74 Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer critical appraisal of the clergy as attested in Lamentations whilst remaining unaware of the alternative, more favourable appraisal in Ezekiel. University of Aberdeen Lena-Sofia TIEMEYER School of Divinity – King’s College Aberdeen AB24 3FX – UK SUMMARY This article compares Lam 4,14; Ezek 44,19 and Hag 2,12-13 with regard to the transference of impurity and holiness via indirect touch. Lam 4,14 forms an apt parallel to Hag 2,13 in that both texts claim that impurity can be transmitted via indirect touch. In contrast, Ezek 44,19 contradicts Hag 2,12 concerning the transmission of holiness. The discussion focuses mainly on the translation of Lam 4,14, with specific attention to the interpretation of the verb lag, the uses of the root çdq in Hag 2,12 and Ezek 44,19, and finally considers whether or not Ezek 44,19 refers to indirect touch.