairs have interfered with God's business. Haggai preaches a fiery series of sermonettes designed to stir up the nation to finish the temple. He calls the builders to renewed courage in the Lord, renewed holiness of life, and reneweed faith in God who controls the future.

The etymology and meaning of Haggay is uncertain, but it is probably derived from the Hebrew word hag, "festival." It may also be an abbreviated form of haggiah, "festival of Yahweh." Thus, Haggai's name means "Festal" or "Festive," possibly because he was born on the day of a major feast, such as Tabernacles (Haggai's second message takes place during that feast, Haggai 2:1). The title in the Septuagint is Aggaios and in the Vulgate it is Aggaeus.