Touch

God’s prohibits touch in certain circumstances

At Mount Sinai

Exodus 19:12–13 KJV 1900

And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

See also Heb 12:18–24

With the furnishings and articles of the tabernacle

Numbers 4:15 KJV 1900

And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

See also 2 Sa 6:6–7

The law concerning touching certain articles

Anyone or anything touching what is ritually unclean also becomes unclean

Numbers 19:21–22 KJV 1900

And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even. And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.

See also Le 5:2–3; Le 7:19–21; Le 11:8; Le 11:24–40; Le 12:4; Le 15:5–12; Le 15:19–27; Le 22:4–6; Nu 19:11–16 the law concerning dead bodies; Dt 14:8 Pigs are unclean; Is 52:11; Hag 2:10–14

Touching what is purified confers consecration

Ex 29:37; Ex 30:29; Le 6:18; Le 6:27

Man-made rules against touching certain things are condemned by Paul

Colossians 2:20–22 KJV 1900

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

The touch of God

Upon Jacob, to humble him

Ge 32:25; Ge 32:32

Upon those he calls to be prophets

Jeremiah 1:9 KJV 1900

Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

See also Is 6:7; Eze 2:8–3:4; Da 10:16

Upon the world he has made, to display his glory

Psalm 104:32 KJV 1900

He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: He toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

See also Ps 144:5; Am 9:5

The touch of Jesus Christ

To heal

Matthew 8:3 KJV 1900

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

See also Mt 9:29–30; Mt 20:34; Mk 7:33; Mk 8:22–25; Lk 22:51

To raise the dead

Mt 9:18–25 In touching the dead, Jesus Christ shows his willingness to become unclean so that others can be healed.

See also Lk 7:14

To bring reassurance and show acceptance

Mt 17:6–7; Mk 10:13

The touch of angels

1 Ki 19:5; 1 Ki 19:7; Da 8:18; Da 10:10; Da 10:18

The reality of Jesus Christ’s incarnation and resurrection is confirmed by touch

1 Jn 1:1; Jn 20:24–27

The figurative use of touch

To mean harming people

Ezekiel 9:6 KJV 1900

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

See also Ge 20:6; Jos 9:19; 1 Ch 16:22; Pr 6:29; Zec 2:8–9; Heb 11:28

To mean separation from sin

2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV 1900

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

See also Is 52:11