Zechariah 5:8

KJV

And he said, This [is] wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559}, This is wickedness {H7564}. And he cast {H7993} it into the midst {H8432} of the ephah {H374}; and he cast {H7993} the weight {H68} of lead {H5777} upon the mouth {H6310} thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible

He said, "This is Evil." He threw her down into the eifah and pressed the lead weight over its opening.

Berean Standard Bible

“This is Wickedness,” he said. And he shoved her down into the basket, pushing down the lead cover over its opening.

American Standard Version

And he said, This is Wickedness: and he cast her down into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Zechariah 5:8 marks a pivotal moment in Zechariah's fifth vision, where the prophet witnesses the divine identification and decisive containment of "Wickedness." After an angelic interpreter reveals that the woman within the ephah represents the pervasive moral and spiritual corruption that has plagued Israel, the Lord commands her forceful confinement. This act, symbolized by casting a heavy lead weight upon the ephah's mouth, signifies God's unwavering commitment to purify His people and land from sin, ensuring its removal and preventing its re-emergence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the fifth of Zechariah's eight night visions, a series of prophetic revelations given to him in a single night. The preceding verses [Zechariah 5:5-7](/zechariah/5-5-7 "Zechariah 5:5-7 - The Vision of the Ephah") introduce the "ephah" or measuring basket and the woman within it, whom the angel identifies as "Wickedness." This immediate context is crucial, as [Zechariah 5:8](/zechariah/5-8 "Zechariah 5:8 - Wickedness Contained") describes the climactic action taken against this personified evil, serving as the resolution to this particular vision before the ephah is transported to Shinar in [Zechariah 5:9-11](/zechariah/5-9-11 "Zechariah 5:9-11 - The Ephah Carried Away"). The vision as a whole, along with the preceding one about the flying scroll in [Zechariah 5:1-4](/zechariah/5-1-4 "Zechariah 5:1-4 - The Flying Scroll"), underscores God's commitment to purge sin and injustice from the land, preparing the way for a holy community and the rebuilding of the temple.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The visions of Zechariah were given to the Jewish exiles who had returned to Judah from Babylon, a period marked by the daunting task of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple. This community faced internal struggles, including apathy, moral laxity, and economic hardship, alongside external opposition. The "ephah" was a common dry measure, roughly equivalent to 22 liters, used in commerce. Its use here might subtly allude to the prevalence of dishonest weights and measures, symbolizing the social and economic injustices that often accompanied spiritual declension (cf. [Amos 8:5](/amos/8-5 "Amos 8:5 - Dishonest Measures")). The heavy lead weight emphasizes the finality and permanence of the action, signifying an irrevocable judgment. For a community striving to re-establish itself as God's holy people, this vision offered a powerful assurance that God Himself was actively dealing with the very sins that had led to their past exile, promising purification for a new beginning.

* **Key Themes:** [Zechariah 5](/zechariah/5 "Zechariah 5 - The Flying Scroll and the Ephah") powerfully conveys several key themes. The primary message is **Divine Judgment and Purification**, illustrating God's unwavering commitment to confront and remove wickedness from among His people and their land. The act of casting "Wickedness" back into the ephah and sealing it with a lead weight signifies a definitive and irreversible judgment, echoing God's righteous character seen throughout Scripture (e.g., [Psalm 7:11](/psalms/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a Righteous Judge")). Another significant theme is the **Containment of Evil**. The heavy lead weight serves as a powerful symbol of finality and secure imprisonment, ensuring that this personified evil is not merely hidden but prevented from spreading its influence. This provides a profound assurance of God's ability to deal with sin decisively. Finally, the vision offers **Hope for a Clean Community**, assuring the post-exilic community that God was actively purifying the land of Judah, removing the very sins that had previously led to divine judgment and exile. This purification was essential for establishing a holy community dedicated to God, a promise also found in [Ezekiel 36:25-27](/ezekiel/36-25-27 "Ezekiel 36:25-27 - God's Promise of Cleansing and a New Heart").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wickedness (Hebrew, _rishʻâh'_):** From H7564, this feminine noun denotes moral wrong, unrighteousness, guilt, and rebellion against God's commands. Its personification as a woman in the ephah makes the abstract concept of sin tangible and emphasizes its pervasive, corrupting nature within society. Here, it represents the sum total of Israel's moral and spiritual depravity that led to their exile and still threatened their restored community.
* **Ephah (Hebrew, _ʼêyphâh'_):** From H374, an ephah was a standard dry measure, typically for grain, roughly equivalent to 22 liters. Its use in this vision grounds the abstract concept of sin in everyday life and commerce. It symbolizes the container of the nation's collective sin, particularly those related to economic injustice and dishonesty (as often associated with measures).
* **Lead (Hebrew, _ʻôwphereth'_):** From H5777, referring to the heavy metal. The "weight of lead" (H68, _ʼeben_, meaning "stone" or "weight," combined with H5777) signifies immense heaviness, permanence, and immovability. It ensures that the "Wickedness" is irrevocably sealed away and contained, representing the finality and decisiveness of God's judgment against sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said, This [is] wickedness."**: The angelic interpreter explicitly identifies the woman within the ephah. This declaration is crucial, leaving no doubt about the nature of the entity being dealt with. It's not just a general evil, but "wickedness" itself, personified, representing the systemic moral corruption that God is intent on removing from His people.
* **"And he cast it into the midst of the ephah;"**: The angel takes decisive action, forcefully pushing the woman, "Wickedness," back down into the ephah. This signifies an active, divine intervention to contain and isolate sin. It's a deliberate act of confinement, preventing its spread and influence within the community.
* **"and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof."**: Immediately after confining "Wickedness" in the ephah, a heavy lead disk is placed over its opening. This action symbolizes the absolute finality and security of the containment. The immense weight of the lead ensures that "Wickedness" cannot escape or re-emerge, signifying God's complete and irreversible judgment and removal of sin from His presence and His people.

#### Literary Devices
Zechariah 5:8 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Personification** is central, as "Wickedness" (Hebrew, _rishʻâh_) is embodied as a woman, making the abstract concept of sin tangible, relatable, and menacing. This allows for a dramatic interaction where evil is not merely a concept but an entity that can be seen, confined, and sealed away. **Symbolism** is also heavily at play: the **ephah** symbolizes the container of the nation's collective sin, often linked to commercial dishonesty and moral corruption, while the **lead weight** powerfully symbolizes the finality, permanence, and immovability of God's judgment and the secure containment of evil. The act of "casting" (Hebrew, _shâlak_) emphasizes **Divine Action** and decisiveness, portraying God as actively engaged in purging sin from His people and land, rather than passively observing.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Zechariah 5:8 provides a profound theological statement about God's active opposition to sin and His commitment to the purity of His people. It reveals that God does not tolerate wickedness within His covenant community; He actively intervenes to identify, contain, and remove it. This vision underscores the principle that God's presence demands holiness and that true restoration involves not just physical rebuilding but spiritual cleansing. The sealing of "Wickedness" within the ephah signifies God's sovereign power over evil, assuring His people that He is capable of dealing decisively with the very forces that led to their past judgment and exile, thus paving the way for a holy dwelling place for Him.

* [Ezekiel 36:25](/ezekiel/36-25 "Ezekiel 36:25 - God's Promise of Cleansing")
* [Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Nothing Unclean Enters New Jerusalem")
* [Psalm 7:11](/psalms/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a Righteous Judge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Zechariah 5:8 offers profound insights for believers today, reminding us that God is not passive concerning sin; He is actively engaged in its removal and containment. This vision encourages us to recognize the pervasive nature of "wickedness"—both systemic evil in the world and the sin that can reside within our own hearts and communities. Just as God decisively dealt with "Wickedness" in the vision, we are called to participate in the ongoing process of sanctification, actively "putting to death" sinful practices and desires in our lives. It assures us that God desires a holy people and provides the means for purification. This vision instills hope, knowing that God will ultimately triumph over all evil, and calls us to align our lives with His purifying purposes, striving for personal and communal holiness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might "wickedness" manifest in my own life or community today, similar to how it was personified in the ephah?**
* **How does the image of God decisively sealing away "wickedness" encourage me in my struggle against sin?**
* **What practical steps can I take to "cast" out or "seal away" sin in my own life, in reliance on God's power?**

### FAQ

**Why is "Wickedness" personified as a woman in this vision?**

Answer: The personification of "Wickedness" as a woman (Hebrew: _rishʻâh_) serves several purposes. It makes the abstract concept of sin tangible and concrete, allowing Zechariah and the audience to visualize it as an active, pervasive, and corrupting force. In ancient Near Eastern literature, women were sometimes used to symbolize cities, nations, or abstract concepts, both positive (like Lady Wisdom in [Proverbs 9](/proverbs/9 "Proverbs 9 - Wisdom's Invitation")) and negative (like Lady Folly). Here, it emphasizes the insidious and pervasive nature of moral corruption that had deeply infiltrated Israelite society, leading to their exile. The act of containing her highlights God's direct and decisive intervention against this very real, active evil.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Zechariah 5:8, with its dramatic portrayal of "Wickedness" being contained and sealed away, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the vision in Zechariah depicts a symbolic removal of sin from the land, Christ's sacrifice on the cross achieved the actual and definitive victory over sin itself. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), not merely containing it but atoning for it. Through His death and resurrection, Christ disarmed the powers of darkness and triumphed over sin's dominion (cf. [Colossians 2:13-15](/colossians/2-13-15 "Colossians 2:13-15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). The lead weight sealing the ephah foreshadows the finality of Christ's triumph, ensuring that sin's power is broken for those who believe (cf. [Romans 6:6-7](/romans/6-6-7 "Romans 6:6-7 - Dead to Sin")). Ultimately, the vision points to the new heavens and new earth, where, because of Christ's redemptive work, "nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life" ([Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Nothing Unclean Enters New Jerusalem")). Thus, Christ is the one who truly and eternally casts out and seals away all wickedness.

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

Psalms 38:4

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

Micah 6:11

Shall I count [them] pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

Amos 9:1

¶ I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.

Amos 9:4

And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.

Zechariah 5:7

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

1 Thessalonians 2:16

Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

Genesis 15:16

But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full.