---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Zechariah 5"
description: "CHAPTER 5   :-. SIXTH VISION.
THE FLYING
ROLL. The fraudulent
and perjuring transgressors of the law shall be extirpated from
Judea. 1. flying roll—of pap"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/zechariah/5"
---

CHAPTER 5

. SIXTH VISION.
THE FLYING
ROLL. *The fraudulent
and perjuring transgressors of the law shall be extirpated from
Judea.*

**1. 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 ([Deuteronomy 27:15-26](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/27/15-26);
[Deuteronomy 28:15-68](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/15-68)). Being written
implied that its contents were beyond all escape or repeal ([Deuteronomy 28:15-5](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/15-5)). 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 ([Deuteronomy 28:15-5](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/15-5)). 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" ([Zechariah 5:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/5/3))
[VATABLUS] connects it
with the two tables of the law ([Zechariah 5:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/5/3)), and implies its comprehensiveness. One side denounced
"him that sweareth falsely ([Zechariah 5:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/5/3)) 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.

**2. length . . . twenty cubits . . .
breadth . . . ten cubits**—thirty feet by fifteen, the dimensions
of the temple porch ([1 Kings 6:3](../../../kjv/1-kings/6/3)),
where the law was usually read, showing that it was divinely
authoritative in the theocracy. Its large size implies the great
number of the curses contained. The *Hebrew* for "roll"
or "volume" is used of the law ([1 Kings 6:3](../../../kjv/1-kings/6/3)).

**3. curse . . . earth**— (). The Gentiles are amenable to the curse of the law, as they
have its substance, so far as they have not seared and corrupted
conscience, written on their hearts ().
**cut off**—literally,
"cleared away."
**as on this side . . . as on
that side**—both sides of the *roll* [VATABLUS].
From this place . . . from this place (repeated twice, as "the
house" is repeated in [Zechariah 5:4](../../../kjv/zechariah/5/4))
[MAURER]; so "hence"
is used, [Genesis 37:17](../../../kjv/genesis/37/17) (or, "on
this and on that side," that is, *on every side*)
[HENDERSON]. None can
escape, sin where he may: for God from one side to the other shall
call all without exception to judgment [CALVIN].
God will not spare even "this place," Jerusalem, when it
sins [PEMBELLUS]. *English
Version* seems to take VATABLUS'
view.
**according to it**—according
as it is written.

**4.** The "theft"
immediately meant is similar sacrilege to that complained of in
[Nehemiah 13:10](../../../kjv/nehemiah/13/10); [Malachi 3:8](../../../kjv/malachi/3/8).
They robbed God by neglecting to give Him His due in building His
house, while they built their own houses, forswearing their
obligations to Him; therefore, the "houses" they build
shall be "consumed" with God's "curse." Probably
literal theft and perjury accompanied their virtual theft and perjury
as to the temple of God ([Malachi 3:5](../../../kjv/malachi/3/5)).
Stealing and perjury go together; for the covetous and fraudulent
perjure themselves by God's name without scruple (see [Malachi 3:5](../../../kjv/malachi/3/5)).
**enter . . . the house**—In
vain they guard and shut themselves up who incur the curse; it will
inevitably enter even when they think themselves most secure.
**consume . . . timber . . .
stones**—not leaving a vestige of it. So the "stones"
and "timber" of the house of a leper (type of the sinner)
were to be utterly removed ([Malachi 3:5](../../../kjv/malachi/3/5); compare [1 Kings 18:38](../../../kjv/1-kings/18/38)).
[1 Kings 18:38](../../../kjv/1-kings/18/38). SEVENTH
VISION. THE
WOMAN IN THE EPHAH.
*Wickedness and idolatry removed from the Holy Land to Babylon,
there to mingle with their kindred elements.*
The *ephah* is the Hebrew dry
measure containing about a bushel, or seven and a half gallons.
Alluding to the previous vision as to theft and perjury: the ephah
which, by falsification of the measure, they made the instrument of
defrauding, shall be made the instrument of their punishment
[GROTIUS]. Compare "this
is their resemblance" ([1 Kings 18:38](../../../kjv/1-kings/18/38)), that is, this is a representation of what the Jews have
done, and what they shall suffer. Their total dispersion ("the
land of Shinar" being the emblem of the various Gentile lands of
their present dispersion) is herein fortetold, when the *measure*
(to which the ephah alludes) of their sins should be full. The former
vision denounces judgment on individuals; this one, on the whole
state: but enigmatically, not to discourage their present building
[PEMBELLUS]. Rather, the
vision is consolatory after the preceding one [CALVIN].
Idolatry and its kindred sins, covetousness and fraud (denounced in
the vision of the roll), shall be removed far out of the Holy Land to
their own congenial soil, never to return (so [Zechariah 3:9](../../../kjv/zechariah/3/9);
[Isaiah 27:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/27/9); [Isaiah 52:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/1);
[Isaiah 60:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/21); [Jeremiah 50:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/50/20);
[Zephaniah 3:13](../../../kjv/zephaniah/3/13)). For more than two
thousand years, ever since the Babylonian exile, the Jews have been
free from *idolatry;* but the full accomplishment of the
prophecy is yet future, when *all* sin shall be purged from
Israel on their return to Palestine, and conversion to Christ.

**5. went forth**—The interpreting
angel had withdrawn after the vision of the roll to receive a fresh
revelation from the Divine Angel to communicate to the prophet.

**6. This is their
resemblance**—literally, "eye" (compare [Ezekiel 1:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/1/4);
[Ezekiel 1:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/1/5); [Ezekiel 1:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/1/16)).
HENGSTENBERG translates,
"Their (the people's) eye" was all directed to evil. But
*English Version* is better. "This is the appearance (that
is, an image) of the Jews in all *the land*" (not as
*English Version,* "in all *the earth*"), that
is, of the wicked Jews.
**This**—Here used of what
was *within* the ephah, not the ephah itself.

**7. lifted up**—The cover is
lifted off the ephah to let the prophet see the female
personification of "wickedness" within, about to be removed
from Judea. The cover being "of lead," implies that the
"woman" cannot escape from the ponderous load which presses
her down.
**talent**—literally, "a
round piece": hence a talent, a weight of one hundred
twenty-five pounds troy.
**woman**—for comparison of
"wickedness" to a *woman,* [Proverbs 2:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/2/16);
[Proverbs 5:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/5/3); [Proverbs 5:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/5/4).
In personifying abstract terms, the feminine is used, as the idea of
giving birth to life is associated with woman.

**8. wickedness**—literally, "*the*
wickedness": implying wickedness in its peculiar development.
Compare "*the* man of sin," .
**cast it**—that is, her,
Wickedness, who had moved more freely while the heavy lid was
partially lifted off.
**weight**—literally,
"stone," that is, round mass.

**9.** The agents to carry away the
"woman" are, consistently with the image, "women."
God makes the wicked themselves the agents of punishing and removing
wickedness. "Two" are employed, as one is not enough to
carry such a load [MAURER].
Or, the Assyrians and Babylonians, who carried away idolatry in the
persons, respectively, of Israel and Judah [HENDERSON].
As two "anointed ones" () stand by the Lord as His ministers, so *two* winged
women execute His purpose here in removing the embodiment of
"wickedness": answering to the "mystery of iniquity"
(the *Septuagint* here in Zechariah uses the same words as Paul
and "the man of sin," whom the Lord shall destroy with the
spirit of His mouth and the brightness of His coming, [2 Thessalonians 2:3](../../../kjv/2-thessalonians/2/3);
[2 Thessalonians 2:7](../../../kjv/2-thessalonians/2/7); [2 Thessalonians 2:8](../../../kjv/2-thessalonians/2/8)).
Their "wings" express velocity. The "stork" has
long and wide wings, for which reason it is specified; also it is a
migratory bird. The "wind" helps the rapid motion of the
wings. The being "lifted up between heaven and earth"
implies open execution of the judgment before the eyes of all. As the
"woman" here is removed to Babylon as her own dwelling, so
the woman in the Apocalypse of St. John is Babylon ([2 Thessalonians 2:8](../../../kjv/2-thessalonians/2/8)).

**11. To build . . . house in . . .
Shinar**—Babylonia ([Genesis 10:10](../../../kjv/genesis/10/10)),
the capital of the God-opposed world kingdoms, and so representing in
general the seat of irreligion. As the "building of houses"
in Babylon ([Jeremiah 29:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/5); [Jeremiah 29:28](../../../kjv/jeremiah/29/28))
by the Jews themselves expressed their long exile there, so the
building of an house for "wickedness" there implies its
permanent stay.
**set . . . upon her own
base**—fixed there as in its proper place. "Wickedness"
being cast out of Judah, shall for ever dwell with the antichristian
apostates (of whom Babylon is the type), who shall reap the fruit of
it, which they deserve.

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