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Haggai 2:11

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Ask the priests for a ruling:

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Zechariah, book of;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Consecrate;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Haggai;   Priest;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Haggai;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Zerubbabel;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Haggai ;   Zerubbabel ;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Haggai;   Joshua (3);   Priests and Levites;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Exodus, Book of;   Nomism;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“This is what the Lord of Armies says: Ask the priests for a ruling.
Hebrew Names Version
"Thus says the LORD of Hosts: Ask now the Kohanim concerning the law, saying,
King James Version (1611)
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Aske now the priests concerning the law, saying,
King James Version
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
English Standard Version
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law:
New American Standard Bible
"The LORD of armies says this: 'Now ask the priests for a ruling:
New Century Version
"This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: ‘Ask the priests for a teaching.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thus sayth the Lord of hostes, Aske nowe the Priests concerning the Law, and say,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Ask now the priests for a ruling:
Legacy Standard Bible
"Thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Ask now the priests about the law:
Berean Standard Bible
"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Ask the priests for a ruling.
Contemporary English Version
to ask the priests for their opinion on the following matter:
Complete Jewish Bible
"Here is what Adonai -Tzva'ot says: ‘Ask the cohanim what the Torah says about this:
Darby Translation
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Ask now the priests [concerning] the law, saying,
Easy-to-Read Version
"The Lord All-Powerful commands you to ask the priests what the law says about these things:
George Lamsa Translation
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
Good News Translation
He said, "Ask the priests for a ruling on this question:
Lexham English Bible
"Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling:
Literal Translation
So says Jehovah of Hosts: Now ask the priests the Law, saying,
American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
Bible in Basic English
These are the words of the Lord of armies: Put now a point of law to the priests, saying,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
'Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Ask now the priests for instruction, saying:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thus sayth the Lord God of hoastes, Aske nowe ye priestes [concernyng] the lawe, saying:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
On the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Aggaeus the prophet, saying,
English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
World English Bible
"Thus says Yahweh of Hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Axe thou preestis the lawe, and seie thou,
Update Bible Version
Thus says Yahweh of hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Ask now the priests [concerning] the law, saying,
New English Translation
"The Lord who rules over all says, ‘Ask the priests about the law.
New King James Version
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying,
New Living Translation
"This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says. Ask the priests this question about the law:
New Life Bible
"The Lord of All says, ‘Ask the religious leaders to decide about this:
New Revised Standard
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests for a ruling:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, - I pray you, ask the priests a direction, saying:
Douay-Rheims Bible
(2-12) Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests the law, saying:
Revised Standard Version
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests to decide this question,
Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: `Ask, I pray thee, the priests [of] the law, saying:
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thus saieth ye LORDE God of hoostes: Axe the prestes concernynge the lawe, & saye:

Contextual Overview

10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (Dec 18, 520 B.C.), in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying, 11"Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Ask the priests for a ruling:12'If a man carries meat that is holy [because it has been offered in sacrifice to God] in the fold of his garment, and he touches bread, or cooked food, or wine, or oil, or any [kind of] food with this fold, does what he touches become holy [dedicated exclusively to God's service]?'" And the priests answered, "No!" [Holiness is not transferrable.] 13Then Haggai said, "If one who is [ceremonially] unclean because of [contact with] a corpse touches any of these [articles of food], will it be unclean?" And the priests answered, "It will be unclean." [Ceremonial uncleanness, like sin, is infectious.] 14Then Haggai answered, "'So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,' declares the LORD, 'and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there [on the altar] is unclean [because they who offer it are unclean]. 15'But now, do consider [what will happen] from this day forward: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD, 16from that time when one came to a grain heap expecting twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures, there would be only twenty. 17'I struck you and the work of your hands with scorching wind, mildew, and hail; yet you did not come back to Me,' declares the LORD. 18'Do consider from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, consider: 19Is the seed still in the barn? As to the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree—they have not produced. Yet from this day on I will bless you [in the harvest of your crops].'"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Leviticus 10:10, Leviticus 10:11, Deuteronomy 33:10, Ezekiel 44:23, Ezekiel 44:24, Malachi 2:7, Titus 1:9

Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:3 - shall look Deuteronomy 17:8 - arise Deuteronomy 17:9 - the priests Ezekiel 22:26 - put no Zechariah 7:3 - speak

Cross-References

Genesis 10:7
the sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah; Sheba and Dedan.
Genesis 10:29
and Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan.
Genesis 25:18
Ishmael's sons (descendants) settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria; he settled opposite (east) of all his relatives.
1 Samuel 15:7
Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thus saith the Lord of hosts,.... To Haggai the prophet:

ask now the priests [concerning] the law; whose business it was to understand it, and teach it, and to answer questions, and resolve doubts concerning it; not of their own heads, and according to their fancies, will, and pleasure; but according to the rules and instructions given in the word of God: and as this was their office, they were the proper persons to apply to; and Haggai, though a prophet, is sent to the priests to propose questions to them; though it may be not so much for his own information, as for the conviction of the priests of their impurity, out of their own mouths, and of the people by them:

saying; putting the following questions to them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ask now the priests concerning the law - The priests answer rightly, that, by the law, insulated unholiness spread further than insulated holiness. The flesh of the sacrifice hallowed whatever it should touch, but not further; but the human being, who was defiled by touching a dead body, defiled all he might touch Numbers 19:22. Haggai does not apply the first part; namely, that the worship on the altar which they reared, while they neglected the building of the temple, did not hallow. The possession of a truly tiring does not counterbalance disobedience. Contrariwise, one defilement defiled the whole man and all which he touched, according to that James 2:10, “whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

In the application, the two melt into one, for the holy thing, namely, the altar which they raised out of fear on their return, so far from hallowing the land or people by the sacrifices offered thereon, was itself defiled. “This people” and “this nation” (not “My people”) since they in act disowned Him. “Whatever they offer there,” i. e., on that altar, instead of the temple which God commanded, is unclean, offending Him who gave all.


 
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