Analysis of Zechariah Chapter 5
The book of Zechariah provides an inspiring and detailed set of visions that convey God’s plans and intentions for His people. Chapter 5 of Zechariah, in particular, consists of two distinct but interrelated visions: the vision of the flying scroll and the vision of the woman in the basket. Each vision carries symbolic messages that highlight themes of divine judgment and purification. This chapter plays a critical role in emphasizing that God’s justice and righteousness are essential for the spiritual renewal and restoration of His people.
Verses 1-2: The Vision of the Flying Scroll
The first part of Zechariah 5 introduces a vision of a flying scroll. Verses 1 and 2 read:
Then I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll. And he said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.”
Zechariah lifts his eyes and sees a large flying scroll. The dimensions of the scroll are significant—it is twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide. These dimensions are approximately the same as the porch of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 6:3). Thus, the scroll could symbolize a divine standard of righteousness and judgment emanating from the very presence of God.
The flying aspect of the scroll indicates that its message is urgent and supernatural. It’s a divine pronouncement that transcends earthly limitations and is issued directly from the heavenly realm. The scroll’s expansive size makes it visible and unavoidable, representing the pervasive nature of God’s law and its applicability to all people.
Verses 3-4: The Curse and Judgment
Verses 3 and 4 elaborate on the contents and purpose of the scroll:
Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going forth over the face of the whole land; surely everyone who steals will be purged away according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears will be purged away according to the writing on the other side. I will make it go forth,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night within that house and consume it with its timber and stones.”
The scroll is described as containing a curse that applies to overt sins, specifically theft and false oaths. These sins are representative of broader unrighteous behavior since they violate the most fundamental ethical and relational principles outlined in the Ten Commandments.
Stealing involves a direct violation of trust and respect for another’s property, while swearing falsely represents the degradation of divine truth and integrity. The specificity of these sins signifies God’s desire for both horizontal (human-to-human) and vertical (human-to-God) righteousness.
The curse goes forth “over the face of the whole land,” meaning that it covers all people and shows the universal reach of God’s judgment. This reinforces the idea that no one is excluded from divine scrutiny or justice.
The haunting imagery of the curse “entering the house” of the guilty and “consuming it with its timber and stones” establishes the inescapability and thoroughness of divine judgment. The house, a place of security and comfort, becomes a site of divine retribution, highlighting that no sin is hidden from God’s eyes.
Verses 5-8: The Vision of the Woman in the Basket
In the second part of the chapter, Zechariah is presented with another vision involving a woman in a basket. Verses 5 through 8 describe this vision:
Then the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, “Lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth.” I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” Then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he threw her down into the middle of the ephah and cast the lead weight on its opening.
Zechariah sees an ephah (a large measuring basket) going forth. This image conveys a sense of measurement or containment, as the ephah was typically used for measuring grain. The woman inside the ephah represents “wickedness,” personified in female form.
The lead cover over the ephah signifies a divine containment of evil. The angel’s act of throwing “wickedness” into the middle of the ephah and capping it with a lead weight suggests an deliberate and authoritative control. This symbolizes God’s ultimate authority over sin and His ability to confine and subdue it.
The image of the woman, labeled as “Wickedness,” enclosed in the ephah illustrates the comprehensive nature of God’s judgment. It’s a reminder that wickedness, once exposed, will be contained and dealt with decisively.
Verses 9-11: The Destination of Wickedness
The final verses of the chapter describe the removal of the ephah and its contents to another land:
Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and there two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens. I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the ephah?” Then he said to me, “To build a temple for her in the land of Shinar; and when it is prepared, she will be set there on her own pedestal.”
Zechariah sees two women with wings like storks carrying the ephah away. Storks were considered unclean birds, which adds an additional layer to the symbolism. The wind in their wings signifies the swiftness and power of divine action in the removal of sin.
The destination of the ephah is “the land of Shinar,” a location symbolically linked to Babel and Babylon, places historically associated with rebellion against God. By sending “wickedness” to Shinar, God is essentially quarantining unrepentant evil, placing it in a land synonymous with historical wickedness.
The building of a “temple” for wickedness in Shinar illustrates a form of divine irony. Just as the Israelites build a temple for worshiping God, a place of purity and holiness, wickedness too will have its containment area, marked by spiritual desolation.
This conveys a profound truth: while God’s people are freed from wickedness and sin is isolated, there is an ongoing battle where evil will be present but contained and controlled by divine sovereignty.
Conclusion: Theological and Practical Implications
Zechariah Chapter 5 serves as a powerful narrative on God’s judgment and the eventual abolition of wickedness from among His people. The visions contained in this chapter reveal God’s commitment to justice, purity, and the eradication of sin. This prophetic chapter provides insights into several overarching theological themes:
- Divine Judgment: The flying scroll and its curse emphasize that God’s judgment is universal and inescapable. It touches every aspect of life, urging believers toward sincere repentance and ethical living.
- Purification: The vision of the woman in the ephah illustrates that God will take decisive action to remove wickedness. The imagery of containment and removal signifies both judgment and cleansing, showing God’s intent to purify His people for a life of holiness.
- Justice and Righteousness: Stealing and swearing falsely are symbolic of larger categories of sin that disrupt social harmony and divine fellowship. God’s focus on these sins serves as a call to uphold justice and integrity in all facets of life.
- Divine Sovereignty: The emphatic role of angels and the supernatural elements (flying scroll, women with stork wings) underscore that ultimate control lies with God. Wickedness may exist, but it is under His jurisdiction and will be dealt with according to His righteous standards.
For contemporary readers, Zechariah 5 beckons toward introspection and spiritual vigilance. Understanding that we live under the gaze of a holy and just God should inspire a life marked by integrity, reverence, and adherence to divine commands. It emphasizes that God’s ultimate plan involves not only the judgment of sin but also the restoration and purification of His people, leading them into a future characterized by righteousness and divine fellowship.