Minor Prophets · Chapter 5 of 14

Zechariah 5

Two visions of judgment follow. First Zechariah sees a huge flying scroll, the curse going out over the whole land against thieves and those who swear falsely, entering and consuming their houses. Then he sees a woman named Wickedness sealed inside a measuring basket with a lead weight, carried off by two winged women to the land of Shinar, where a house will be built to establish her far from the purified land.

What happens in Zechariah 5

Zechariah sees a flying scroll, twenty cubits by ten. The angel explains it is the curse going out over the whole earth. Everyone who steals will be purged according to one side of it, and everyone who swears falsely according to the other. God sends the curse into the house of the thief and the false swearer, where it lodges and consumes the timber and stones. Then the angel tells Zechariah to look at a basket, an ephah, said to be the people's likeness through all the land.

A lead cover is lifted, revealing a woman inside. The angel declares she is Wickedness and thrusts her back down, clamping the heavy lead weight over the basket's mouth. Two women appear with wings like a stork, and the wind lifts them as they carry the basket between earth and heaven. Zechariah asks where they take it, and the angel answers that they will build it a house in Shinar.

Zechariah 5 in context

These are the sixth and seventh night visions. Having promised cleansing for priest and community, God now shows that sin itself must be removed from the land if his people are to dwell securely with him. Shinar is the region of Babylon, the ancient home of rebellion against God at Babel.

Sending Wickedness back there declares that evil belongs to the world's system of pride and idolatry, not to the holy community God is restoring.

Main themes of Zechariah 5

Zechariah 5 (KJV)

1Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. 2And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. 3Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. 4I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. 5Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 6And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. 7And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 8And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. 9Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. 10Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? 11And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

Verses to carry from Zechariah 5

“Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.”Zechariah 5:3

“And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.”Zechariah 5:8

“And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.”Zechariah 5:11

Reflection

It is tempting to want forgiveness without change, pardon that leaves our favorite sins undisturbed. Zechariah shows God removing wickedness, not just excusing it. Is there something God is asking you to let him carry away for good, rather than keep sealed and hidden in your house?

A prayer from Zechariah 5