Haggai 2:13

13 Haggai said, "If an unclean person touches any of these things, will it become unclean?" And the priests responded, "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 This is what the LORD of heavenly forces says: Go ahead and ask the priests for a ruling:

12 "If someone lifts holy meat into the hem of one's garment and that hem touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any kind of food, will it be made holy?" And the priests responded, "No."

13 Haggai said, "If an unclean person touches any of these things, will it become unclean?" And the priests responded, "It will be unclean."

14 Then Haggai responded: Thus has this people and this nation become to me, says the LORD, and everything that they do with their hands. Whatever they offer is unclean.

15 So now, take it to heart from this day forward. Before stone was placed on stone in the LORD's temple,