Zec 5 | MHM | STEP | The Vision of the Flying Roll. In this vision, Zechariah does not need to be awakened like before. He is already alert and looking for what God wants to show him next. When people learn from their past mistakes, they often become more careful and watchful. Zechariah looks up and sees a new vision that carries an important warning. v. 1-2 : Zechariah saw a large flying scroll, or roll, moving swiftly through the air. It was huge—twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide. The angel asked Zechariah what he saw, and he replied with a clear description. This flying scroll represents God’s law and His judgment. Just like the law was written down for everyone to know, God’s curse for breaking His law is also clear and cannot be ignored (Ezekiel 2:9-10 ). God’s word moves quickly, reaching everyone, and no one can escape its message (Psalm 147:15 ).

‏ Zechariah 5

The Vision of the Flying Roll.

In this vision, Zechariah does not need to be awakened like before. He is already alert and looking for what God wants to show him next. When people learn from their past mistakes, they often become more careful and watchful. Zechariah looks up and sees a new vision that carries an important warning.

v. 1-2: Zechariah saw a large flying scroll, or roll, moving swiftly through the air. It was huge—twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide. The angel asked Zechariah what he saw, and he replied with a clear description. This flying scroll represents God’s law and His judgment. Just like the law was written down for everyone to know, God’s curse for breaking His law is also clear and cannot be ignored (Ezekiel 2:9-10 ^a). God’s word moves quickly, reaching everyone, and no one can escape its message (Psalm 147:15 ^b).

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v. 3: The angel explained that this flying roll is a curse that goes out over the whole earth. It especially targets those who steal and those who swear falsely by God’s name. The curse is not limited to Israel but will find sinners wherever they are. All people are responsible before God, whether they have the written law or just the law in their hearts (Romans 2:14-15 ^c). The roll is large, showing that many curses are written against sin, and no one can escape God’s judgment without forgiveness.

v. 4: The curse will enter the house of every thief and everyone who swears falsely. It will remain there and destroy their houses, even down to the wood and stones. God’s curse is powerful and cannot be locked out. It brings ruin not only to the sinner but also to their family and home (Deuteronomy 28:17-18; Proverbs 3:33 ^d). Only true repentance and turning to God can remove this curse. This vision warns us that sin is serious and will always bring destruction if not dealt with.

The Vision of the Ephah.

This vision is more difficult to understand than the last one. It uses symbols to show the future judgment and scattering of the Jewish nation, especially because of their rejection of God’s ways. God reveals this warning in a hidden way so that it does not discourage the people as they work to rebuild at that time. The vision teaches that God is very exact in measuring sin and that there is a limit when judgment comes.

v. 5-6: The angel tells Zechariah to look up and see a new vision. Zechariah sees something moving but does not know what it is. The angel explains that it is an ephah, a measuring basket used in trade. This ephah represents the people’s sin and how it is being measured and watched by God. The Jewish nation is filling up the measure of its sins, and when it is full, judgment will come (Matthew 23:32; 1 Thessalonians 2:16 ^e).

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v. 7-8: Inside the ephah, Zechariah sees a woman sitting, and the angel says, “This is wickedness” (Zechariah 5:8 ^f). The woman stands for the sinful people or the sinful state of the nation. God’s people were meant to be holy, but now they are described as full of wickedness. Sin is most serious when it is found among those who should be faithful to God (Jeremiah 2:3 ^g).

v. 8: The angel throws a heavy lead cover over the ephah, trapping the woman inside. This shows that God’s judgment is unavoidable and cannot be escaped. Sin brings a heavy weight that leads to ruin and cannot be lifted by human strength (Job 27:22 ^h).

v. 9: Zechariah then sees two women with wings like a stork. They lift the ephah up and carry it away, pushed by the wind. This points to the coming destruction and scattering of the nation. God uses many means, even unexpected ones, to carry out His plans. The people’s sins make them a public example, as they are removed from their land and carried far away (1 Thessalonians 2:15 ⁱ).

v. 10-11: Zechariah asks where the ephah is being taken. The angel answers, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar” (Zechariah 5:11 ^j). Shinar means Babylon, a place of exile and judgment. The ephah is set down there, showing that the people will be settled in their punishment and their sin will remain with them. This is a warning that ongoing sin leads to lasting separation from God and a hardening of the heart (Romans 11:8 ^k).