Zechariah 5 10

Zechariah 5:10 kjv

Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?

Zechariah 5:10 nkjv

So I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are they carrying the basket?"

Zechariah 5:10 niv

"Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the angel who was speaking to me.

Zechariah 5:10 esv

Then I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are they taking the basket?"

Zechariah 5:10 nlt

"Where are they taking the basket?" I asked the angel.

Zechariah 5 verses

Zechariah 5 10 Meaning

Zechariah 5:10 records the prophet Zechariah's direct question to the interpreting angel during his fifth night vision. Having observed two women carrying a contained ephah (a symbolic measure of wickedness), Zechariah asks for their destination. This inquiry signifies the prophet's desire for deeper understanding regarding God's divine action—specifically, the removal of evil from the land—and where it will ultimately be banished.

Zechariah 5 10 Context

Zechariah 5:10 is part of the prophet Zechariah's fifth out of eight night visions, recorded in chapters 1-6. These visions were given to Zechariah during the early post-exilic period, likely around 520-518 BC. The returning Jewish exiles faced discouragement, moral compromise, and the monumental task of rebuilding the Second Temple. The visions primarily aimed to provide reassurance, challenge, and instruction for these tasks, promising God's continued presence and intervention.

Chapter 5 presents two visions: first, the flying scroll (Zech 5:1-4), which symbolizes divine judgment on wickedness throughout the land. Immediately following this, the vision of the ephah (Zech 5:5-11) is introduced. The ephah represents the collected wickedness or "total measure" of Israel's sin and moral impurity. The two women with stork-like wings signify the swift, decisive agents carrying this wickedness away. Zechariah 5:10 represents the prophet's crucial interpretive question, marking the shift from observation to revelation. He sees the symbol of evil being removed, and his question, "Whither do these bear the ephah?", seeks to understand the destination of this banished wickedness, emphasizing God's thorough and complete purification of His covenant land and people. Historically, this cleansing was essential for the temple rebuilding and establishing a pure community centered on God's worship, free from the defilement that led to the exile.

Zechariah 5 10 Word analysis

• Then said I (וָאֹמַר אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ / va'o'mar el-ham-mal'akh):
  • said I: This phrase emphasizes the prophet's active role in the dialogue. Zechariah is not a passive observer but engages with the revelation, demonstrating his genuine perplexity and desire for deeper understanding. It highlights the interactive nature of prophetic reception.
• to the angel (אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ / el-ham-mal'akh):
  • angel: Hebrew malak, meaning "messenger." This refers specifically to the interpreting angel (often identified as the Angel of the LORD or an angelic guide) who facilitates Zechariah's understanding of the divine visions throughout the book (cf. Zech 1:9, 13, 14, 19). This angel serves as God's divine interpreter, bridging the gap between heavenly truth and human comprehension.
• that talked with me (הַדּוֹבֵ֤ר בִּי֙ / had-do'ver bi):
  • talked with me: Implies an ongoing, continuous dialogue and a relationship between the prophet and the angelic messenger. It highlights the sustained guidance provided to Zechariah, enabling him to accurately convey God's message.
• Whither (אֶֽל־אָ֤נָה / el-'a'nah):
  • Whither: An interrogative adverb meaning "to what place?" or "where to?". Zechariah's primary curiosity is not what the women are doing (which is clear: carrying the ephah), but where they are taking it. This reveals a critical aspect of God's plan: the deliberate and decisive removal of evil to a specific, designated location. It emphasizes not just the act of judgment but its definitive consequence.
• do these (הֵמָּה֙ מֹֽולִיכֹ֔ות אֶת־הָאֵפָֽה / hem-mah mo'li'khot et-ha'e'pha):
  • these: Refers to the two women with stork-like wings introduced in verse 9. Their number (two) could imply completion, corroboration (like two witnesses), or perhaps represent two distinct aspects of evil or the universality of its expulsion. Their "wings like storks" indicate swift, far-reaching movement, crucial for the permanent transportation of wickedness.
• bear (מֹֽולִיכֹ֔ות / mo'li'khot):
  • bear: From the Hebrew verb yalakh (to go/lead) in the Hiphil participle, meaning "leading" or "carrying away." It signifies active conveyance or transport, highlighting that the removal of wickedness is a divinely directed action, not a passive vanishing. It also suggests that these women are commissioned agents for this purpose.
• the ephah (אֶת־הָאֵפָֽה / et-ha'e'pha):
  • ephah: A Hebrew dry measure, approximately 3/5 of a bushel (about 22 liters or two-thirds of a cubic foot). In this vision, it's not the physical measure but a symbol. It represents the totality or full measure of Israel's national wickedness, particularly commercial deceit and moral corruption (cf. Am 8:5, Hos 12:7, Prov 20:10). The lead cover (Zech 5:7-8) signifies its complete containment and the finality of its judgment and removal, preventing its escape or return. The woman inside the ephah (Wickedness personified) represents the moral decay within the nation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then said I... to the angel that talked with me": This sequence underscores the essential element of divine revelation through angelic mediation. Zechariah's prophetic inquiry is both humble and determined, signaling that God grants understanding to those who earnestly seek it. This sets the stage for the revelation of evil's destination, emphasizing its theological significance rather than just a miraculous visual.
• "Whither do these bear the ephah?": This core question encapsulates the prophet's theological curiosity and highlights the crucial aspect of God's judgment: not just the identification of wickedness, but its permanent removal to a designated place. It is a question about God's ultimate plan for purification and where evil finally belongs—far from His holy dwelling.

Zechariah 5 10 Bonus section

The preparation of a "house" for the ephah in the land of Shinar is significant. This implies a degree of permanence and establishment for evil, but in a controlled, confined environment away from God's chosen place. It can be seen as a foreshadowing of future eschatological judgments where evil will be eternally confined (e.g., in the Lake of Fire in Revelation), never again to threaten God's kingdom or His purified people. The imagery contrasts sharply with the future "house of the LORD" being rebuilt in Jerusalem, showing a spiritual separation and distinction between God's holy dwelling and the appointed place for all unholiness. This vision also reinforces the idea that true blessing and divine presence can only thrive in an environment purged of pervasive wickedness.

Zechariah 5 10 Commentary

Zechariah 5:10 serves as a pivotal point in the vision of the ephah, marking the transition from observed imagery to divine interpretation. Zechariah's question, "Whither do these bear the ephah?", is fundamental because it shifts the focus from the nature of the evil (symbolized by the ephah) and its initial containment, to its destination and thus, its final disposition. The prophet understands that this wickedness is being removed, and he seeks to comprehend the divine purpose behind its relocation.

The destination reveals the depth and completeness of God's purification of the land of Judah. This is not a mere temporary expulsion, but a permanent banishment to a place inherently associated with rebellion against God. The ephah, containing "Wickedness" itself, is transported to the "land of Shinar." Shinar, synonymous with Babel/Babylon (Gen 10:10, Gen 11:2-9), historically represents the epicenter of human pride, idolatry, and anti-God systems. By establishing a "house" for wickedness there (Zech 5:11), the vision signifies several profound truths:

1. Divine Authority over Evil: God actively controls and directs the banishment of wickedness; it does not disappear randomly but is sent to a specific, ordained place.
2. Thorough Purification: The evil plaguing Judah (represented by the ephah) will be utterly removed and contained far away. This cleansing is crucial for the establishment of a holy people in a holy land, preparing for the full manifestation of God's presence and kingdom.
3. Judgment's Purpose: The goal of divine judgment is often not annihilation but containment and sequestration. By confining wickedness in "Shinar," God ensures it cannot return to defile His covenant people and the future Temple, providing assurance of God's intent to sustain the purity of His restored community.
4. Prophetic Dialogue: The verse underscores the collaborative nature of revelation, where the prophet's engaged questioning leads to a fuller unveiling of God's truth, empowering him to minister effectively to a disheartened people.

This vision provides profound encouragement for the post-exilic community. It assures them that despite persistent moral challenges, God is sovereignly working to rid their land of systemic evil, ensuring the foundation for true worship and purity can be established, laying groundwork for Messiah's eventual coming and the New Covenant era of inner cleansing.