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Zechariah 5:4

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Zechariah 5:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I will cause it to go forth, saith Jehovah of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name; and it shall abide in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I will cause it to go forth, saith Jehovah of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name; and it shall abide in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
Zechariah 5:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Zechariah 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Then again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, a flying roll.
2And 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.
3Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole land: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off on the one side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off on the other side according to it.
4I will cause it to go forth, saith Jehovah of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name; and it shall abide in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
5Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
6And 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
7(and, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead); and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, etc.] The roll was come forth, and was flying abroad; but the curse and wrath of God, signified by it, is what God would bring forth out of his treasures, according to his purposes and declarations, and execute upon sinners; which shows the certainty of it, and that there is no escaping it: and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name; and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof, and the stones thereof; when wrath is gone forth from the Lord, there is no stopping it; and where it takes place it will remain, there is no getting rid of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The "theft" immediately meant is similar sacrilege to that complained of in Neh 13:10; Mal 3:8. They robbed God by neglecting to give Him His due in building His house, while they built their own houses, forswearing their obligations to Him; therefore, the "houses" they build shall be "consumed" with God's "curse." Probably literal theft and perjury accompanied their virtual theft and perjury as to the temple of God (Mal 3:5). Stealing and perjury go together; for the covetous and fraudulent perjure themselves by God's name without scruple (see Pro 30:9). enter . . . the house--In vain they guard and shut themselves up who incur the curse; it will inevitably enter even when they think…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I will bring it forth - Out of the treasure-house, as it were; as he says, “He bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures” Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 51:16; and, “Is not this laid up in store with Me, sealed up among My treasures?” To Me belongeth “vengeance and recompense” Deuteronomy 32:34-35. And it shall remain, literally, “lodge for the night,” until it has accomplished that for which it was sent, its utter destruction. Lap.: “So we have seen and see at this day powerful families, which attained to splendor by rapine or ill-gotten goods, destroyed by the just judgment of God, that those who see it are amazed, how such wealth perceptibly yet insensibly disappeared.” Chrys. on the statues…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“It shall enter - This curse shall come with commission from me. It shall remain - It shall stick close to them and theirs like Gehazi's leprosy. And the stones - Nothing shall remain, as when both the timber and stones of a house are consumed. Zechariah 5:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“5:4 This curse is sent like a law officer to punish violations of God’s covenant (see Ps 147:15; Isa 55:11).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and it shall remain: Lev 14:34-45; Deu 7:26; Job 18:15, Job 20:26; Pro 3:33; Hab 2:9-11; Jam 5:2, Jam 5:3 Zechariah 5:5”
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Related study paths

Read Zechariah 5 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification