Haggai 2:12

If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’” “No,” replied the priests.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord commands Haggai to consult the priests on a matter of ritual law. Haggai poses the question to the priests immediately after receiving this divine instruction.

The words — The Hebrew term קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) means holiness or consecrated status, while נָגַע (naga) means to touch or make contact. These words establish the legal parameters of the priestly inquiry regarding transferred ritual status.

The thread — The text notes that contact with consecrated flesh sanctifies an object in Leviticus 6:27. It later addresses the priority of the altar over the gift in Matthew 23:19.

Why it lands — The text states that ritual defilement transfers through contact while ritual holiness does not. It asks readers to distinguish between ceremonial contamination and sanctification when evaluating their actions.

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

הֵ֣ן׀henthere!יִשָּׂא־yi.sa'-he will carry אִ֨ישׁ'ishsomeone בְּשַׂר־be.sar-flesh of קֹ֜דֶשׁKo.deshholiness בִּכְנַ֣ףbi/kh.Nafin/ [the] skirt of בִּגְד֗וֹbig.D/ogarment/ his וְנָגַ֣עve./na.Ga'and/ he will touch בִּ֠כְנָפוֹbi/kh.na.f/owith/ skirt/ his אֶל־'el-<to>הַלֶּ֨חֶםha./Le.chem<the>/ bread וְאֶל־ve./'el-and/ <to>הַנָּזִ֜ידha./na.Zid<the>/ cooked food וְאֶל־ve./'el-and/ <to>הַיַּ֧יִןhai./Ya.yin<the>/ wine וְאֶל־ve./'el-and/ <to>שֶׁ֛מֶןShe.menoil וְאֶל־ve./'el-and/ <to>כָּל־kol-every מַאֲכָ֖לma.'a.Khalfood הֲיִקְדָּ֑שׁha./yik.Dash¿/ will it become holy וַיַּעֲנ֧וּva/i.ya.'a.Nuand/ they answered הַכֹּהֲנִ֛יםha./ko.ha.Nimthe/ priests וַיֹּאמְר֖וּva/i.yo.me.Ruand/ they said לֹֽא׃Lo'no

King James Version

If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.

Cross-references

Leviticus 6:27 Anything that touches its flesh will become holy, and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, you must wash it in a holy place.
Matthew 23:19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?
Exodus 29:37 For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will become most holy; whatever touches the altar will be holy.
Leviticus 6:29 Any male among the priests may eat it; it is most holy.
Leviticus 7:6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It must be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy.
Ezekiel 44:19 When they go out to the outer court, to the people, they are to take off the garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothes so that they do not transmit holiness to the people with their garments.