Zechariah 5
A plain-spoken deep dive on the whole chapter. Read the chapter →
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Behold a flying roll - This was twenty cubits long, and ten cubits broad; the prophet saw it expanded, and flying. Itself was the catalogue of the crimes of the people, and the punishment threatened by the Lord. Some think the crimes were those of the Jews; others, those of the Chaldeans. The roll is mentioned in allusion to those large rolls on which the Jews write the Pentateuch. One now lying before me is one hundred and fifty-three feet long, by twenty-one inches wide, written on fine brown Basle goat-skin; some time since brought from Jerusalem, supposed to be four hundred years old.
Open source ↗SIXTH VISION. THE FLYING ROLL. The fraudulent and perjuring transgressors of the law shall be extirpated from Judea. (Zac 5:1-4) flying roll--of papyrus, or dressed skins, used for writing on when paper was not known. It was inscribed with the words of the curse (Deu 27:15-26; Deu. 28:15-68). Being written implied that its contents were beyond all escape or repeal (Eze 2:9). Its "flying" shows that its curses were ready swiftly to visit the transgressors. It was unrolled, or else its dimensions could not have been seen (Zac 5:2). Being open to all, none could say in excuse he knew not the law and the curses of disobedience. As the previous visions intimated God's favor in restoring the Jewish state, so this vision announces judgment, intimating that God, notwithstanding His favor, did not approve of their sins. Being written on both sides, "on this and on that side" (Zac 5:3), VATABLUS connects it with the two tables of the law (Exo 32:15), and implies its comprehensiveness. One side denounced "him that sweareth falsely (Zac 5:4) by God's name," according to the third commandment of the first table, duty to God; the other side denounced theft, according to the eighth commandment, which is in the second table, duty to one's neighbor.
Open source ↗Then I turned, and lift up mine eyes, and looked,.... The prophet turned himself from looking upon the candlestick and olive branches, having had a full and clear understanding of them, and looked another way, and saw another vision: and behold a flying roll, a volume or book flying in the air; it being usual for books, which were written on parchment, to be rolled up in the form of a cylinder; whence they were called rolls or volumes.
Open source ↗Zac 5:1. "And I lifted up my eyes again, and saw, and behold a flying roll. Zac 5:2. And he said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I see a flying roll; its length twenty cubits, and its breadth ten cubits. Zac 5:3. And he said to me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the whole land: for every one that stealeth will be cleansed away from this side, according to it; and every one that sweareth will be cleansed away from that side, according to it. Zac 5:4. I have caused it to go forth, is the saying of Jehovah of hosts, and it will come into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth by my name for deceit: and it will pass the night in the midst of his house, and consume both its beams and its stones." The person calling the prophet's attention to the vision, and interpreting it, is the angelus interpres. This is not specially mentioned here, as being obvious from what goes before. The roll (book-scroll, megillâh = megillath sēpher, Eze 2:9) is seen flying over the earth unrolled, so that its length and breadth can be seen. The statement as to its size is not to be regarded as "an approximative estimate," so that the roll would be simply described as of considerable size (Koehler), but is unquestionably significant. It corresponds both to the size of the porch of Solomon's temple (Kg1 6:3), and also to the dimensions of the holy place in the tabernacle, which was twenty cubits long and ten cubits broad. Hengstenberg, Hofmann, and Umbreit, following the example of Kimchi, assume that the reference is to the porch of the temple, and suppose that the roll has the same dimensions as this porch, to indicate that the judgment is "a consequence of the theocracy" or was to issue from the sanctuary of Israel, where the people assembled before the Lor…
Open source ↗We do not find that the prophet now needed to be awakened, as he did Zac 4:1. Being awakened then, he kept wakeful after; nay, now he needs not be so much as called to look about him, for of his own accord he turns and lifts up his eyes. This good men sometimes get by their infirmities, they make them the more careful and circumspect afterwards. Now observe, I. What it was that the prophet saw; he looked up into the air, and behold a flying roll. A vast large scroll of parchment which had been rolled up, and is therefore called a roll, was now unrolled and expanded; this roll was flying upon the wings of the wind, carried swiftly through the air in open view, as an eagle that shoots down upon her prey; it was a roll, like Ezekiel's that was written within and without with lamentations, and mourning, and woe, Eze 2:9, Eze 2:10. As the command of the law is in writing, for certainty and perpetuity, so is the curse of the law; it writes bitter things against the sinner. "What I have written I have written and what is written remains." The angel, to engage the prophet's attention, and to raise in him a desire to have it explained, asks him what he sees? And he gives him this account of it: I see a flying roll, and as near as he can guess by his eye it is twenty cubits long (that is, ten yards) and ten cubits broad, that is, five yards. The scriptures of the Old Testament and the New are rolls, in which God has written to us the great things of his law and gospel. Christ is the Master of the rolls. They are large rolls, have much in them. They are flying rolls; the angel that had the everlasting gospel to preach flew in the midst of heaven, Rev 14:6. God's word runs very swiftly, Psa 147:15. Those that would be let into the meaning of these rolls must first tell what they se…
Open source ↗5:1-4 Zechariah’s vision of the flying scroll reminded the leaders and people of postexilic Judah that they were still obligated to follow God’s commands. The blessings and curses of the law (Deut 28) were still in effect. 5:1 looked up again: This is the sixth of eight visions that Zechariah had in the same night. • A scroll, the equivalent of a book in biblical times, was usually made of rolled parchment or leather, but was sometimes made of papyrus, tin, or copper. This scroll was flying, unfurled like a banner for all to see.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… עוּף (ʻûwph, H5774) — to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning) מְגִלָּה (mᵉgillâh, H4039) — a roll
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… עוּף (ʻûwph, H5774) — to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning) מְגִלָּה (mᵉgillâh, H4039) — a roll אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth אַמָּה (ʼammâh, H520) — properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a… רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אָלָה (ʼâlâh, H423) — an imprecation יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) גָּנַב (gânab, H1589) — to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive נָקָה (nâqâh, H5352) — to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense)… כְּמוֹ (kᵉmôw, H3644) — a form of the prefix 'k-', but used separately as, thus, so שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
Open source ↗יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) גַּנָּב (gannâb, H1590) — a stealer שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, H8267) — an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial) שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… לוּן (lûwn, H3885) — to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense)… תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre כָּלָה (kâlâh, H3615) — to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete,… עֵץ (ʻêts, H6086) — a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
Open source ↗מֲלְאָךְ (mălʼâk, H4397) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher) דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֵיפָה (ʼêyphâh, H374) — an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative כִּכָּר (kikkâr, H3603) — a circle, i.e. (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, especially the Ghor or… עוֹפֶרֶת (ʻôwphereth, H5777) — lead (from its dusty color) אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre אֵיפָה (ʼêyphâh, H374) — an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) רִשְׁעָה (rishʻâh, H7564) — wrong (especially moral) שָׁלַךְ (shâlak, H7993) — to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively) תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre אֵיפָה (ʼêyphâh, H374) — an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone עוֹפֶרֶת (ʻôwphereth, H5777) — lead (from its dusty color) פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);…
Open source ↗נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… כָּנָף (kânâph, H3671) — an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or… הֵנָּה (hênnâh, H2007) — themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation) חֲסִידָה (chăçîydâh, H2624) — the kind (maternal) bird, i.e. a stork אֵיפָה (ʼêyphâh, H374) — an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֲלְאָךְ (mălʼâk, H4397) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher) דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) אֵיפָה (ʼêyphâh, H374) — an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) שִׁנְעָר (Shinʻâr, H8152) — Shinar, a plain in Babylonia כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… יָנַח (yânach, H3240) — to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay מְכֻנָה (mᵉkunâh, H4369) — a spot
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
“What do you see?” asked the angel. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”
Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
He held in his hand a small scroll, which lay open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.