Zechariah 5 2

Zechariah 5:2 kjv

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.

Zechariah 5:2 nkjv

And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I answered, "I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits."

Zechariah 5:2 niv

He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide."

Zechariah 5:2 esv

And he said to me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits."

Zechariah 5:2 nlt

"What do you see?" the angel asked. "I see a flying scroll," I replied. "It appears to be about 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. "

Zechariah 5 verses

Zechariah 5 2 Meaning

The sixth vision of Zechariah reveals a colossal flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide. Zechariah, questioned by the interpreting angel about what he sees, accurately identifies it as a scroll hovering in the air. This scroll is immediately understood to represent a divinely active curse destined to go forth over the whole land, signifying God's judgment against specific covenant violations among His people.

Zechariah 5 2 Context

Zechariah 5:2 is part of a series of eight night visions given to the prophet Zechariah following the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon (Zech 1:7 – 6:8). These visions collectively communicate God’s plans for the restoration and purification of Jerusalem and Judah, encouraging the people to complete the rebuilding of the temple and to live righteously. The sixth vision, comprising verses 1-4 of chapter 5, focuses on a divine curse enacted against the specific sins of theft and false swearing that were prevalent among the returned community. It emphasizes that while God promises restoration and blessing, His people must also be cleansed of iniquity. This particular vision is set against a backdrop of the Law, specifically the curses outlined in books like Deuteronomy and Leviticus, which served as the covenant terms for Israel. The visual imagery and immediate interpretation connect it directly to divine judgment for breaking the covenant.

Zechariah 5 2 Word analysis

• Again (וָאָשֻׁב - va'ashuv): This conjunction indicates a turning or returning to something, suggesting Zechariah's deliberate action of redirecting his attention. It marks a transition between visions, signifying a new phase of divine revelation to the prophet after the completion of the previous vision.
• I lifted up my eyes (וָאֶשָּׂא עֵינַי - va'essa einai): A common prophetic idiom, used multiple times by Zechariah and other prophets (e.g., Jer 1:13, Zech 1:18, 2:1), indicating a heightened state of perception and spiritual alertness to receive a divine manifestation or vision. It signifies that the vision is presented directly to his gaze, emphasizing its objective reality.
• and looked (וָאֵרֶא - va'ereh): Simple observation, a confirmation of the active looking initiated by "lifting up eyes."
• and behold (וְהִנֵּה - vehinnēh): An emphatic interjection drawing immediate attention to what is about to be described. It signifies a fresh, surprising, or significant visual phenomenon appearing to the prophet.
• a flying scroll (מְגִלָּה עָפָה - megillah 'apah):
  • Scroll (megillah): This term specifically denotes a written roll or book, similar to ancient documents, legal texts, or prophetic writings (e.g., Jer 36, Ez 2:9). Its presence immediately signifies a written decree, an established law, or a formalized message. It implies divine authority and a record that is permanent and unchanging.
  • Flying ('apah): Indicates swift motion, widespread reach, and divine agency. The scroll is not being carried or walked but is soaring through the air, suggesting an unrestrained, pervasive, and active force, dispatched directly by God to fulfill its purpose across the entire land. This also implies the judgment is inescapable and effective everywhere.
• What do you see? (מָה אַתָּה רֹאֶה - Mah 'attah ro'eh?): This is the angel's interpretative question, characteristic of Zechariah's visions. It prompts the prophet to articulate what he perceives, ensuring he is engaged and facilitating the subsequent divine explanation. It is not a test of knowledge but an interactive guide for understanding the spiritual realities conveyed.
• I answered (וָאֹמַר - va'omar): Zechariah’s direct and accurate response, affirming his clear perception of the visual.
• I see a flying scroll (אֲנִי רֹאֶה מְגִלָּה עָפָה - Ani ro'eh megillah 'apah): Repetition of his initial perception, emphasizing the reality and specific nature of what he saw.
• Its length twenty cubits (אָרְכָּהּ עֶשְׂרִים בָּאַמָּה - 'orkah 'esrim ba'ammah): A cubit was approximately 18 inches, so twenty cubits would be about 30 feet. This extraordinary size highlights the vastness and comprehensive scope of the decree written upon it. Such dimensions exceed any practical human scroll, signifying its divine origin and extraordinary importance.
• and its width ten cubits (וְרָחְבָּהּ עֶשֶׂר בָּאַמָּה - v'rohbah 'eser ba'ammah): About 15 feet. The dimensions (30ft x 15ft) parallel some measurements within the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple, particularly the Holy Place or the temple porch (e.g., 1 Kgs 6:3; Ez 40:48). This possible allusion suggests that the divine curse is intimately connected to God's dwelling place, the covenant people, or the very sanctity of the covenant itself, implying judgment falls on those within the community who defile God's holy standards. The immensity underscores that the judgment is not minor or partial, but fully encompassing and utterly significant.

Zechariah 5 2 Bonus section

The exaggerated dimensions of the flying scroll, being roughly 30 feet long and 15 feet wide, convey that the divine curse is not merely a legalistic punishment but a comprehensive act of divine reckoning. This vast size renders it impossible for any human to carry or unfurl it, thus reinforcing its supernatural origin and the direct, unmediated agency of God in its dispatch and execution. This immense size, often compared by scholars to the dimensions of the porch of Solomon's Temple or the Holy Place within it (though not a direct match), hints that the judgment emanating from this scroll directly impacts the sacred space or the very community (Israel) designated as God's temple. It serves as a visual testament to the serious, universal, and divinely enforced nature of the Law and its curses against the specified covenant breaches, ensuring that sin within God's people would be meticulously dealt with for purification and ultimate restoration.

Zechariah 5 2 Commentary

Zechariah 5:2 initiates a profound vision where a colossal "flying scroll" is observed. This scroll represents God's active, pre-ordained curse dispatched over the entire land. Its impressive and uncharacteristic size signifies the immense and comprehensive nature of God's judgment against the prevailing iniquities of theft and false oaths among the post-exilic community. Unlike a static decree, its "flying" aspect implies that divine justice is dynamic, swift, pervasive, and inescapable, reaching every corner and individual. This vision powerfully reminds the people that covenant blessings are conditional; purity and righteousness are prerequisites for complete restoration and national flourishing. The physical appearance of the scroll highlights that God's word, whether of blessing or curse, is not mere suggestion but an authoritative, effective decree that accomplishes its purpose.