Zechariah 5 6

Zechariah 5:6 kjv

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.

Zechariah 5:6 nkjv

So I asked, "What is it?" And he said, "It is a basket that is going forth." He also said, "This is their resemblance throughout the earth:

Zechariah 5:6 niv

I asked, "What is it?" He replied, "It is a basket." And he added, "This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land."

Zechariah 5:6 esv

And I said, "What is it?" He said, "This is the basket that is going out." And he said, "This is their iniquity in all the land."

Zechariah 5:6 nlt

"What is it?" I asked. He replied, "It is a basket for measuring grain, and it's filled with the sins of everyone throughout the land."

Zechariah 5 verses

Zechariah 5 6 Meaning

Zechariah 5:6 reveals the meaning of the sixth vision shown to the prophet Zechariah by the interpreting angel. The "ephah" is identified as a vessel that symbolizes the pervasive and cumulative wickedness present "in all the earth," referring specifically to the land of Judah. This wickedness is not merely hidden but is "going out," signifying its manifestation, exposure, and ultimate removal or expulsion by divine decree from the land. The verse thus announces God's intent to quantify, confront, and decisively purge the iniquity of His people to prepare them for His future blessings and kingdom.

Zechariah 5 6 Context

Zechariah 5:6 is part of Zechariah's series of eight nocturnal visions (Zech 1:7–6:8), which served to encourage and instruct the returned Jewish exiles in Jerusalem around 520 BC. The people, after returning from Babylon, were disheartened and struggled with moral and spiritual apathy, hindering the rebuilding of the temple. These visions, revealed by an interpreting angel, provided divine encouragement and clarified God's ongoing plan for Israel.

The sixth vision, focusing on the ephah, immediately follows the vision of the flying scroll (Zech 5:1-4), which symbolizes a curse sent across the land to purge individuals of specific transgressions like stealing and false swearing. In contrast, the ephah vision (Zech 5:5-11) addresses collective or national wickedness and its complete removal from the land. The ephah, a common measuring basket used in commerce, culturally links the sin not just to moral transgression but also to economic dishonesty and societal corruption that pervaded the community. The historical and cultural context underscores that this widespread injustice and sin (like "unjust weights and measures," prohibited in Israelite law) had significant consequences, ultimately hindering God's blessings and requiring divine intervention for purification.

The vision sets the stage for a purified community ready to receive the Messiah and enjoy future blessings, signaling that God would cleanse the land of its defilement as a prerequisite for His renewed presence and the flourishing of His covenant people. It also subtly contains a polemic against pagan practices where deceit in commerce and social corruption were normalized, asserting God's standard of justice and righteousness for His people.

Zechariah 5 6 Word analysis

• And I said, "What is it?" (וָאֹמַר מַה־זֹּאת׃ wa·'ō·mar maḥ-zōth)

  • I said: Zechariah, as the prophet, is actively observing and seeking understanding of the divine vision presented to him, highlighting his role as the recipient and mediator of God's message.
  • What is it?: A question expressing bewilderment or the need for clarification, characteristic of visionary encounters in prophetic literature (e.g., Zech 1:9, 4:5, 5:10, 6:4). It emphasizes that the symbolism is not immediately obvious and requires divine interpretation.

• And he said, "This is the ephah going out." (וַיֹּאמֶר זֹאת הָאֵיפָה הַיּוֹצֵאת׃ wai·yō·mer zōth hā·'êy·p̄āh hai·yō·ṣêth)

  • he said: Refers to the interpreting angel, who serves as the divine guide and expounder of the vision's meaning to Zechariah.
  • ephah (הָאֵיפָה, hā·'êy·p̄āh): A dry measure, typically equivalent to about 22 liters (or about 10-15 kgs). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, it was a common vessel for measuring grain and other commodities in commerce. Symbolically, its use points to widespread commercial and social injustice. It can also suggest a full measure, indicating that the sin has reached a complete, discernible quantity, ready for judgment.
  • going out (הַיּוֹצֵאת, hai·yō·ṣêth): A present participle, indicating a continuous or active process of emerging, appearing, or being brought forth. This implies that the contents of the ephah are being revealed or are on their way to being removed from the land. It’s dynamic, not static.

• He also said, "This is their iniquity in all the earth." (וַיֹּאמֶר זֹאת עֵינָם בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ׃ wai·yō·mer zōth ‘ê·nām bə·ḵol-hā·'ā·reṣ)

  • He also said: The interpreting angel provides further clarification, directly identifying the nature of what the ephah represents.
  • their iniquity (עֵינָם, ‘êy·nām): This is a critical term. The Hebrew Masoretic Text literally reads "their eye" (עינם, from עין 'ayin "eye" or "fountain/spring"). However, scholarly consensus, supported by ancient versions (Septuagint, Syriac Peshitta, Latin Vulgate), strongly suggests that this is either a scribal error or a deliberate cryptic expression for עֲוֹנָם ('awônām), meaning "their iniquity," "their guilt," or "their transgression." The context overwhelmingly supports this interpretation, as the vision concerns the purging of sin from the land. If taken literally as "their eye," it could suggest the visual appearance of their evil deeds, or that evil stems from their inner desires/fountains (Mark 7:21-23). However, the "iniquity" rendering is preferred, signifying collective moral evil.
  • in all the earth (בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ, bə·ḵol-hā·'ā·reṣ): In a covenantal context within the Old Testament, "the earth" often refers specifically to the land of Israel (e.g., Deut 11:12, Zech 1:10-11). Therefore, this phrase denotes the widespread and pervasive nature of this iniquity within the covenant community, affecting the entire land of Judah, not the global sphere.

Word-groups by words-group analysis:

• "This is the ephah going out": This phrase establishes the vessel and the immediate action. The ephah is the symbol; "going out" signifies the process of its exposure or removal. This visual prepares Zechariah for the critical revelation of its contents.
• "This is their iniquity in all the earth": This group identifies the true substance represented by the ephah. It's the pervasive moral corruption and guilt (iniquity) that has infected the entire covenant land, making clear that God is addressing not isolated sins but a systemic spiritual sickness. Together, these phrases depict God's divine revelation and condemnation of collective sin within Israel.

Zechariah 5 6 Bonus section

• The deliberate choice of an "ephah" (a unit of measure) implicitly carries a polemic against practices such as unjust weights and measures, which were forbidden by the Mosaic Law (e.g., Deut 25:13-16) but often prevalent. This signifies that God's concern for holiness extends to economic ethics and societal justice. The ephah here becomes a container of the fruits of such unrighteousness.
• While verse 6 identifies the ephah's content as "iniquity," subsequent verses (Zech 5:7-8) introduce a "woman" identified as "Wickedness" (הָרִשְׁעָה, hā·riš·‘āh) within the ephah. This personification suggests that iniquity is not just an abstract concept but a living, active, and influential force that pervaded the land. The removal of "the woman" signifies God's decisive act of isolating and exiling this pervasive spiritual evil.
• The progression from the flying scroll (judging individual, public sins) to the ephah (judging national, pervasive sin, then "Wickedness" itself) shows a deepening focus on purification in Zechariah's visions. God addresses sin at both personal and corporate levels, demonstrating His commitment to making His people truly holy for His presence.

Zechariah 5 6 Commentary

Zechariah 5:6 serves as the divine explanation for the perplexing vision of the ephah, transforming a mundane measuring basket into a powerful symbol of national sin. The ephah, associated with daily commerce, underscores that the iniquity afflicting Judah was deeply embedded in its societal and economic life, often manifesting as injustice, fraud, and corruption. That it is "going out" implies God's active exposure and the process of bringing this pervasive evil to the forefront for judgment and removal. The explicit identification of its content as "their iniquity" emphasizes that the accumulated moral failures of the people have reached a point where they demand divine intervention. This is not merely an abstract concept but a concrete burden of guilt affecting the entire land. This vision assures the post-exilic community that God is acutely aware of the extent of their sin, yet also active in its cleansing, a necessary purification before He fully restores and blesses His people in His Holy Land. The purging of sin is foundational for future purity and the advent of God's Messiah.