Haggai 2:13

KJV

Then said Haggai, If [one that is] unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then said {H559} Haggai {H2292}, If one that is unclean {H2931} by a dead body {H5315} touch {H5060} any of these, shall it be unclean {H2930}? And the priests {H3548} answered {H6030} and said {H559}, It shall be unclean {H2930}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then Hagai asked, "If someone who is unclean from having had contact with a corpse touches any of these [food items], will they become unclean?" The cohanim answered, "They become unclean."

Berean Standard Bible

So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

American Standard Version

Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Haggai 2:13 records a pivotal question posed by the prophet Haggai to the priests of Judah, inquiring about the transferability of ritual impurity, specifically that incurred by contact with a dead body. The priests' unequivocal affirmation, "It shall be unclean," establishes a foundational principle of Mosaic Law: defilement is contagious and spreads readily, contrasting sharply with the non-transferability of holiness discussed in the preceding verses. This legal ruling serves as a crucial object lesson for the post-exilic community, preparing them for Haggai's subsequent declaration regarding their own spiritual defilement due to their neglect of God's Temple.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of a series of three questions (Haggai 2:11-13) that the prophet Haggai poses to the priests, who are the authoritative interpreters of the Mosaic Law. In the immediately preceding verses [Haggai 2:11-12](/haggai/2-11-12 "Haggai 2:11-12 - Holiness Not Contagious"), Haggai established that holiness is not transferable by touch—a piece of holy meat in a garment does not make other things holy. Here, in [Haggai 2:13](/haggai/2-13 "Haggai 2:13 - Impurity Is Contagious"), he pivots to the opposite principle: impurity *is* transferable. This carefully constructed legal inquiry serves a didactic purpose, leading directly to the spiritual application in [Haggai 2:14](/haggai/2-14 "Haggai 2:14 - The Application of the Law to Judah"), where God declares the people and their works "unclean" due to their disobedience and neglect of the Temple.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Haggai is set in the second year of Darius I (520 BC), approximately 16 years after the first wave of Jewish exiles returned from Babylon under Zerubbabel and Joshua. While the foundation of the Second Temple had been laid, the work had ceased for years due to opposition and the people's preoccupation with their own affairs, as highlighted in [Haggai 1:4](/haggai/1-4 "Haggai 1:4 - People's Neglect of the Temple"). The questions posed to the priests draw upon well-understood principles of ritual purity and impurity from the Mosaic Law, particularly those found in books like Leviticus and Numbers. Contact with a dead body was considered one of the most severe forms of ritual defilement, requiring specific and often lengthy purification rituals (e.g., [Numbers 19](/numbers/19 "Numbers 19 - The Law of Purification")). The priests, as guardians and arbiters of these laws, were the proper authorities to confirm these legal truths, lending weight to Haggai's subsequent spiritual indictment.
* **Key Themes:** Haggai 2:13 powerfully contributes to several key themes in the book. Foremost is the **contagious nature of defilement**, contrasting sharply with the non-transferability of holiness. This illustrates a profound spiritual truth: while holiness requires intentional dedication and cannot be casually acquired, sin and impurity spread easily and corrupt effortlessly. The verse also underscores the **seriousness of sin and disobedience** in God's eyes, demonstrating how the people's spiritual neglect of the Temple had rendered them and their efforts "unclean" before Him. This defilement was not merely ceremonial but deeply spiritual, impacting their relationship with God and hindering His blessings (as detailed in [Haggai 2:15-19](/haggai/2-15-19 "Haggai 2:15-19 - God's Promise of Blessing")). The dialogue also highlights the **authority of the Mosaic Law** and the priests as its interpreters, validating the legal framework through which God communicated His standards of purity to His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **unclean (Hebrew, _ṭâmêʼ'_):** This word (H2931, H2930) is central to the verse, denoting a state of ritual impurity or defilement. It signifies being "foul" or "contaminated" in a ceremonial or moral sense, making one unfit for worship or participation in sacred activities. The priests' affirmation that something "shall be unclean" confirms its pervasive and corrupting nature.
* **dead body (Hebrew, _nephesh'_):** The term (H5315) literally refers to a "breathing creature" or "soul," but in this context, when paired with "unclean," it idiomatically signifies a corpse or a "dead person." Contact with a deceased human or animal was a significant source of ritual defilement under the Old Covenant, emphasizing the gravity of the impurity being discussed.
* **touch (Hebrew, _nâgaʻ'_):** This primitive root (H5060) means "to lay the hand upon" or "to reach." In the context of ritual law, it describes the physical contact that transmits impurity. The question hinges on the act of touching, highlighting that even indirect contact can lead to defilement, underscoring the pervasive nature of impurity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said Haggai":** This phrase introduces Haggai's role as God's messenger, initiating a direct inquiry to the priestly authorities. His question is not one of ignorance but a pedagogical device, designed to elicit a known legal truth.
* **"If [one that is] unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean?":** Haggai poses a hypothetical scenario based on a specific, well-understood law of ritual impurity. Contact with a "dead body" (a common and severe source of defilement) is the root cause of the initial uncleanness. The question then focuses on the contagiousness of this impurity: if an already defiled person touches something else, does that object also become unclean? This sets up the core principle Haggai wants to establish.
* **"And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.":** The priests, as the authoritative interpreters of the Mosaic Law, provide an immediate and unequivocal answer. Their declaration confirms the legal principle that impurity, particularly from a dead body, is indeed transferable and contaminates whatever it touches. This authoritative response validates the premise for Haggai's subsequent spiritual application.

#### Literary Devices
Haggai 2:13 employs several literary devices to convey its message. The primary device is a **Rhetorical Question**, where Haggai asks the priests a question to which the answer is already known and legally established. This is not a query for information but a pedagogical tool, designed to elicit an authoritative confirmation of a legal principle that will then be applied to a spiritual reality. The verse also functions as a **Legal Analogy** or **Parable**, using a clear and undeniable principle from ritual law (the contagiousness of defilement) to illustrate a profound spiritual truth (the contagiousness of sin and disobedience). By contrasting this principle with the non-transferability of holiness from the previous verses, Haggai creates a powerful **Contrast** that underscores the ease with which one becomes defiled versus the difficulty of achieving and maintaining purity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Haggai 2:13 serves as a foundational theological statement about the nature of defilement and its pervasive power. It teaches that impurity, particularly sin, is not a passive state but an active, corrupting force that spreads. Unlike holiness, which requires intentional sanctification and is not automatically transferred, defilement readily contaminates whatever it touches. This principle highlights God's absolute holiness and His demand for purity from His people. The people's neglect of the Temple and their self-centered pursuits had rendered them spiritually "unclean" in God's sight, impacting their work, their land, and their blessings. This Old Testament legal principle foreshadows the pervasive nature of sin and its corrupting influence on individuals, communities, and even creation itself, underscoring humanity's desperate need for a radical, external source of cleansing.

* [Numbers 19:11-13](/numbers/19-11-13 "Law of Defilement by Dead Body")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "The Wages of Sin")
* [1 Corinthians 5:6](/1_corinthians/5-6 "A Little Leaven")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Haggai's lesson on ritual purity holds profound and enduring spiritual implications for believers today. Just as physical defilement spreads, so too does spiritual defilement—sin. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the insidious and pervasive nature of sin. A single act of disobedience, a compromise with the world, or a neglect of our spiritual duties can have far-reaching contaminating effects, not only on our own hearts but also on our relationships, our families, our churches, and our communities. We are called to be vigilant, recognizing that God is holy and demands holiness from His people. This means actively pursuing purity, confessing sin, and guarding against the subtle ways defilement can enter our lives. It compels us to examine our priorities, ensuring that our devotion to God and His purposes outweighs our personal comforts and ambitions, lest our "works" become unclean in His sight.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be neglecting God's priorities, and how might this be making my "works" or efforts "unclean" in His sight?**
* **How does the contagious nature of impurity in Haggai 2:13 help me understand the pervasive power of sin in my own life and in the world around me?**
* **What practical steps can I take to guard against spiritual defilement and actively pursue holiness in my daily walk?**
* **How does this passage deepen my appreciation for the radical cleansing power of Christ, which goes beyond ritual purity to address the root of sin?**

### FAQ
**Why did Haggai ask the priests this question, if the answer was already known?**

Answer: Haggai asked the priests this question not because he was ignorant of the law, but to use their authoritative answer as a pedagogical tool. As the official interpreters of the Mosaic Law, their confirmation of the principle of contagious impurity lent undeniable weight to the spiritual application Haggai was about to make. By having the priests declare "It shall be unclean," Haggai prepared the ground for God's subsequent declaration in [Haggai 2:14](/haggai/2-14 "Haggai 2:14 - The Application of the Law"), where He states that the people and all their work are unclean because of their spiritual defilement, specifically their neglect of the Temple. It was a brilliant rhetorical strategy to establish a legal premise before delivering a spiritual indictment.

**What was the specific significance of "unclean by a dead body" in this context?**

Answer: Contact with a "dead body" was one of the most severe forms of ritual impurity under the Mosaic Law, as detailed in passages like [Numbers 19](/numbers/19 "Numbers 19 - The Law of Purification"). It rendered a person profoundly defiled, requiring a seven-day purification process involving the ashes of a red heifer. By choosing this specific, potent example of defilement, Haggai emphasized the gravity and pervasive nature of impurity. It highlighted that even a seemingly minor contact could lead to significant and widespread contamination, thus underscoring the seriousness of the spiritual defilement that had overtaken the people of Judah due to their disobedience and misplaced priorities.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Haggai 2:13, with its stark declaration of the contagious nature of impurity, powerfully sets the stage for the ultimate fulfillment found in Jesus Christ. Under the Old Covenant, defilement was a constant threat, spreading easily and separating people from God's holy presence. The law exposed humanity's inability to achieve true and lasting purity on its own, for even the most meticulous adherence could not prevent the spread of sin's corruption. However, Jesus Christ reverses this principle entirely. He is the Holy One who, rather than becoming defiled by touching the unclean, makes the unclean clean. We see this revolutionary power in His ministry, such as when He touched a leper and instantly healed him, rather than becoming ritually defiled himself ([Mark 1:40-42](/mark/1-40-42 "Mark 1:40-42 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper"); [Matthew 8:1-3](/matthew/8-1-3 "Matthew 8:1-3 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper")). His purity is not merely non-transferable but actively transformative. Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ became the ultimate sacrifice, cleansing us from all sin and defilement. His blood purifies our consciences from dead works to serve the living God ([Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13-14 "Hebrews 9:13-14 - The Superior Sacrifice of Christ")), making us truly clean and fit for God's presence. Unlike the temporary and limited purifications of the Old Covenant, the cleansing offered by Christ is complete, eternal, and available to all who believe, for the blood of Jesus, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 19:11

¶ He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.

Numbers 19:22

And whatsoever the unclean [person] toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth [it] shall be unclean until even.

Leviticus 22:4

What man soever of the seed of Aaron [is] a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing [that is] unclean [by] the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;

Leviticus 22:6

The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water.

Numbers 9:6

And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:

Numbers 9:10

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or [be] in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.

Numbers 5:2

Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: