Zechariah Chapter 5
Two Visions Regarding the Cleansing of God’s People
A. The Vision of the Flying Scroll
(Zechariah 5:1-2)
“Then I turned and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. And 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.”
In this vision, Zechariah saw a large scroll flying through the air, signifying that God’s Word was active and moving swiftly to accomplish His purposes. The scroll was unrolled, allowing Zechariah to see its full dimensions, which were twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide. This was approximately thirty feet by fifteen feet, the same dimensions as the porch of Solomon’s Temple as recorded in 1 Kings 6:3, which says, “And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.” The matching dimensions likely indicated divine authority and connection to God’s dwelling place. The fact that it was flying suggests the speed and inevitability of God’s judgment.
(Zechariah 5:3-4)
“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. I 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.”
The angel explained that the scroll represented “the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth.” This was a picture of divine judgment being sent out universally. The text of the scroll contained curses against sin—specifically theft and perjury. These two sins represented both sides of the moral law given in the Ten Commandments: stealing violated the commandments dealing with one’s neighbor, while swearing falsely by God’s name violated those dealing directly with God. Thus, the flying scroll symbolized the full scope of God’s moral standard and the judgment pronounced upon all who defy it.
God declared, “I will bring it forth,” emphasizing that the curse would be divinely initiated and unavoidable. It would enter into the house of the thief and the one who swore falsely, remaining there until the entire structure was consumed—timber and stones alike. This complete destruction reveals the thorough nature of divine judgment. The curse would not only strike individuals but also their households, showing that sin brings ruin to all it touches.
This vision revealed that God’s law is not dormant; it actively searches out sin. The flying scroll is a vivid picture of the power and inescapability of divine justice. Just as God’s Word brings life and blessing to those who believe, it also brings conviction and judgment to those who rebel. The unrolled scroll, visible to all, served as a reminder that no one can claim ignorance of God’s standard.
B. The Vision of the Woman and the Basket
(Zechariah 5:5–8)
“Then 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. And 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. And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 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.”
In this vision, Zechariah saw an ephah, which was a large measuring basket used in commerce. The ephah represented the measure of business dealings and trade, symbolizing materialism and corruption that had infected the land. The angel said, “This is their resemblance through all the earth,” meaning that this spirit of greed and wickedness was not confined to Judah, but was characteristic of the whole earth. Inside the basket sat a woman, and the angel identified her plainly: “This is wickedness.” The Hebrew word for “wickedness” is feminine, which explains why the image is portrayed as a woman. She personified the evil of greed, dishonesty, and material corruption.
The ephah and the lead weight together represented commerce and deceit—false balances, dishonest trade, and worldly gain at the expense of righteousness. God’s people had returned from Babylon with a renewed interest in wealth and self-advancement, forgetting that their purpose was to glorify God. The vision exposed the sinful priorities that had crept back into their lives.
The angel thrust the woman back into the basket and threw the lead cover over its mouth. This act revealed God’s absolute control and authority over wickedness. Though evil may be active for a time, God restrains it and determines its limits. The heavy lead cover symbolized complete suppression—God sealing in sin so that it could no longer spread among His people. This act showed that the Lord was purging the land, cleansing it from moral corruption before blessing could continue.
(Zechariah 5:9–11)
“Then 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. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? 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 then saw two women appear with wings like those of a stork. The stork was considered an unclean bird under the Law, as written in Leviticus 11:19: “And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.” Yet in this vision, these unclean-winged figures were used by God to transport wickedness back to its place of origin—the land of Shinar, which is Babylon. The “wind in their wings” symbolized the swift and irresistible force of divine providence. Even unclean instruments can serve the purposes of God when He wills it.
The angel explained that the women were taking the basket “to build it an house in the land of Shinar.” Babylon, long known as the cradle of idolatry and rebellion against God (as seen in Genesis 11:2–4, the Tower of Babel), was the birthplace of organized wickedness. The woman, representing moral and commercial corruption, was being returned to her rightful domain. When the basket reached Babylon, it would be “set there upon her own base.” The word “base” carries the sense of a pedestal or foundation used for an idol, suggesting that the spirit of materialistic wickedness would find a resting place and be worshiped as a false god.
This vision revealed that though God restrains wickedness among His people, He ultimately sends it back to its source where it belongs. The people of Judah were to see that materialism and idolatry had no place among those who served the Lord. The removal of the woman to Babylon symbolized a complete moral separation between God’s people and the world’s corrupt systems of greed and false worship.
