What does Zechariah 5:5-11 mean?
"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 5:5-11
Zechariah 5:5-11 in the King James Version (KJV) reads, "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. 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."
These verses come from the book of Zechariah, which is a part of the Old Testament. The book of Zechariah is a prophetic book, written by the prophet Zechariah during the time when the Israelites were returning from exile in Babylon. The book contains visions and prophecies about the restoration of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah.
In this particular passage, the prophet Zechariah is shown a vision by an angel. He sees an ephah, which is a dry measurement of about 22 liters, being carried by two women with stork-like wings. Inside the ephah is a woman representing wickedness, and she is covered with a lead weight and carried away to the land of Shinar.
The vision in these verses is a symbolic representation of the wickedness and sin that had infiltrated the land of Judah. The ephah represents a container for measuring out grain, which can be seen as a metaphor for the sins and offenses of the people. The lead weight symbolizes the forceful containment of wickedness, as if it were being restrained and prevented from spreading further.
The two women with stork-like wings are an interesting symbol in this passage. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the stork was often associated with fertility and prosperity. However, in this vision, the stork-like wings of the women may represent the swift and efficient way that wickedness is being carried away from the land.
The destination of the ephah is the land of Shinar, which is a significant detail in this passage. Shinar is a reference to the region of ancient Mesopotamia, and it is specifically associated with the city of Babylon. This alludes to the fact that the people's wickedness and sins are being taken back to the place of their captivity and exile, symbolizing the removal of sin from the land of Judah.
The overall theme of this vision is the removal of wickedness from the land and its ultimate judgment. It also serves as a warning to the Israelites about the consequences of allowing sin to take root in their midst. The vision conveys the message that wickedness will be dealt with decisively and will ultimately be removed from the land.
From a Christian perspective, this passage can also be seen as a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ, who would ultimately take away the sins of the world through his sacrifice on the cross. The lead weight symbolizes the burden of sin being placed on Christ, and the removal of the ephah to the land of Shinar can be seen as a symbol of the atonement and redemption that Christ offers to all who believe in him.
In conclusion, the vision in Zechariah 5:5-11 is a powerful and symbolic depiction of the removal and judgment of wickedness. It serves as a warning to the people of Israel about the consequences of allowing sin to take root in their midst and also points forward to the redemptive work of Christ. The imagery in this passage is rich with symbolism and offers a powerful message about the ultimate triumph of righteousness over evil.
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Zechariah 5:5-11 Artwork
Zechariah 5:5-11 - "Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, "Look up and see what is appearing." I asked, "What is it?" He replied, "It is a basket." And he added, "This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land." Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! He said, "This is wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it. Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth. "Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the angel who was speaking to me. He replied, "To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.""
"Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, "Look up and see what is appearing." I asked, "What is it?" He replied, "It is a basket." And he added, "This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land." Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! He said, "This is wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it. Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth. "Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the angel who was speaking to me. He replied, "To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place."" - Zechariah 5:5-11
Zechariah 5:11 - "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."
Nehemiah 11:5 - "And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni."
Zechariah 11:5 - "Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not."
Zechariah 5:5 - "¶ 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."
Zechariah 1:5 - "Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?"
Zechariah 8:5 - "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof."
Zechariah 5:7 - "And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah."
Zechariah 5:10 - "Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?"
Zechariah 5:1 - "Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll."
"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
1 Chronicles 5:7 - "And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,"
Zechariah 2:5 - "For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."
Zechariah 12:5 - "And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God."
"And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni." - Nehemiah 11:5
Zechariah 5:8 - "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 4:5 - "Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord."
Zechariah 5:6 - "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."
"Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?" - Zechariah 1:5
Zechariah 13:5 - "But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth."
Zechariah 6:5 - "And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth."
Ezra 5:1 - "Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them."
"Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not." - Zechariah 11:5
2 Chronicles 26:5 - "And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper."
Genesis 11:5
Numbers 11:5
Genesis 11:5
Genesis 11:5
Zechariah 10:5 - "¶ And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded."