Zechariah 5

1 Again [once more, then] I lifted up [raised, elevated] my eyes [sight, vision] and saw [looked, beheld] before me [in my presence, visibly] a flying [soaring] scroll [roll, book, megillah] [containing a message, a written record]. word study 2 “What [in the world, what thing] do you see?” asked the angel. “I see a [flying roll, scroll] flying [through the air, soaring] scroll,” I replied, “twenty [a multiple of ten, a complete amount] cubits [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] long and ten cubits [a measure of length] wide [in breadth, in extent].” word study 3 Then he told me, “This [the specified curse] is the curse [a solemn oath, a promise of judgment] that is going out [being sent forth, spreading] over the face [the surface, the presence] of all [every part of] the land [the earth, the territory], for [because, since] according to one side [this aspect] of the scroll [the written document], every thief [one who steals, a deceiver] will be removed [cut off, purged]; and according to the other side [that aspect], every perjurer [one who swears falsely, a liar] will be removed [cut off, judged]. word study 4 I will send it out [cause it to go forth], declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things], and it will enter [come into] the house [dwelling place] of the thief [one who takes things that don’t belong to them] and the house of him who swears falsely [makes a false oath, lies] by My name [identity, honor, and character]. It will remain [abide, stay] inside his house [in the midst of his dwelling place] and destroy [consume, finish] it, down to its timbers [wood, tree] and stones [rock, weight].” word study 5 Then the angel [messenger, representative of God] who was speaking [communicating, conversing] with me came forward and told me, “Now lift up [raise, elevate] your eyes [sights, gaze] and see [perceive, behold] what [thing, entity] is approaching [coming forth, emerging].” word study 6 “What [in the world, how] is it?” I asked. And he replied, “A measuring basket [ephah, a unit of measurement] is going forth [coming out, being sent out].” Then he continued, “This [their appearance, resemblance] is their iniquity [evil-doing, sin] in all [every part of] the land [earth, territory].” word study 7 And behold [look, see], the cover [lid, a round cake] of lead [a heavy metal] was raised [lifted up, to lift], and there was a woman [a female person] sitting [to dwell, to sit] inside [in the midst] the basket [an ephah, a unit of measurement]. word study 8 “This [this one, this very thing] is Wickedness [sin, guilt, or wrong actions],” he said. And he shoved her down into the basket [ephah, a unit of measurement], pushing down the lead [heavy metal] cover over its opening [mouth, lip, or edge]. word study 9 Then I lifted up my eyes [to gaze intently] and saw two women [females, feminine beings] approaching, with the wind [a blast of air] in their wings [like the extremities of a bird]. Their wings were like those of a stork [a bird known for maternal care], and they lifted up the basket [ephah, a unit of measurement] between heaven [the sky, the spiritual realm] and earth [the land, the physical world]. word study 10 “Where [in what direction, to what location] are they [those men, the ones in view] taking [carrying, transporting] the basket [ephah, a unit of measurement, about 9 gallons]?” I asked [inquired, spoke to] the angel [messenger, heavenly representative] who was speaking [communicating, conveying a message] with me. word study 11 “To build [construct, establish] a house [dwelling place, temple] for it in the land [region, territory] of Shinar [Babylonia, a place of idolatry],” he told me. “And when it is ready [prepared, established], the basket will be set [placed, rested] there on its pedestal [base, foundation].” word study