Zechariah 5:1

ยถ Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.

Then I turned {H7725}, and lifted up {H5375} mine eyes {H5869}, and looked {H7200}, and behold a flying {H5774} roll {H4039}.

Again I raised my eyes, and I saw in front of me a flying scroll.

Again I lifted up my eyes and saw before me a flying scroll.

Then again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, a flying roll.

Commentary

Zechariah 5:1 introduces the fifth of eight symbolic "night visions" granted to the prophet Zechariah. These visions were given to the Jewish people who had returned from Babylonian exile, serving as a powerful message of encouragement, instruction, and divine promise as they worked to rebuild the Temple and restore their nation.

Context

This vision immediately follows the encouraging vision of the golden candlestick and two olive trees, which emphasized God's empowering Spirit for the leaders Zerubbabel and Joshua. Zechariah 5 marks a shift in focus from divine empowerment to divine purification. It addresses the moral and spiritual state of the post-exilic community, highlighting the necessity of removing sin and wickedness from the land before God's full blessing and presence could be established. The "flying roll" is the initial element of a two-part vision (Zechariah 5:1-4 and Zechariah 5:5-11), both concerned with the removal of iniquity.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Purification: The central theme is God's active and comprehensive judgment against sin. The "flying roll" symbolizes a divine curse or judgment that is about to sweep over the land, purging it of unrighteousness. This demonstrates God's commitment to holiness among His people.
  • The Universality of God's Law: Though not explicitly stated in verse 1, the subsequent verses (Zechariah 5:2-4) reveal the scroll's immense size and its contents related to theft and false swearing. This suggests that the scroll represents the Mosaic Law and its accompanying curses for disobedience, emphasizing that God's moral standards apply to all and cannot be escaped. The judgment is not arbitrary but according to divine statute.
  • God's Active Involvement in Cleansing: This vision assures the returned exiles that God Himself is taking action to cleanse the land. It provides comfort that God is not indifferent to the wickedness within His covenant people but is actively working to purify them, paving the way for true restoration.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "roll" is megillah (ืžึฐื’ึดืœึผึธื”), which specifically refers to a written scroll or document. Its "flying" nature ('aphah - ืขึธืคึธื”) is crucial; it signifies the swiftness, certainty, and pervasive reach of this divine decree. It's not a static message but a dynamic, active instrument of judgment that goes forth to accomplish its purpose without hindrance. The large dimensions (20 cubits long by 10 cubits wide, as detailed in Zechariah 5:2) are often understood to correspond to the size of the Temple's porch or courtyard, signifying that the judgment is directed at sins committed within the community and even those who profess to be near God.

Significance and Application

Zechariah's vision of the flying roll carries profound significance for believers today:

  • God's Holiness Demands Purity: It serves as a powerful reminder that God is holy and cannot tolerate sin among His people. Just as He acted to purify ancient Israel, He desires holiness in His church today.
  • The Certainty of Judgment: The "flying roll" illustrates that divine judgment for unrepentant sin is certain and inescapable. No act of disobedience goes unnoticed by God, and His justice will ultimately prevail, as seen in the opening of books at the final judgment.
  • Encouragement for the Righteous: For those who strive for righteousness and lament the presence of sin, this vision offers assurance that God is actively working to cleanse and purify. It provides hope that His kingdom will ultimately be free from all wickedness.
  • Call to Repentance: While God is sovereign in judgment, this vision also implicitly calls individuals to repentance and a life aligned with His commands, avoiding the very sins (like theft and false swearing) that the scroll condemns.
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Cross-References

  • Zechariah 5:2

    And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof [is] twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.

  • Ezekiel 2:9

    And when I looked, behold, an hand [was] sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book [was] therein;

  • Ezekiel 2:10

    And he spread it before me; and it [was] written within and without: and [there was] written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

  • Isaiah 8:1

    ยถ Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

  • Jeremiah 36:20

    ยถ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.

  • Jeremiah 36:24

    Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, [neither] the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

  • Jeremiah 36:27

    Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,