Overview

Zechariah 5 presents the sixth and seventh visions given to the prophet Zechariah during the night. These visions include:

1. A flying scroll (vv. 1-4), symbolizing the curse that goes out over the whole land against thieves and liars.

2. A woman in a basket (ephah) (vv. 5-11), representing wickedness being confined and ultimately transported to the land of Shinar (Babylon).

This chapter shifts the tone from restoration to purification and judgment. It reveals God’s intention not only to bless and restore Israel but also to cleanse the land from sin and wickedness. The vision emphasizes God’s holiness, justice, and sovereign authority over sin and its consequences.

From a theological standpoint, Zechariah 5 underlines the biblical doctrine of judgment, moral accountability, and the removal of iniquity—crucial themes for understanding the work of Christ and the nature of God’s kingdom.

Historical and Literary Context

Historical Setting

Zechariah ministered to the post-exilic community of Judah around 520-518 BC, during the Persian Empire’s rule. The Jews had returned from Babylonian exile and were in the process of rebuilding the temple. The people were discouraged, spiritually apathetic, and surrounded by foreign influences. Zechariah’s visions served to awaken their faith, rekindle hope, and realign the nation’s focus toward holiness and obedience to God’s covenant.

The chapter reflects a necessary call to moral reformation in preparation for the promised blessings and the future messianic kingdom. Restoration of the temple was not merely about physical rebuilding but about spiritual renewal.

Literary Form

Zechariah 5 is apocalyptic and symbolic in nature. These visions use dramatic imagery:

• Flying Scroll: A visible, authoritative decree from God representing judgment.

• Ephah Basket with a Woman: A personified image of wickedness being contained and relocated.

Apocalyptic language in Zechariah functions as a theological alarm, waking God’s people to unseen realities—divine justice, cleansing, and eschatological preparation.

Key Themes and Doctrinal Points

1. God’s Holiness and Judgment Against Sin

• The flying scroll represents God’s active and visible judgment against personal and societal sins (v.3).

• The sins named—stealing and lying under oath—likely symbolize violations of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20).

• God’s law stands firm and applies universally, and His justice cannot be ignored by His covenant people.

Doctrine: God is holy and cannot tolerate sin. His judgments are true, and every act of wickedness will face divine reckoning.
(Romans 1:18, Hebrews 10:30)

2. Divine Sovereignty in Purging Evil

• The woman in the basket (ephah) represents the personification of wickedness, actively restrained and sent away.

• The ephah (a commercial measuring container) could indicate economic corruption, linked with Babylonian materialism and idolatry.

• The sealing with a lead cover shows that God controls the restraint and ultimate destination of evil.

Doctrine: God is sovereign over evil, and His plans include its removal from among His people. Evil has no future in God’s kingdom.
(Revelation 18:2-5, Zephaniah 3:11-13)

3. Separation from Wickedness and False Religion

• The land of Shinar (Babylon) is the destination of the basket—Babylon represents rebellion, worldliness, and idolatry in Scripture (cf. Genesis 11:2, Revelation 17-18).

• God’s people are called to be holy and separate from ungodliness, symbolized here by removing wickedness from the holy land.

Doctrine: God calls His people to purity and distinguishes them from the world. There can be no compromise with sin or false worship.
(2 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Peter 1:14-16)

4. The Role of God’s Word in Judgment

• The scroll carries God’s curse—His Word is living and active, capable of both blessing and judgment (v.3-4).

• God’s Word is not void—it penetrates homes, hearts, and nations to bring about His will.

Doctrine: The Word of God is the standard of judgment. It is binding, inerrant, and reveals God’s moral expectations.
(Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 55:11)

5. Preparation for the Messianic Kingdom

• Before God’s full blessing can be poured out, the land must be cleansed. This vision anticipates the final defeat of sin and the purified people of God under the reign of Christ.

Doctrine: The cleansing of sin and judgment upon wickedness prepares the way for the coming King and His righteous rule.
(Malachi 3:2-3, Revelation 21:27)

Verse-by-Verse Analysis (Zechariah 5:1-11)

Zechariah 5:1-2 – The Flying Scroll

“I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll. He asked me, ‘What do you see?’ I answered, ‘I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.’”

• Literal meaning: The vision presents a scroll, unrolled and flying—symbolizing divine judgment going forth rapidly and visibly across the land.

• Dimensions: 20 x 10 cubits (approx. 30 x 15 feet)—the same size as the Holy Place in the Tabernacle (1 Kings 6:3) and possibly the porch of Solomon’s Temple. This may signify that the judgment is holy, authoritative, and public.

• Application: God’s Word is not hidden or passive—it moves and acts. His judgment is not arbitrary but based on His holy standards.

Zechariah 5:3 – The Curse on Thieves and Liars

“And he said to me, ‘This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.’”

• Literal meaning: The scroll contains a double-sided curse, likely echoing the tablets of the Law (Exodus 20). Theft and false oaths represent a violation of commandments—both against fellow man and against God.

• Doctrinal Insight: Sin brings a curse, and God is righteous to judge it (Galatians 3:10). God’s covenant involves both blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 28).

• Cross-References: Revelation 22:15 (those who practice lying are excluded from the New Jerusalem); Exodus 20:15-16.

• Application: Today’s believers are reminded that integrity before God and others matters—there is no room for hidden sin in the house of God.

Zechariah 5:4 – The Curse Enters the House

“The LORD Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.’”

• Literal meaning: The curse is not merely external judgment—it penetrates personal spaces and roots out sin at the core.

• Doctrinal Insight: God’s judgment is not superficial. He knows the heart and will expose all sin (Hebrews 4:13).

• Application: The Christian home must be built on truth and righteousness. Secret sin brings decay and destruction (cf. Psalm 101:2).

Zechariah 5:5-6 – The Ephah and the Woman

“Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, ‘Look up and see what is appearing.’ I asked, ‘What is it?’ He replied, ‘It is a basket.’ And he added, ‘This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.’”

• Ephah (basket): A commercial unit of measure, often linked with trade—here, it symbolizes corporate wickedness, particularly economic and moral corruption.

• The woman: Likely personifying Wickedness—as Proverbs often personifies folly and sin as a woman (see Proverbs 5-7).

Zechariah 5:7-8 – Wickedness Sealed

“Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! He said, ‘This is wickedness,’ and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.”

• Lead cover: Symbolizes containment and suppression. Wickedness is not just exposed—it is restrained by divine action.

• Cross-Reference: Revelation 20:2-3 (Satan bound); Romans 1:18 (the wrath of God revealed against wickedness).

• Application: Only God can restrain evil fully. This shows His sovereign authority over sin and points to the need for repentance and holy living.

Zechariah 5:9-11 – Wickedness Relocated to Babylon

“Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth… ‘To build a house for it in the land of Babylonia; when it is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.’”

• Babylon/Shinar: The biblical symbol of false religion, rebellion, and idolatry (Genesis 11:2; Revelation 17-18).

• Theological meaning: Wickedness is removed from the land of promise and sent to its proper place. There, it will have a “house”—perhaps implying a final judgment or exposure.

• Doctrinal Insight: God not only judges sin but removes it from His people. This reflects the ultimate purification of the world through Christ’s return (Malachi 3:3, Revelation 18:4).

• Application: We are to reject Babylon’s values (worldliness) and live as holy people in God’s presence (Romans 12:2).

Theological Implications and Connection to Jesus Christ

1. Christ as the Final Judge and Curse-Bearer
   • The scroll speaks of a curse. Christ became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13), fulfilling the demands of the Law through His substitutionary death.

   • Jesus will also return as Judge (John 5:22). The judgment seen in Zechariah 5 foreshadows Christ’s righteous judgment at the end of the age (Revelation 19:11-16).

2. Jesus Removes Iniquity
   • The removal of the woman (wickedness) points to Jesus’ mission to take away sin from His people (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:26).

   • Just as sin is sealed and relocated in the vision, Jesus decisively defeated sin through His resurrection (Romans 6:10).

3. Jesus Cleanses the Temple
   • Zechariah 5 underscores the need to cleanse the land and the people—Jesus fulfills this by cleansing His church (Ephesians 5:25-27), just as He drove out money-changers from the temple (John 2:13-17).

4. Final Babylon and the New Jerusalem
   • Revelation parallels this vision with the fall of Babylon the Great (Revelation 18) and the establishment of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).

   • Jesus, as King of Kings, ushers in a kingdom of righteousness where wickedness has no place.

Connection to God the Father

1. God the Father as the Source of Judgment
   • Zechariah repeatedly references “the LORD Almighty” (Yahweh Sabaoth)—a title emphasizing God the Father’s authority over heavenly armies and earthly affairs.

   • The scroll and basket are under His control. All judgment flows from the Father’s holiness (Isaiah 6:3-5; John 5:30).

2. The Father’s Desire for Holiness Among His People
   • This chapter reveals the Father’s heart to purify His covenant people, not merely restore their land (cf. Leviticus 11:44-45).

   • He will not allow sin to dwell among His people unchecked—He disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:5-11).

3. The Father’s Sovereign Plan Over Evil
   • Even the relocation of wickedness to Babylon is executed under God’s direction. He appoints the place, the means, and the time.

   • This affirms that God is not reacting to sin—He is actively and sovereignly ruling over all things, including the restraint and removal of evil (Romans 8:28).

Connection to the Holy Spirit

While Zechariah 5 does not explicitly mention the Holy Spirit, the chapter connects to the Spirit’s role in several key ways:

1. The Holy Spirit Convicts of Sin and Judgment

• The flying scroll (v.1-4) symbolizes the penetrating Word of God that exposes sin—a work attributed to the Spirit.

“When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8)

• Just as the scroll brings judgment into the homes, the Spirit searches hearts and uncovers hidden sin (Psalm 139:23-24).

2. The Spirit Purifies God’s People

• The vision of wickedness being sealed and removed (v.5-11) foreshadows the Spirit’s role in sanctifying believers and cleansing the church (1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5).

• The Spirit drives transformation that results in holy living and moral renewal, just as God removes wickedness from the land.

3. The Spirit Empowers Separation from the World

• As wickedness is relocated to Babylon, the Holy Spirit enables believers to resist the world’s corruption (Galatians 5:16) and walk in the light.

In summary: The Holy Spirit is the one who applies the message of Zechariah 5 to the hearts of believers by convicting, cleansing, and empowering them to live holy lives.

Sermon Outline and Flow

Title: “When Wickedness Is Removed: God’s Holy Judgment and Hope”

Text: Zechariah 5:1-11

Introduction:

• Open with a story about a renovation crew discovering mold behind a wall—it looked clean on the outside, but inside was rot that needed to be cut out before rebuilding could continue.

• Transition: Just like hidden mold in a home, sin left untreated festers and destroys. Zechariah 5 shows us how God cleans house.

Main Point 1: God’s Word Exposes and Judges Sin (vv. 1-4)

Transition: Zechariah sees a scroll—huge and airborne.

• The scroll is God’s written Word, declaring judgment.

• It addresses two sins: stealing (against others) and lying under oath (against God).

• Application: Sin cannot be hidden. God’s Word will expose what is false—even in our homes.

• Example: Like a legal eviction notice, the scroll gives divine warning. God will not dwell where sin is defended.

Main Point 2: God Seals and Removes Wickedness (vv. 5-8)

Transition: Now Zechariah sees a woman in a basket—strange imagery, but powerful.

• The woman represents personified wickedness—she is restrained and sealed.

• The ephah (measuring basket) represents commerce and daily life—sin has saturated the marketplace.

• Application: God’s justice is not only retributive, but also redemptive—He actively removes wickedness from among His people.

• Illustration: Like locking a biohazard into a sealed container—God ensures sin cannot spread.

Main Point 3: God Sends Evil to Its Proper Place (vv. 9-11)

Transition: The basket is lifted by winged women and taken to Babylon.

• Babylon symbolizes idolatry, rebellion, and worldliness throughout Scripture.

• God prepares a place—not for blessing, but for judgment.

• Application: God is separating His people from the world’s systems. We must choose where we belong—Zion or Babylon.

• Call to Action: Are we tolerating sin, or allowing the Spirit to uproot it?

Conclusion:

• Zechariah 5 warns us but also calls us to hope. The God who judges also cleanses.

• Christ took our curse (Galatians 3:13), and the Spirit now purifies us.

• Call to Action:
  • Allow God’s Word to search your heart.

  • Confess and repent of hidden sin.

  • Commit to holiness in your home and daily life.

  • Reject Babylon and embrace the kingdom of Christ.

Illustrations and Examples

1. Personal Story: The Hidden Compartment

A man bought a used car and noticed a strange odor. After a week, he investigated and found spoiled food hidden under the seat. Cleaning the surface hadn’t fixed the issue—the problem was deeper.
Point: Sin must be exposed and removed, not just covered up. God’s Word reaches those hidden places.

2. Analogy: The Flying Scroll as a Drone of Justice

Imagine a drone delivering a court summons to your front door—there’s no avoiding it, no pretending it didn’t arrive. The scroll in Zechariah functions like a spiritual delivery from God’s courtroom—bringing the reality of justice to every doorstep.

3. Modern Example: Cybersecurity and Hidden Malware

In cybersecurity, hidden malware can corrupt a system silently for months. Antivirus software scans, detects, and removes it. Likewise, the Holy Spirit scans our hearts—revealing and removing the malware of sin.

4. Cultural Reference: “Canceling” Wickedness

Today’s culture “cancels” people for moral failure. God’s cancel culture is different—He doesn’t cancel the sinner but removes the sin through the power of the cross. Zechariah 5 shows that sin is evicted, not forgiven without cleansing.

Application for Today’s Christian

Zechariah 5 offers a sobering yet hopeful message for Christians today. Its vivid imagery helps us reflect on sin’s seriousness and God’s desire for a pure, holy people. Here are practical ways believers can apply this chapter in daily life:

1. Discipleship: Let God’s Word Shape Your Life

• Daily Scripture Intake: The flying scroll reminds us that God’s Word is authoritative and active. Spend time daily in the Bible, allowing it to expose areas of compromise.

• Obedience and Repentance: Discipleship involves turning from sin, not excusing it. Take sins like dishonesty, gossip, and theft seriously.

Application: Regularly pray, “Search me, God, and know my heart…” (Psalm 139:23-24).

2. Stewardship: Purity in Home and Business

• The sins of stealing and false swearing affect relationships and finances. Stewardship involves honesty, integrity, and accountability in all areas of life—home, work, and church.

Application: Conduct a personal audit—are you honoring God in how you handle money, promises, and your public witness?

3. Living Out Your Faith: Separate from Worldliness

• The basket of wickedness is carried to Babylon—a picture of moral separation. Christians are called to live counterculturally, reflecting God’s holiness.

Application: Reject cultural idols—materialism, deception, or compromise—and embrace a lifestyle of righteousness, even when it’s unpopular.

Connection to God’s Love

Though the imagery in Zechariah 5 is centered on judgment and removal, it is ultimately an expression of God’s faithful love. His actions are driven by His covenantal desire to restore and dwell with His people.

1. God’s Love Purifies, Not Just Pardons

• True love doesn’t leave us in sin—it delivers us from its grip. God’s removal of wickedness from the land is not to destroy His people, but to prepare them for His presence (cf. Zechariah 2:10-11).

• Like a good Father, God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). He is not content to let wickedness poison our lives.

2. God’s Redemptive Plan Is at Work

• Even in judgment, there is hope. The containment and removal of sin points to Christ, who came to bear the curse and remove iniquity (Isaiah 53:5-6).

• God’s judgment on sin is proof that He is committed to justice, righteousness, and ultimately, our restoration (Romans 5:8-9).

3. Love That Leads to a Clean Dwelling

• God removes wickedness to make room for His glory. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, the Father desires to dwell among a pure people. His love is holy and jealous for our affections (James 4:5-6).

Broader Biblical Themes

Zechariah 5 fits within several major theological threads that run throughout Scripture, making it a key chapter for understanding God’s redemptive work:

1. Creation and Holiness

• From creation, God has desired a people and a place that reflect His holiness (Genesis 1-2).

• The removal of sin from the land in Zechariah 5 echoes God’s original design for purity in Eden and anticipates the renewed creation.

2. Covenant and Law

• The flying scroll reflects the Mosaic covenant—blessings and curses depending on obedience (Deuteronomy 28).

• God’s judgment is covenant-based; He is not capricious but responds to rebellion in a righteous and consistent way.

3. Exile and Restoration

• Babylon (Shinar) represents exile and the consequences of sin (Genesis 11; 2 Kings 24).

• By relocating wickedness to Babylon, God symbolically reverses the exile of His people—He’s preparing the land for true restoration and return.

4. Redemption through Christ

• Zechariah 5’s themes are fulfilled in Jesus, who bore the curse (Galatians 3:13), cleansed the temple (John 2:15-17), and sanctifies His people (Ephesians 5:25-27).

• The removal of wickedness points forward to the final purification and the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1-4, 27).

5. The Coming Kingdom

• The cleansing of the land prepares for the kingdom of God, where righteousness dwells.

• As in Zechariah’s visions, the ultimate goal of redemptive history is not just the removal of sin, but the return of God’s presence in fullness (Zechariah 2:10-11; Revelation 21:3).

Reflection Questions

Use these questions for personal meditation, group study, or as sermon response prompts to help believers apply the truth of Zechariah 5 to their hearts and lives.

1. Where in your life might hidden sin be lurking, and how can you invite the Word of God to expose and deal with it?

Application: Consider your relationships, finances, and private thoughts. Is there any area you’ve tried to justify or ignore that God is calling you to confront?

2. The scroll represents God’s judgment based on His Word. How seriously do you take Scripture as your guide for living—and how does your daily routine reflect that?

Application: Evaluate your time in God’s Word. Are you allowing it to shape your choices, your speech, and your integrity?

3. What are some “Babylon-like” influences—worldly patterns or sinful habits—that God might be calling you to remove from your life or home?

Application: Reflect on entertainment, business practices, or priorities that may not align with God’s holiness.

4. How do you respond to correction and conviction from the Holy Spirit? Are you quick to repent and seek God’s cleansing, or do you resist it?

Application: Consider your attitude when the Holy Spirit highlights an area for change. Do you respond in humility or defensiveness?

5. In what ways can you grow in pursuing personal and family holiness, not out of fear, but out of love for a holy God who desires to dwell with you?

Application: What practices—like prayer, accountability, or teaching Scripture in the home—can you strengthen to foster purity and godliness?

6. How does the removal of wickedness in Zechariah 5 point you to the cleansing work of Jesus Christ? How does this deepen your gratitude for the gospel?

Application: Praise God for His grace and reflect on the specific ways Jesus has transformed your life. How might you share that story with others?

7. How can your church or small group be more intentional about helping one another walk in truth, resist worldliness, and grow in holiness?

Application: Consider creating a space for honest confession, spiritual growth, and mutual encouragement. Holiness is not a solo journey—it’s a shared calling in the body of Christ.

8. What would it look like for your life to be “set apart” from Babylon and fully surrendered to God’s kingdom purposes?

Application: Reflect on any compromises or distractions pulling you away from full devotion to Christ. What step of obedience is God asking you to take?