Zechariah 5:9

KJV

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind [was] in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then lifted I up {H5375} mine eyes {H5869}, and looked {H7200}, and, behold, there came out {H3318} two {H8147} women {H802}, and the wind {H7307} was in their wings {H3671}; for they had {H2007} wings {H3671} like the wings {H3671} of a stork {H2624}: and they lifted up {H5375} the ephah {H374} between the earth {H776} and the heaven {H8064}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I raised my eyes and saw two women coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like those of a stork. They lifted the eifah up between the earth and the sky.

Berean Standard Bible

Then I lifted up my eyes and saw two women approaching, with the wind in their wings. Their wings were like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

American Standard Version

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there came forth two women, and the wind was in their wings; now they had wings like the wings of a stork; and they lifted up the ephah between earth and heaven.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Zechariah 5:9 presents a pivotal moment in the fifth of Zechariah's night visions, depicting the active removal of wickedness from the land of Judah. The prophet observes two mysterious women, empowered by wind in their stork-like wings, lifting a lead-sealed ephah—containing a personification of "Wickedness"—and carrying it away. This striking imagery symbolizes God's decisive and powerful action to purify His people and their land, ensuring that the restored community in Jerusalem would be free from the pervasive sin that had led to their exile.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Zechariah 5:9 is part of the fifth of eight night visions granted to the prophet Zechariah, following the vision of the flying scroll (Zechariah 5:1-4). This particular vision, spanning [Zechariah 5:5-11](/zechariah/5-5-11 "Zechariah's Vision of the Ephah"), focuses on the removal of sin and lawlessness from the land. The preceding verses introduce the ephah, a large measuring basket, and reveal a woman inside it representing "Wickedness" (Hebrew: _rish'ah_), who is then sealed within by a lead cover. Verse 9 advances the narrative by introducing the agents—the two winged women—who are tasked with transporting this wickedness to a distant land, thus completing the symbolic purification. The vision's placement after the curse on thieves and false swearers (the flying scroll) underscores God's commitment to holiness and justice within the community.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** These visions occurred around 520 BC, during the critical post-exilic period when the Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the High Priest. The community faced significant challenges: discouragement, opposition, and a struggle to rebuild the temple and re-establish their identity as God's people. The visions, therefore, served as divine encouragement and instruction, assuring the people of God's presence, His commitment to their restoration, and the necessity of moral and spiritual purification. The ephah was a common dry measure, familiar to the people for commercial transactions, making its use as a container for "Wickedness" a potent symbol of the pervasive nature of societal sin, often linked to economic injustice and idolatry, which needed to be purged from the land.
* **Key Themes:** The vision of the ephah, culminating in this verse, contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Zechariah. A primary theme is **Divine Judgment and Purification**, emphasizing God's active and sovereign role in cleansing His people and their land from sin. This is not a passive process but a divinely orchestrated removal, essential for the establishment of a holy community. Another key theme is the **Restoration of Israel**, where the purification of the land is a prerequisite for God's full blessing and the flourishing of the rebuilt temple and city, as promised in passages like [Zechariah 1:16-17](/zechariah/1-16-17 "God's Promise to Restore Jerusalem"). The imagery also highlights **God's Sovereignty over Evil**, demonstrating that even pervasive wickedness will ultimately be contained and removed by divine agents, ensuring that the covenant community can live in righteousness, a theme echoed in the call to repentance in [Zechariah 1:3](/zechariah/1-3 "Call to Repentance in Zechariah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **women (Hebrew, _ʼishshâh'_):** From H802, this word denotes a female, often used generally for a woman or wife. In this context, the "two women" are not ordinary individuals but symbolic agents of divine action. Their appearance is sudden and mysterious, emphasizing their supernatural role in the vision. While some interpretations connect them to pagan goddesses or demonic entities due to their task of carrying away wickedness, their function is clearly to execute God's judgment, making them instruments in His divine plan.
* **stork (Hebrew, _chăçîydâh'_):** From H2624, this feminine noun refers to the kind, maternal bird, the stork. Storks are known for their large, powerful wings and their migratory patterns, capable of long-distance flights. In the Mosaic Law, storks were considered unclean birds ([Leviticus 11:19](/leviticus/11-19 "Stork as an Unclean Bird")). The comparison of the women's wings to those of a stork highlights their capacity for swift, powerful, and distant transport, emphasizing the efficacy and completeness of the removal of wickedness. The "unclean" aspect of the stork might subtly underscore the nature of the burden they carry.
* **ephah (Hebrew, _ʼêyphâh'_):** From H374, this term refers to a specific dry measure, typically used for grain, but here it serves as a symbolic container. Its common use in commerce suggests a connection to the pervasive economic and social injustices that constituted "wickedness" in Judah. In the vision, the ephah is the vessel containing the personified "Wickedness," making it the physical representation of the sin that is being purged from the land. Its lifting "between the earth and the heaven" signifies a complete separation from the earthly realm of Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women":** This phrase marks a new, startling development in the vision. The prophet's action of "lifting his eyes" signals a fresh revelation, drawing his attention to unexpected agents. The sudden appearance of "two women" from an unseen source introduces mysterious, perhaps supernatural, figures who are about to perform a significant task. Their number, two, suggests a sufficient and empowered force for the task at hand.
* **"and the wind [was] in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork":** This clause describes the supernatural empowerment and nature of the two women. The "wind in their wings" conveys immense speed, power, and divine propulsion, indicating that their flight is not merely natural but supernaturally aided. The simile comparing their wings to those of a "stork" emphasizes their capacity for swift, sustained flight over long distances, highlighting their suitability for transporting a heavy and significant burden far away.
* **"and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven":** This final action signifies the culmination of the vision's purpose. The women, empowered by divine force, "lifted up the ephah" – the container of wickedness – completely from the ground. The phrase "between the earth and the heaven" denotes a thorough and visible separation, indicating that the wickedness is being removed entirely from the earthly sphere of Israel, signifying a decisive act of purification and judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Zechariah 5:9 is rich in **Symbolism** and vivid **Imagery**. The "two women" are symbolic agents, their identity ambiguous but their purpose clear: to execute divine judgment. Their "wings like the wings of a stork" are a **Simile**, comparing their flight capability to a bird known for powerful, long-distance migration, thereby emphasizing the speed and thoroughness of the removal of wickedness. The "wind in their wings" adds to the imagery of supernatural power and propulsion. The "ephah" itself is a powerful **Symbol**, representing the accumulated and pervasive wickedness of the land, particularly economic and social injustices. The act of "lifting up the ephah between the earth and the heaven" is a symbolic gesture of complete removal and separation, creating a visual metaphor for the divine purging of sin from the community. The entire scene functions as an **Allegory**, where each element represents a deeper spiritual truth about God's active purification of His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Zechariah 5:9 powerfully illustrates God's unwavering commitment to holiness and His active intervention to purify His covenant people. This vision underscores the truth that God does not tolerate sin indefinitely within His community; He will decisively act to remove it. The removal of the ephah signifies a divine purging, a necessary step for the restoration and flourishing of a righteous remnant. This act of divine judgment is not merely punitive but redemptive, clearing the way for a renewed relationship between God and His people, free from the defilement that had led to their exile. It speaks to God's ultimate sovereignty over all forms of evil and His meticulous plan to establish a holy habitation for Himself among His people.

* [Psalm 103:12](/psalms/103-12 "God Removes Our Transgressions")
* [Isaiah 6:7](/isaiah/6-7 "Isaiah's Cleansing from Sin")
* [Ezekiel 36:25](/ezekiel/36-25 "God Cleanses and Gives a New Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Zechariah 5:9 offers profound comfort and a sobering challenge for believers today. It assures us that God is actively engaged in the purification of His people and His world. Just as He acted decisively to remove wickedness from post-exilic Judah, He continues to work to sanctify His church and individual lives. This vision reminds us that God's commitment to holiness is absolute, and His power to cleanse is undeniable. We are called to align ourselves with this divine work, acknowledging the pervasive nature of sin (the "ephah") and trusting in God's power to remove it. This vision fosters hope for a future where evil will be definitively contained and ultimately vanquished, but it also calls for present-day vigilance against sin in our own lives and communities. It encourages us to participate in the process of spiritual cleansing through repentance, confession, and striving for righteousness, knowing that God provides the means for true purification.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "ephah" of wickedness might God be seeking to remove from my life or community today?**
* **How does the imagery of the "wind in their wings" and the "stork-like wings" encourage me about God's power and determination to deal with sin?**
* **In what ways can I actively participate in God's ongoing work of purification and holiness in my own life and in the world around me?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "two women" in Zechariah 5:9?**

Answer: The "two women" are symbolic agents in Zechariah's vision, tasked with carrying away the ephah containing "Wickedness." While their exact identity is not specified, their role is clearly to execute God's judgment and purification. Their number (two) suggests a sufficient and empowered force, and their supernatural ability to fly with "wind in their wings" indicates they are divinely commissioned and enabled. They are not to be understood as literal women but as instruments in God's plan to remove sin from the land, ensuring the establishment of a holy community.

**Why are their wings compared to those of a "stork"?**

Answer: The comparison to "wings like the wings of a stork" (Hebrew: _chăçîydâh_) is significant for several reasons. Storks are known for their large, powerful wings and their ability to undertake long, sustained migratory flights. This emphasizes the speed, strength, and thoroughness with which the wickedness is to be transported far away. While storks were considered unclean birds under the Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 11:19](/leviticus/11-19 "Stork listed as unclean")), their inclusion here likely highlights their practical capacity for transport rather than their ritual status. It may also subtly underscore the unclean nature of the burden they are carrying.

**Where is the ephah of wickedness being taken, and what does it signify?**

Answer: Zechariah 5:11 reveals that the ephah of wickedness is being taken to the land of Shinar, where a "house" (temple or dwelling place) will be built for it. Shinar is the ancient name for Babylon, a place historically associated with idolatry, rebellion against God (e.g., the Tower of Babel in [Genesis 11:1-9](/genesis/11-1-9 "The Tower of Babel")), and the place of Israel's exile. This signifies that wickedness is not merely being removed from Judah but is being banished to a place of its origin and permanent establishment, a land of ungodliness. This act of removal ensures the complete purification of God's people and their land, separating them from the pervasive sin that had defiled them.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Zechariah 5:9, with its dramatic imagery of wickedness being removed, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The vision of the ephah being carried away speaks to God's absolute commitment to purging sin, a commitment realized not merely through symbolic acts but through the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Just as the ephah contained the collective sin of a nation, Christ, "who knew no sin, became sin for us" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us")), bearing the full weight of humanity's wickedness upon Himself. His death on the cross was the decisive act that "takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")), effectively lifting it "between the earth and the heaven" and carrying it away to a place of judgment and defeat. Through His resurrection, Christ established a new covenant community, purified by His blood, where sin no longer reigns. The vision foreshadows the final judgment when all wickedness will be definitively cast out, culminating in the establishment of the new heavens and new earth where "nothing impure will ever enter it" ([Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "No Impurity in New Jerusalem")), a reality made possible only through Christ's complete victory over sin and death.

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 8:1

¶ [Set] the trumpet to thy mouth. [He shall come] as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

Daniel 9:26

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Daniel 9:27

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Deuteronomy 28:49

The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, [as swift] as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

Leviticus 11:19

And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

Matthew 24:28

For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.