Old Testament
Haggai 2:12
The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English
At a Glance
In Haggai 2:12, the prophet poses a question to the priests about the nature of holiness.
- Author
- Haggai the prophet
- Written
- Around 520 BC
- Genre
- Prophecy
- Original Audience
- Post-exilic Jews rebuilding the temple
If someone is carrying holy meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that food become holy?" The priests answered, "No."
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.
Verse Analysis
Plain-English insight for readers
In Haggai 2:12, the prophet poses a question to the priests about the nature of holiness. He asks if carrying holy meat in a garment can transfer holiness to other foods it touches. The priests respond negatively, indicating that holiness does not spread in this way. This illustrates a key principle in the Jewish understanding of holiness: it is not contagious. Just because something holy comes into contact with something ordinary does not mean that the ordinary item becomes holy. This reflects the idea that holiness is a state that must be intentionally pursued and cannot be transferred passively. The context of this passage emphasizes the importance of personal purity and the need for individuals to actively seek holiness rather than relying on external factors to make them holy.
Related Bible verses
How to apply Haggai 2:12 to your life
This verse reminds us that holiness is not automatically transferred through association. We must actively pursue a relationship with God and strive for personal purity. It encourages us to reflect on our own lives and the intentional steps we take to grow spiritually, rather than relying on external influences.
Curated for this public verse page. Haggai Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, clear answers about this verse
What does Haggai 2:12 mean?
Haggai 2:12 questions whether carrying holy meat can make other foods holy if they touch it. The priests answer no, indicating that holiness does not transfer through contact, emphasizing that holiness is a personal state that must be actively pursued.
What is the significance of holiness in Haggai 2:12?
The significance of holiness in Haggai 2:12 is that it illustrates the principle that holiness cannot be transferred passively. It highlights the importance of individual effort in seeking purity and a relationship with God.
How does Haggai 2:12 relate to personal purity?
Haggai 2:12 relates to personal purity by teaching that individuals must actively seek holiness rather than relying on external factors. It encourages self-reflection on one's spiritual growth and intentionality in pursuing a relationship with God.
What do the priests' response in Haggai 2:12 indicate?
The priests' response in Haggai 2:12 indicates that they understood holiness as a deliberate state rather than something that could be transferred through physical contact. This reinforces the idea that personal commitment to holiness is essential.
The Book of Haggai
Haggai 1: Command to Build the LORD's House
In the second year of Darius the king, the word of the LORD comes through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest. The LORD says that the people claim the time has not come to build His house, yet they live in finished houses while His house lies waste. He tells them to consider their ways. They sow much but harvest little, eat but are not satisfied, drink but are not filled, clothe themselves but are not warm, and earn wages that disappear quickly. The LORD commands them to go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house so that He may take pleasure in it. He explains that because His house remains in ruins, He withholds dew and calls for drought on the land, crops, livestock, and all their labor.
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