1 Then I turned, H7725 and lifted up H5375 mine eyes, H5869 and looked, H7200 and behold a flying H5774 roll. H4039
Moreover the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Take H3947 thee a great H1419 roll, H1549 and write H3789 in it with a man's H582 pen H2747 concerning Mahershalalhashbaz. H4122
And it came to pass in the fourth H7243 year H8141 of Jehoiakim H3079 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 that this word H1697 came unto Jeremiah H3414 from the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Take H3947 thee a roll H4039 of a book, H5612 and write H3789 therein all the words H1697 that I have spoken H1696 unto thee against Israel, H3478 and against Judah, H3063 and against all the nations, H1471 from the day H3117 I spake H1696 unto thee, from the days H3117 of Josiah, H2977 even unto this day. H3117 It may be that the house H1004 of Judah H3063 will hear H8085 all the evil H7451 which I purpose H2803 to do H6213 unto them; that they may return H7725 every man H376 from his evil H7451 way; H1870 that I may forgive H5545 their iniquity H5771 and their sin. H2403 Then Jeremiah H3414 called H7121 Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Neriah: H5374 and Baruch H1263 wrote H3789 from the mouth H6310 of Jeremiah H3414 all the words H1697 of the LORD, H3068 which he had spoken H1696 unto him, upon a roll H4039 of a book. H5612 And Jeremiah H3414 commanded H6680 Baruch, H1263 saying, H559 I am shut up; H6113 I cannot H3201 go H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 Therefore go H935 thou, and read H7121 in the roll, H4039 which thou hast written H3789 from my mouth, H6310 the words H1697 of the LORD H3068 in the ears H241 of the people H5971 in the LORD'S H3068 house H1004 upon the fasting H6685 day: H3117 and also thou shalt read H7121 them in the ears H241 of all Judah H3063 that come out H935 of their cities. H5892
And they went in H935 to the king H4428 into the court, H2691 but they laid up H6485 the roll H4039 in the chamber H3957 of Elishama H476 the scribe, H5608 and told H5046 all the words H1697 in the ears H241 of the king. H4428 So the king H4428 sent H7971 Jehudi H3065 to fetch H3947 the roll: H4039 and he took H3947 it out of Elishama H476 the scribe's H5608 chamber. H3957 And Jehudi H3065 read H7121 it in the ears H241 of the king, H4428 and in the ears H241 of all the princes H8269 which stood H5975 beside H5921 the king. H4428 Now the king H4428 sat H3427 in the winterhouse H1004 H2779 in the ninth H8671 month: H2320 and there was a fire on the hearth H254 burning H1197 before H6440 him. And it came to pass, that when Jehudi H3065 had read H7121 three H7969 or four H702 leaves, H1817 he cut H7167 it with the penknife, H8593 H5608 and cast H7993 it into the fire H784 that was on the hearth, H254 until all the roll H4039 was consumed H8552 in the fire H784 that was on the hearth. H254 Yet they were not afraid, H6342 nor rent H7167 their garments, H899 neither the king, H4428 nor any of his servants H5650 that heard H8085 all these words. H1697
Then the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came to Jeremiah, H3414 after H310 that the king H4428 had burned H8313 the roll, H4039 and the words H1697 which Baruch H1263 wrote H3789 at the mouth H6310 of Jeremiah, H3414 saying, H559 Take H3947 thee again H7725 another H312 roll, H4039 and write H3789 in it all the former H7223 words H1697 that were in the first H7223 roll, H4039 which Jehoiakim H3079 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 hath burned. H8313 And thou shalt say H559 to Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Thou hast burned H8313 this roll, H4039 saying, H559 Why hast thou written H3789 therein, saying, H559 The king H4428 of Babylon H894 shall certainly H935 come H935 and destroy H7843 this land, H776 and shall cause to cease H7673 from thence man H120 and beast? H929 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah; H3063 He shall have none to sit H3427 upon the throne H3678 of David: H1732 and his dead body H5038 shall be cast out H7993 in the day H3117 to the heat, H2721 and in the night H3915 to the frost. H7140 And I will punish H6485 him and his seed H2233 and his servants H5650 for their iniquity; H5771 and I will bring H935 upon them, and upon the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 and upon the men H376 of Judah, H3063 all the evil H7451 that I have pronounced H1696 against them; but they hearkened H8085 not. Then took H3947 Jeremiah H3414 another H312 roll, H4039 and gave H5414 it to Baruch H1263 the scribe, H5608 the son H1121 of Neriah; H5374 who wrote H3789 therein from the mouth H6310 of Jeremiah H3414 all the words H1697 of the book H5612 which Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah H3063 had burned H8313 in the fire: H784 and there were added H3254 besides unto them many H7227 like H1992 words. H1697
And when I looked, H7200 behold, an hand H3027 was sent H7971 unto me; and, lo, a roll H4039 of a book H5612 was therein; And he spread H6566 it before H6440 me; and it was written H3789 within H6440 and without: H268 and there was written H3789 therein lamentations, H7015 and mourning, H1899 and woe. H1958
And G2532 I saw G1492 in G1909 the right hand G1188 of him that sat G2521 on G1909 the throne G2362 a book G975 written G1125 within G2081 and G2532 on the backside, G3693 sealed G2696 with seven G2033 seals. G4973 And G2532 I saw G1492 a strong G2478 angel G32 proclaiming G2784 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 Who G5101 is G2076 worthy G514 to open G455 the book, G975 and G2532 to loose G3089 the seals G4973 thereof? G846 And G2532 no man G3762 in G1722 heaven, G3772 nor G3761 in G1909 earth, G1093 neither G3761 under G5270 the earth, G1093 was able G1410 to open G455 the book, G975 neither G3761 to look G991 thereon. G846 And G2532 I G1473 wept G2799 much, G4183 because G3754 no man G3762 was found G2147 worthy G514 to open G455 and G2532 to read G314 the book, G975 neither G3777 to look G991 thereon. G846 And G2532 one G1520 of G1537 the elders G4245 saith G3004 unto me, G3427 Weep G2799 not: G3361 behold, G2400 the Lion G3023 of G5607 G1537 the tribe G5443 of Juda, G2455 the Root G4491 of David, G1138 hath prevailed G3528 to open G455 the book, G975 and G2532 to loose G3089 the seven G2033 seals G4973 thereof. G846 And G2532 I beheld, G1492 and, G2532 lo, G2400 in G1722 the midst G3319 of the throne G2362 and G2532 of the four G5064 beasts, G2226 and G2532 in G1722 the midst G3319 of the elders, G4245 stood G2476 a Lamb G721 as G5613 it had been slain, G4969 having G2192 seven G2033 horns G2768 and G2532 seven G2033 eyes, G3788 which G3739 are G1526 the seven G2033 Spirits G4151 of God G2316 sent forth G649 into G1519 all G3956 the earth. G1093 And G2532 he came G2064 and G2532 took G2983 the book G975 out of G1537 the right hand G1188 of him that sat G2521 upon G1909 the throne. G2362 And G2532 when G3753 he had taken G2983 the book, G975 the four G5064 beasts G2226 and G2532 four G5064 and twenty G1501 elders G4245 fell down G4098 before G1799 the Lamb, G721 having G2192 every one of them G1538 harps, G2788 and G2532 golden G5552 vials G5357 full G1073 of odours, G2368 which G3739 are G1526 the prayers G4335 of saints. G40 And G2532 they sung G103 a new G2537 song, G5603 saying, G3004 Thou art G1488 worthy G514 to take G2983 the book, G975 and G2532 to open G455 the seals G4973 thereof: G846 for G3754 thou wast slain, G4969 and G2532 hast redeemed G59 us G2248 to God G2316 by G1722 thy G4675 blood G129 out of G1537 every G3956 kindred, G5443 and G2532 tongue, G1100 and G2532 people, G2992 and G2532 nation; G1484 And G2532 hast made G4160 us G2248 unto our G2257 God G2316 kings G935 and G2532 priests: G2409 and G2532 we shall reign G936 on G1909 the earth. G1093 And G2532 I beheld, G1492 and G2532 I heard G191 the voice G5456 of many G4183 angels G32 round about G2943 the throne G2362 and G2532 the beasts G2226 and G2532 the elders: G4245 and G2532 the number G706 of them G846 was G2258 ten thousand G3461 times ten thousand, G3461 and G2532 thousands G5505 of thousands; G5505 Saying G3004 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 Worthy G514 is G2076 the Lamb G721 that was slain G4969 to receive G2983 power, G1411 and G2532 riches, G4149 and G2532 wisdom, G4678 and G2532 strength, G2479 and G2532 honour, G5092 and G2532 glory, G1391 and G2532 blessing. G2129 And G2532 every G3956 creature G2938 which G3739 is G2076 in G1722 heaven, G3772 and G2532 on G1722 the earth, G1093 and G2532 under G5270 the earth, G1093 and G2532 such as G3739 are G2076 in G1909 the sea, G2281 and G2532 all G3956 that are in G1722 them, G846 heard I G191 saying, G3004 Blessing, G2129 and G2532 honour, G5092 and G2532 glory, G1391 and G2532 power, G2904 be unto him that sitteth G2521 upon G1909 the throne, G2362 and G2532 unto the Lamb G721 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 And G2532 the four G5064 beasts G2226 said, G3004 Amen. G281 And G2532 the four G5064 and twenty G1501 elders G4245 fell down G4098 and G2532 worshipped G4352 him that liveth G2198 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165
And G2532 he had G2192 in G1722 his G846 hand G5495 a little book G974 open: G455 and G2532 he set G5087 his G846 right G1188 foot G4228 upon G1909 the sea, G2281 and G1161 his left G2176 foot on G1909 the earth, G1093
And G2532 the voice G5456 which G3739 I heard G191 from G1537 heaven G3772 spake G2980 unto G3326 me G1700 again, G3825 and G2532 said, G3004 Go G5217 and take G2983 the little book G974 which G3588 is open G455 in G1722 the hand G5495 of the angel G32 which G3588 standeth G2476 upon G1909 the sea G2281 and G2532 upon G1909 the earth. G1093 And G2532 I went G565 unto G4314 the angel, G32 and said G3004 unto him, G846 Give G1325 me G3427 the little book. G974 And G2532 he said G3004 unto me, G3427 Take G2983 it, and G2532 eat G2719 it G846 up; G2719 and it G2532 shall make G4087 thy G4675 belly G2836 bitter, G4087 but G235 it shall be G2071 in G1722 thy G4675 mouth G4750 sweet G1099 as G5613 honey. G3192 And G2532 I took G2983 the little book G974 out of G1537 the angel's G32 hand, G5495 and G2532 ate G2719 it G846 up; G2719 and G2532 it was G2258 in G1722 my G3450 mouth G4750 sweet G1099 as G5613 honey: G3192 and G2532 as soon as G3753 I had eaten G5315 it, G846 my G3450 belly G2836 was bitter. G4087 And G2532 he said G3004 unto me, G3427 Thou G4571 must G1163 prophesy G4395 again G3825 before G1909 many G4183 peoples, G2992 and G2532 nations, G1484 and G2532 tongues, G1100 and G2532 kings. G935
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Zechariah 5
Commentary on Zechariah 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Zec 5:1-4. 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 (De 27:15-26; 28:15-68). Being written implied that its contents were beyond all escape or repeal (Eze 2:9). 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 (Zec 5:2). 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" (Zec 5:3) [Vatablus] connects it with the two tables of the law (Ex 32:15), and implies its comprehensiveness. One side denounced "him that sweareth falsely (Zec 5:4) 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 (1Ki 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 (Ps 40:7).
3. curse … earth—(Mal 4:6). 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 (Ro 2:15).
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 Zec 5:4) [Maurer]; so "hence" is used, Ge 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 Ne 13:10; Mal 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 (Mal 3:5). Stealing and perjury go together; for the covetous and fraudulent perjure themselves by God's name without scruple (see Pr 30:9).
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 (Le 14:15; compare 1Ki 18:38).
Zec 5:5-11. 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" (Zec 5:6), 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 Zec 3:9; Isa 27:9; 52:1; 60:21; Jer 50:20; Zep 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 Eze 1:4, 5, 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, Pr 2:16; 5:3, 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," 2Th 2:3.
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" (Zec 4:14) 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, 2Th 2:3, 7, 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 (Re 17:3-5).
11. To build … house in … Shinar—Babylonia (Ge 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 (Jer 29:5, 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.