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Thursday, July 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Haggai 2:11

to ask the priests for their opinion on the following matter:

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

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, the Lord God All-Powerful told the prophet Haggai 11 to ask the priests for their opinion on the following matter: 12 Suppose meat ready to be sacrificed to God is being carried in the folds of someone's clothing, and the clothing rubs against some bread or stew or wine or olive oil or any other food. Would those foods that were touched then become acceptable for sacrifice? "Of course not," the priests answered. 13 Then Haggai said, "Suppose someone has touched a dead body and is considered unacceptable to worship God. If that person touches these foods, would they become unclean?" "Of course they would," the priests answered. 14 So the Lord told Haggai to say: That's how it is with this entire nation. Everything you do and every sacrifice you offer is unacceptable to me. 15 But from now on, things will get better. Before you started laying the foundation for the temple, 16 you recalled what life was like in the past. When you wanted twenty bushels of wheat, there were only ten, and when you wanted fifty jars of wine, there were only twenty. 17 I made all of your hard work useless by sending mildew, mold, and hail—but you still did not return to me, your Lord . 18 Today you have completed the foundation for my temple, so listen to what your future will be like. 19 Although you have not yet harvested any grain, grapes, figs, pomegranates, or olives, I will richly bless you in the days ahead.

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

1 Samuel 15:7
and Saul attacked the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, which is just 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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