Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version I asked, “What is it?” He replied, “It is a basket.” And he added, “This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.” New Living Translation “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.” English Standard Version 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.” Berean Standard Bible “What is it?” I asked. And he replied, “A measuring basket is going forth.” Then he continued, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” Berean Literal Bible And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the basket that is going forth.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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: New American Standard Bible And I said, “What is it?” Then he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land. NASB 1995 I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land NASB 1977 And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land Legacy Standard Bible So I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land Amplified Bible And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah (grain basket) going forth. This,” he continued, “is their appearance throughout the land Berean Annotated Bible “What is it? I asked. And he replied, “A measuring basket (An ephah) is going forth. Then he continued, “This is their iniquity [their eye] in all the land. Christian Standard Bible So I asked, “What is it? ” He responded, “It’s a measuring basket that is approaching.” And he continued, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” Holman Christian Standard Bible So I asked, “What is it?” He responded, “It’s a measuring basket that is approaching.” And he continued, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” American Standard Version And I said, What is it? And he said, This is the ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their appearance in all the land Contemporary English Version "I don't know what it is," was my reply. "It's a big basket," he said. "And it shows what everyone in the land has in mind." English Revised Version And I said, What is it? And he said, This is the ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance in all the land: GOD'S WORD® Translation "What is it?" I asked. "A basket is coming," he said. Then he added, "This is what the people's sins look like all over the earth." Good News Translation "What is it?" I asked. He replied, "It is a basket, and it stands for the sin of the whole land." International Standard Version So I asked, "What is it?" He replied, "This is a basket making its appearance." He also said, "This is what it appears to be in the entire land." NET Bible I asked, "What is it?" And he replied, "It is a basket for measuring grain that is moving away from here." Moreover, he said, "This is their 'eye' throughout all the earth." New Heart English Bible And I said, "What is it?" And he said, "This is the ephah basket that is appearing." And he said moreover, "This is their iniquity throughout the land." Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“What is it?” I asked. And he replied, “A measuring basket is going forth.” Then he continued, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” World English Bible I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the ephah basket that is appearing.” He said moreover, “This is their appearance in all the land— Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd I say, “What [is] it?” And he says, “This—the ephah that is coming forth.” And he says, “This [is] their aspect in all the land. Berean Literal Bible And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the basket that is going forth.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” Young's Literal Translation And I say, 'What is it?' And he saith, 'This -- the ephah that is coming forth.' And he saith, 'This is their aspect in all the land. Smith's Literal Translation And saying, What is it? And he will say to me, This the ephah going forth. And he will say, This their eye in all the earth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I said: What is it? And he said: This is a vessel going forth. And he said: This is their eye in all the earth. Catholic Public Domain Version And I said, “What, then, is it?” And he said, “This is a container going forth.” And he said, “This is their eye in all the earth.” New American Bible I said, “What is it?” And he answered, “This is the basket that is coming.” And he said, “This is their guilt in all the land.” New Revised Standard Version I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is a basket coming out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd I said, What is it? And he said to me, This is an ephah that goes forth, and in it are the transgressions of the whole earth. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And I said: “What is this?” And he said to me: “This is a measure that goes out, and in it are the debts of all the Earth!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And I said: 'What is it?' And he said: 'This is the measure that goeth forth.' He said moreover: 'This is their eye in all the land-- Brenton Septuagint Translation And I said, What is it? And he said, This is the measure that goes forth. And he said, This is their iniquity in all the earth. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Vision of the Woman in a Basket5Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and told me, “Now lift up your eyes and see what is approaching.” 6“What is it?” I asked. And he replied, “ A measuring basket is going forth.” Then he continued, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” 7And behold, the cover of lead was raised, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket.… Cross References “What is it?” I asked. Zechariah 4:4-5 “What are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me. / “Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered. Daniel 7:15-16 I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me. / I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things: Daniel 8:15-17 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. / And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.” / As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.” And he replied, “A measuring basket is going forth.” Amos 8:5-6 asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. / Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!” Ezekiel 45:10-12 You must use honest scales, a just ephah, and a just bath. / The ephah and the bath shall be the same quantity so that the bath will contain a tenth of a homer, and the ephah a tenth of a homer; the homer will be the standard measure for both. / The shekel will consist of twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels will equal one mina. Micah 6:10-11 Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed? / Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights? Then he continued, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” Ezekiel 7:23 Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence. Hosea 4:1-3 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. / Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear. Isaiah 24:5 The earth is defiled by its people; they have transgressed the laws; they have overstepped the decrees and broken the everlasting covenant. Revelation 18:2-3 And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. / All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.” Revelation 17:1-5 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” / And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. … Jeremiah 51:7 Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad. Isaiah 47:7-9 You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome. / So now hear this, O lover of luxury who sits securely, who says to herself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.’ / These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells. Revelation 14:8 Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.” Habakkuk 2:6-8 Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’ / Will not your creditors suddenly arise and those who disturb you awaken? Then you will become their prey. / Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers. Jeremiah 25:15-16 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it. / And they will drink and stagger and go out of their minds, because of the sword that I will send among them.” Treasury of Scripture And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goes forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. This is an ephah. Ezekiel 44:10,11 And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity… Amos 8:5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? Jump to Previous Added Appearance Appearing Aspect Basket Earth Ephah Evil-Doing Eye Forth Further Goes Iniquity Measure Measuring Moreover Resemblance Said ThroughoutJump to Next Added Appearance Appearing Aspect Basket Earth Ephah Evil-Doing Eye Forth Further Goes Iniquity Measure Measuring Moreover Resemblance Said ThroughoutZechariah 5 1. By the flying scroll is shown the curse of thieves and swearers;5. and by a woman pressed in an ephah the final judgment of wickedness. “What is it?” I asked. This phrase reflects the prophet Zechariah's curiosity and desire for understanding regarding the vision he is witnessing. In the context of biblical prophecy, questions often signify a search for divine wisdom and insight. Zechariah's inquiry is reminiscent of other prophetic dialogues, such as those found in Daniel and Revelation, where the seer seeks clarity on the visions presented. This approach underscores the importance of seeking God's interpretation rather than relying on human understanding. And he replied, “A measuring basket is going forth.” Then he continued, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” Persons / Places / Events 1. ZechariahA prophet of the post-exilic period who received visions from God to encourage the Israelites in rebuilding the temple and renewing their covenant with God. 2. Angel A divine messenger who interprets the visions for Zechariah, providing clarity and understanding of God's messages. 3. Measuring Basket (Ephah) A large container used for measuring grain, symbolizing the iniquity and wickedness of the people in the land. 4. The Land Refers to the land of Israel, representing the people and their collective moral and spiritual state. 5. Iniquity The sin and moral corruption prevalent among the people, which God is addressing through this vision. Teaching Points Symbolism of the Measuring BasketThe ephah represents the full measure of sin and iniquity. It serves as a reminder that God is aware of the moral state of His people and will address it in His timing. Divine Judgment and Mercy While the vision highlights iniquity, it also implies God's intention to purify and restore. Believers are encouraged to examine their lives and seek God's mercy and forgiveness. Call to Righteousness The passage challenges believers to live with integrity and righteousness, avoiding the deceit and corruption symbolized by the ephah. Awareness of Sin Just as the ephah reveals the iniquity in the land, believers are called to be aware of their own sins and the need for repentance. God's Sovereignty The vision underscores God's control over the moral order and His ultimate plan to address sin, encouraging trust in His justice and timing. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Zechariah 5:6?2. What does the "flying scroll" symbolize in Zechariah 5:6 for believers today? 3. How can we apply the warning of Zechariah 5:6 to our daily lives? 4. What connections exist between Zechariah 5:6 and God's judgment in other Scriptures? 5. How does Zechariah 5:6 encourage us to uphold God's standards in society? 6. In what ways does Zechariah 5:6 challenge our understanding of sin and justice? 7. What is the significance of the ephah in Zechariah 5:6? 8. How does Zechariah 5:6 relate to God's judgment? 9. What does the flying scroll symbolize in Zechariah 5:6? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Zechariah 5? 11. What visions and messages did Zechariah receive from God? 12. What archaeological evidence supports or contradicts the idea of a physical basket and woman representing wickedness (Zechariah 5:5–8)? 13. Why does Zechariah 5:11 place wickedness in Shinar, and is there any historical or textual indication this actually happened in postexilic times? 14. What are the symbolic meanings of Zechariah's visions? What Does Zechariah 5:6 Mean “What is it?” I askedZechariah, face-to-face with another night vision, honestly asks for clarity—a reminder that God welcomes sincere questions (cf. Zechariah 4:4; Daniel 8:15). • The question shows humility; instead of assuming, the prophet seeks revelation (James 1:5). • It also underscores that every vision has a concrete meaning, not a vague impression (Habakkuk 2:2–3). • God’s messenger immediately responds, illustrating the Lord’s readiness to make His word plain to those who ask (Jeremiah 33:3). “A measuring basket is going forth” The angel identifies the object as an ephah-basket, a standard commercial measure (Leviticus 19:35–36). • Going forth pictures the basket moving through the land, exposing what it contains everywhere it travels (Amos 8:5–7). • A measuring basket implies accurate, righteous standards; God’s justice weighs deeds precisely (Proverbs 16:11; Revelation 11:1). • In a society where dishonest scales were common, the vision confronts systemic corruption (Micah 6:10–11). • God’s measure is on the move, unstoppably carrying out His purpose (Zechariah 1:10–11). “This is their iniquity in all the land” The contents of the basket symbolize the nation’s collective sin. • Iniquity is treated as a tangible load that can be lifted, confined, and ultimately removed (Psalm 103:10–12). • “In all the land” makes the indictment comprehensive; no town or tribe escapes the charge (Ezekiel 7:2–4). • The vision prepares for the next verses, where wickedness is sealed inside and carried away, promising both judgment and cleansing (Zechariah 5:7–11; Isaiah 1:25–26). • God exposes sin so He can deal with it; conviction is the first step toward restoration (John 16:8; 1 John 1:9). summary Zechariah asks, God answers, and the vision of the traveling ephah declares that the Lord is actively measuring, revealing, and addressing the nation’s wrongdoing. The basket’s journey announces a just standard and foreshadows the removal of wickedness, assuring God’s people that He neither overlooks sin nor abandons His plan to purify the land. Verse 6. - What is it? The prophet did not clearly discern the object, or his question may mean, "What does it signify?" An ephah; the ephah, as "the curse" (ver. 3). The ephah was the largest of the dry measures in use among the Jews, and was equal to six or seven gallons. It was, of course, too small to contain a woman. The LXX. calls it simply "the measure;" the Vulgate, amphora; and it must be considered as an imaginary vessel of huge size. It may have a tacit reference to dishonest dealings (comp. Amos 8:5; Micah 6:10). This is their resemblance; literally, this is their eye. The Authorized Version explains the meaning accurately. "Eye" is often used for that which is seen, as in Leviticus 13:55, where the Authorized Version has "colour;" and Numbers 11:7, where in reference to the manna we read, "The eve thereof was as the eye of bdellium" (comp. Ezekiel 1:4, 16). So here the meaning is: This ephah and this whole vision represent the wicked in the land. Some take "the eye" to mean the object of sight, that to which they look. But the ephah was not sot forth for all the people to examine. The LXX. and Syriac, from some variation in the reading, have ἀδικία, "iniquity," and some critics have desired to adopt this in the text. But authority and necessity are equally wanting.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Whatמַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what is it?” הִ֑יא (hî) Pronoun - third person feminine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are I asked. וָאֹמַ֖ר (wā·’ō·mar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 559: To utter, say And he replied, וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “It is זֹ֤את (zōṯ) Pronoun - feminine singular Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that, a measuring basket הָֽאֵיפָה֙ (hā·’ê·p̄āh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 374: Ephah -- an ephah (a measure of grain) that is approaching.” הַיּוֹצֵ֔את (hay·yō·w·ṣêṯ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim Then he continued, וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “This זֹ֥את (zōṯ) Pronoun - feminine singular Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that, is their iniquity עֵינָ֖ם (‘ê·nām) Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain in all בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the land.” הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land Links Zechariah 5:6 NIVZechariah 5:6 NLT Zechariah 5:6 ESV Zechariah 5:6 NASB Zechariah 5:6 KJV Zechariah 5:6 BibleApps.com Zechariah 5:6 Biblia Paralela Zechariah 5:6 Chinese Bible Zechariah 5:6 French Bible Zechariah 5:6 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Zechariah 5:6 I said What is it? He said (Zech. Zec Zc) |
    |