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Zechariah 5:8

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Zechariah 5:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Zechariah 5:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Zechariah 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
8And 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.
9Then 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.
10Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
11And he said unto me, To build her a house in the land of Shinar: and when it is prepared, she shall be set there in her own place.
← Zechariah 5:7Zechariah 5:9 →
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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
“And he said, This [is] wickedness, etc.] A representation of wicked men, who are wickedness itself, as their inward part is, (<190509>Psalm 5:9) and particularly of the wicked one, the man of sin and son of perdition, the Roman antichrist and apocalyptic beast; who, though he is called by this title, “his Holiness”, his true and proper name is “wickedness”; o anomov, that wicked lawless one, (<530208>2 Thessalonians 2:8) yea, wickedness itself, being extremely wicked, a sink of sin and of all abominations, (<661705>Revelation 17:5 18:2). And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; that is, wickedness; that it might be kept within bounds, and not exceed its measure to be filled up: this seems…”
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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
“wickedness--literally, "the wickedness": implying wickedness in its peculiar development. Compare "the man of sin," Th2 2:3. cast it--that is, her, Wickedness, who had moved more freely while the heavy lid was partially lifted off. weight--literally, "stone," that is, round mass.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And cast her into the midst of the Ephah - As yet then the measure was not full. Ribera: “She had the lower part within the Ephah, but the upper, especially the head, without. Though the Jews had slain the prophets and done many grievous things, the greatest sin of all remained to be done. But when they had crucified Christ and persecuted the Apostles and the Gospel, the measure was full; she was wholly within the Ephah, no part remained without, so that the measure was filled.” And he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof - that is, doubtless of the Ephah; as in Genesis, “a great stone was on the mouth of the well” Genesis 29:2, so that there should be no access to it. return to…”
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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
“This - This woman represents the wickedness of the Jews. He cast it - The angel cast down this woman. On the mouth - And so shut her up, to suffer the punishment of all her sins. Zechariah 5:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“5:8 Wickedness refers to evil generally; whether moral or ceremonial, it is opposed to righteousness (see Prov 13:6; Ezek 33:12). The word wickedness (Hebrew rish‘ah) is similar in Hebrew to the name Asherah, the fertility goddess of the ancient Near East (see Deut 7:5; 16:21).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“This: Gen 15:16; Mat 23:32; Th1 2:16 the weight: Zac 5:7; Psa 38:4; Pro 5:22; Lam 1:14; Amo 9:1-4 Zechariah 5:9”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification