Zechariah 5 8

Zechariah 5:8 kjv

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 5:8 nkjv

then he said, "This is Wickedness!" And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth.

Zechariah 5:8 niv

He said, "This is wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.

Zechariah 5:8 esv

And he said, "This is Wickedness." And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening.

Zechariah 5:8 nlt

The angel said, "The woman's name is Wickedness," and he pushed her back into the basket and closed the heavy lid again.

Zechariah 5 verses

Zechariah 5 8 meaning

Zechariah 5:8 describes the angelic interpreter's decisive action to contain "Wickedness," personified as a woman, within a measuring basket (ephah) and then to seal it securely with a heavy lead lid. This action signifies God's firm resolve to purify the land of Judah from pervasive sin and moral corruption, particularly that associated with commercial dishonesty and idolatry, removing it completely from His people.

Zechariah 5 8 Context

Zechariah 5:8 is part of a series of eight night visions given to the prophet Zechariah in the post-exilic period (c. 520 BC). The preceding visions offered encouragement for the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of God's people in Jerusalem. This sixth vision (the ephah vision, Zech 5:5-11) immediately follows the fifth vision (the flying scroll, Zech 5:1-4), which pronounced a universal curse on the land against widespread sins like theft and false oaths.

The ephah vision, then, specifically addresses the removal of wickedness from the land. The initial identification of the "woman" with "wickedness" and her containment in the ephah signifies a divine purification act. The historical context for the original audience, who had returned from Babylonian exile, was one of re-establishing a holy community. The continued presence of sin, especially economic dishonesty (implied by the "ephah," a common dry measure for commerce) and idolatry, hindered true restoration. The vision provided assurance that God Himself would purge this pervasive evil to make Jerusalem a truly holy city. It served as a direct polemic against the temptation for God's people to revert to the unrighteous practices and idolatry that characterized their Gentile neighbors, specifically those they had encountered in Babylon.

Zechariah 5 8 Word analysis

• And he said, "This is wickedness":

  • He: Refers to the interpreting angel (מַלְאָךְ mal'akh), who serves as Zechariah's guide through the visions (cf. Zech 1:9, 4:1, 5:5). The angel speaks with divine authority, directly identifying the core issue.
  • This: Refers directly to the "woman" seen sitting inside the ephah in the preceding verse (Zech 5:7).
  • Wickedness (רִשְׁעָה rish'ah): This strong Hebrew term denotes a fundamental unrighteousness, guilt, and lawlessness. It’s not just a single act but a deep-seated perversion or deviation from God's righteous standard. It encapsulates all moral evil and rebellion against divine law. This term is distinct from specific transgressions; it speaks of a state or system of ungodliness. Its identification with the woman personifies the evil that permeated the society.

• And he cast it into the midst of the ephah:

  • Cast (הִשְׁלִיךְ hishlikh): Implies a forceful, decisive action, a swift and final thrusting. There's no hesitation in removing and containing this evil.
  • It: The woman, now unequivocally identified as rish'ah (Wickedness).
  • Midst of the ephah (תּוֹךְ הָאֵיפָה tokh ha'ephah): The ephah (אֵיפָה 'ephah) was a common dry measure, equivalent to about a bushel or a half-bushel, typically used for grain. Its association with commerce makes it symbolic not only as a container but also as representing the commercial world, a sphere where dishonesty (false measures) was rampant and previously condemned (cf. Zech 5:3). Placing rish'ah within it signifies its encapsulation and restriction within specific societal aspects, and also its association with a type of sin prevalent in daily life and trade.

• And he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof:

  • Cast (וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ vayyashlekh): Another forceful action, indicating sealing, not just placing.
  • Weight of lead (אֶבֶן הָעוֹפֶרֶת 'even ha'opheret, lit. "stone of the lead"): Lead is a very heavy, dense metal. Its weight signifies immobility, finality, and secure containment. Once sealed with lead, escape is impossible without divine intervention. It's a symbol of permanence and the irreversible judgment against this encapsulated evil.
  • Mouth thereof: The opening of the ephah. Sealing it signifies preventing the escape of Wickedness and protecting the purity of the land from its influence.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "This is wickedness... cast it into the midst of the ephah": The identification and immediate confinement highlight God's intolerance for pervasive sin. The "ephah" suggests that commercial malpractice and associated moral failings are a key aspect of this "wickedness."
  • "cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof": This phrase emphasizes the definitive and absolute nature of the containment. It symbolizes God's powerful, unchallengeable act to seal away and suppress evil. This is a promise of complete removal and protection from its reemergence, demonstrating a sovereign act of divine purification for His people and their land.

Zechariah 5 8 Bonus section

• The angelic action in Zech 5:8 anticipates God's ultimate cleansing in the end times. Just as this "wickedness" is sealed, so too is the ultimate evil figure (Satan) to be bound and sealed in the abyss for a thousand years (Rev 20:2-3), ensuring the reign of righteousness.
• The symbolism of the "ephah" may also carry a nuanced polemic against specific practices of contemporary Babylonian or Persian culture, where false measures and exploitative trade were common. God's act of containing "Wickedness" in such a commercial vessel and shipping it to Shinar (Babylon) could symbolically be returning that type of sin to its origin.
• The use of lead (heavy, unyielding) contrasts with the flimsiness of many human attempts to manage or ignore sin. God's method is absolute and permanent.
• This verse reassures the struggling post-exilic community that divine power is actively working to cleanse their environment and heart, preparing them for true holiness and renewed blessing, a purification not left to human effort alone but orchestrated by God.

Zechariah 5 8 Commentary

Zechariah 5:8 marks a pivotal moment in the vision of the ephah. The angelic interpreter's clear declaration, "This is wickedness," establishes the woman inside the ephah as the personification of the widespread evil within the land. This "wickedness" encompasses not merely individual transgressions but a pervasive state of ungodliness, including the commercial deceit and idolatry that likely crept back into Judah after the return from exile.

The immediate action of thrusting this figure into the ephah—a measuring basket often associated with commerce—and then sealing it decisively with a heavy lead lid conveys a powerful message. It symbolizes God's determined and unalterable purpose to separate and remove all forms of impurity and sin from His covenant community. The lead weight guarantees the containment, indicating that this purification is not temporary but final, secured by divine power. This purification is essential for the nation's spiritual well-being and to fulfill God's plan for a holy temple and people. It demonstrates God’s active intervention against the corrupting influences that defiled His land and hindered the spiritual renewal of His people. The severity and decisiveness of the angel's actions underline the gravity of sin in God's sight and His resolute commitment to a holy covenant relationship.