Zechariah 5:7

KJV

And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this [is] a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.

KJV (with Strong's)

And, behold, there was lifted up {H5375} a talent {H3603} of lead {H5777}: and this is a {H259} woman {H802} that sitteth {H3427} in the midst {H8432} of the ephah {H374}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Next I saw a lead disc lifted up to reveal a woman sitting in the eifah.

Berean Standard Bible

And behold, the cover of lead was raised, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket.

American Standard Version

(and, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead); and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Zechariah 5:7 describes the fifth of Zechariah's eight nocturnal visions, presenting a symbolic tableau of divine judgment against national wickedness. In this vivid scene, a heavy lead cover is lifted from an ephah (a large measuring basket), revealing a woman seated within—a potent personification of the pervasive sin and moral corruption within the land of Judah. This moment initiates the process of God's decisive action to contain and remove the accumulated evil from His people, signifying His commitment to purification and the establishment of holiness in preparation for future blessing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Zechariah 5:7 is situated within a series of eight distinct nocturnal visions granted to the prophet Zechariah, which span from [Zechariah 1:7](/zechariah/1-7 "Zechariah's First Vision") to [Zechariah 6:8](/zechariah/6-8 "Zechariah's Eighth Vision"). This particular vision, the fifth in the sequence, immediately follows the vision of the flying scroll (Zechariah 5:1-4), which pronounced a curse upon individual sin, specifically theft and false oaths. The ephah vision, however, shifts the focus from individual transgressions to the collective, systemic wickedness that pervaded the land. It serves as a visual assurance that God is not only concerned with individual accountability but also with the comprehensive purification of the community, setting the stage for the subsequent vision of the chariots that execute divine judgment across the earth.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The visions of Zechariah were given around 520 BC, during the early post-exilic period. The Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel and Joshua, facing significant challenges in rebuilding the temple and the city. While the physical reconstruction was underway, there was a spiritual apathy and moral compromise among the people, a lingering influence of the wickedness that had led to their exile. The "ephah" was a common dry measure, roughly equivalent to a bushel, used in daily commerce, making the imagery relatable to the people. A "talent" was a substantial unit of weight, often used for precious metals, emphasizing the immense value or, in this case, the immense weight and significance of the object. The use of lead, a heavy and dense metal, further underscores the oppressive nature of the judgment and containment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, as part of the broader ephah vision, contributes significantly to several key themes in Zechariah and the prophetic corpus. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment and Purification**, illustrating God's active and decisive intervention to purge wickedness from His covenant people. It highlights the **Seriousness and Pervasiveness of Sin**, personified as a woman contained within a measuring basket, suggesting that sin had reached a full, measurable extent requiring divine action. The vision also implicitly speaks to God's **Covenant Faithfulness**, demonstrating His commitment to creating a holy dwelling place for Himself among His people, as promised in passages like [Ezekiel 36:25-27](/ezekiel/36-25-27 "Ezekiel 36:25-27 - God's Promise of Cleansing and New Heart"). The ultimate removal of this wickedness to the land of Shinar (Babylon) in [Zechariah 5:11](/zechariah/5-11 "Zechariah 5:11 - The Destination of Wickedness") signifies a complete and permanent expulsion of evil from the restored community.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **lifted up (Hebrew, _nâsâʼ'_):** This primitive root signifies "to lift" in a wide variety of applications, literal and figurative. Here, it denotes the action of raising or removing the lead cover from the ephah. The passive voice ("was lifted up") suggests divine agency, indicating that God Himself, or His angelic messenger, is the one performing this significant act of revelation and judgment. It implies an unveiling of what was previously concealed.
* **talent (Hebrew, _kikkâr'_):** Derived from a root meaning "a circle," this term refers to a large, round mass, often a loaf or, as here, a substantial unit of weight, typically 75 pounds or more. The "talent of lead" thus emphasizes the immense weight and oppressive nature of the cover, signifying the gravity and finality of the judgment being enacted upon the wickedness it contains. It is a weighty seal.
* **woman (Hebrew, _ʼishshâh'_):** This common term for a female, specifically a woman, is used here to personify abstract wickedness. The choice of a "woman" is significant; throughout Scripture, women can symbolize both purity (e.g., the Bride of Christ) and corruption (e.g., the harlot of Babylon). In this context, she embodies the spiritual and moral impurity that has pervaded the land, making the abstract concept of "wickedness" tangible and identifiable for removal.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead":** This clause immediately grabs the reader's attention with the interjection "behold," signaling something significant and revelatory. The "talent of lead" functions as a heavy lid or cover. Its lifting signifies the removal of a barrier, revealing what was hidden beneath. This action is divinely initiated, indicating God's sovereign control over the exposure and judgment of sin. The sheer weight of the lead emphasizes the formidable nature of the wickedness it contained and the powerful force required to deal with it.
* **"and this [is] a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah":** This second clause reveals the shocking content of the ephah. The "ephah" itself, a common measuring basket, symbolizes the collective sum or measure of national sin. The "woman" within it is explicitly identified in the subsequent verse as "Wickedness" (Zechariah 5:8). Her "sitting" suggests a settled, entrenched presence, indicating that wickedness was not merely an occasional act but a pervasive, comfortable resident within the community. Her position "in the midst" implies that sin was at the very heart and core of the nation's life and identity.

#### Literary Devices
Zechariah 5:7 is rich in **Symbolism** and **Personification**, making the abstract concept of sin strikingly concrete. The "ephah" symbolizes the collective measure of national sin and moral corruption, a container filled to the brim with the accumulated iniquity of the people. The "talent of lead" serves as a powerful symbol of the immense weight of divine judgment and the decisive, overwhelming force by which God suppresses and seals away this wickedness. Most notably, the "woman" is a clear **Personification** of "Wickedness" itself, giving an abstract spiritual reality a tangible, identifiable form. Her presence "in the midst of the ephah" is a vivid **Imagery** that portrays sin as deeply embedded and comfortably settled within the very fabric of the community, requiring a dramatic divine intervention for its removal. The entire vision functions as an extended **Allegory**, communicating profound theological truths about God's holiness and His active role in purifying His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Zechariah 5:7 powerfully underscores God's unwavering commitment to holiness and His active intervention in human affairs to purge sin. This vision reveals that God does not tolerate wickedness indefinitely, especially within His covenant community. The unveiling and subsequent removal of the "woman" of wickedness signify a divine cleansing, a necessary prerequisite for the full restoration and blessing of His people. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God's redemptive plan, which always involves the removal of sin to establish righteousness. It is a testament to God's character as both just and holy, assuring His people that He will indeed deal decisively with all forms of evil, preparing a purified remnant for His presence.

* [Psalm 5:4](/psalm/5-4 "Psalm 5:4 - God Hates Wickedness"): "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee."
* [Isaiah 1:25](/isaiah/1-25 "Isaiah 1:25 - God's Refining Judgment"): "And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin."
* [Habakkuk 1:13](/habakkuk/1-13 "Habakkuk 1:13 - God's Pure Eyes"): "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity..."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Zechariah 5:7 offers a profound and sobering reflection for believers today. It serves as a stark reminder that God is not indifferent to sin, whether individual or systemic. The imagery of the "woman" of wickedness being contained and removed should impress upon us the pervasive and weighty nature of sin in God's sight. It is not a trivial matter but something that demands divine judgment and decisive action. This vision calls us to a deeper commitment to personal and corporate holiness, urging us to actively identify and renounce any form of "wickedness" that might have settled "in the midst" of our lives or communities. As God worked to purify His post-exilic people, He continues to sanctify His church, calling us to cooperate with His Spirit in the ongoing process of cleansing and transformation, striving for purity in thought, word, and deed, knowing that our God is a consuming fire against all that is unholy.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "wickedness" might be "sitting in the midst" of my own heart or my community that needs to be exposed and removed by God?**
* **How does the imagery of the heavy lead talent and the contained woman reinforce the seriousness with which God views sin?**
* **In what ways can I actively participate with the Holy Spirit in His work of sanctification and purification in my life?**
* **How does this vision encourage me about God's ultimate victory over sin and evil in the world?**

### FAQ
**What is an ephah, and why is it used in this vision?**

Answer: An ephah (Hebrew: *ʼêyphâh*) was a standard dry measure in ancient Israel, roughly equivalent to a bushel (about 22 liters or 0.6 US bushels). It was commonly used for grain and other dry goods. In Zechariah 5:7, its use is highly symbolic: it represents the collective sum or full measure of the nation's wickedness. The fact that the "woman" (Wickedness) is "sitting in the midst of the ephah" suggests that sin had accumulated to a significant, measurable extent, filling the very container of the nation's life and requiring comprehensive divine action.

**Who is the "woman" in the ephah, and what does she represent?**

Answer: The "woman" in the ephah is explicitly identified in the very next verse, [Zechariah 5:8](/zechariah/5-8 "Zechariah 5:8 - The Identification of Wickedness"), as "Wickedness." She is a personification of the pervasive moral corruption, idolatry, and accumulated sin that had settled within the land of Judah. Her presence "sitting" within the ephah suggests that this wickedness was not merely superficial but deeply entrenched and comfortable at the heart of the community, symbolizing the systemic evil that God intended to decisively remove.

**Why is a "talent of lead" used as a cover for the ephah?**

Answer: A "talent" (Hebrew: *kikkâr*) was a very heavy unit of weight, often around 75 pounds (34 kg) or more. "Lead" (Hebrew: *ʻôwphereth*) is a dense, heavy metal. The "talent of lead" thus signifies an extraordinarily heavy, oppressive weight. Its use as a cover or lid over the ephah symbolizes the immense, decisive, and forceful nature of God's judgment. It indicates that the wickedness is being suppressed, contained, and sealed away with overwhelming power and authority, preventing its escape and preparing it for complete removal from the land, as described in [Zechariah 5:11](/zechariah/5-11 "Zechariah 5:11 - The Destination of the Ephah").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Zechariah 5:7, with its vivid imagery of the removal of national wickedness, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "woman" of wickedness, representing the pervasive sin that contaminates humanity and the world, is decisively dealt with through Christ's atoning sacrifice. On the cross, Jesus bore the full "talent of lead" of God's judgment against sin, effectively sealing its fate and breaking its power over believers (cf. [Colossians 2:14-15](/colossians/2-14-15 "Colossians 2:14-15 - Christ's Triumph Over Sin")). Just as the ephah was to be carried away to a distant land, Christ's death and resurrection inaugurated a new covenant where sin's dominion is broken, and believers are progressively sanctified by the Holy Spirit, being cleansed from all defilement (cf. [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ") and [Titus 2:14](/titus/2-14 "Christ's Redemption for Purity")). Ultimately, the complete and final removal of all wickedness from God's purified people and the earth will be fully realized at Christ's glorious return, when He establishes His righteous kingdom, banishing sin forever (cf. [Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - No Unclean Thing Enters New Jerusalem")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hosea 1:1

¶ The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

Hosea 1:3

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

Revelation 17:1

¶ And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

Revelation 17:18

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Ezekiel 23:1

¶ The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 23:49

And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 16:1

¶ Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,