Haggai 2:13

13 Then Haggai said, "If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?" The Kohanim answered, "It will be unclean."

Haggai 2:13 Meaning and Commentary

Haggai 2:13

Then said Haggai
To the priests; having nothing to object to their answer; but being satisfied with it, he puts another question: if [one that is] unclean by a dead body;
by the touch of it, ( Numbers 19:11 ) : touch any of these, shall it be unclean?
that is, if such an impure person, who was so in a ceremonial sense, should touch any of the above things, bread, pottage, wine, or oil, or any meat, would not they become unclean thereby, and so not fit for use? and the priests answered and said, it shall be unclean;
which was rightly answered; for whatsoever such an unclean person touched was unclean, according to the law, ( Leviticus 19:22 ) . Pollution is more easily and more extensively conveyed than holiness.

Haggai 2:13 In-Context

11 "Thus says the LORD of Hosts: Ask now the Kohanim concerning the law, saying,

12 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?'" The Kohanim answered, "No."

13 Then Haggai said, "If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, will it be unclean?" The Kohanim answered, "It will be unclean."

14 Then Haggai answered, "'So is this people, and so is this nation before me,' says the LORD; 'and so is every work of their hands. That which they offer there is unclean.

15 Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid on a stone in the temple of the LORD.