zechariah-5:1-6:8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 5:1

Zechariah 5:1. Then I turned and lifted up Or, again I lifted up, mine eyes For the verb שׁוב , to return, is often used adverbially; and behold a flying roll That is, a roll of a book, as the expression is Jeremiah 36:2; Ezekiel 2:9; the ancient way of writing being upon long scrolls of parchment, which used to be rolled up. This roll contained an account of the sins and punishments of the people, and is described as flying, both because it was open, and to denote the swiftness... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Zechariah 5:1-11

Assurance of final victory (5:1-6:8)Previously God gave a promise that the Messiah will remove sin from the land (see 3:9b). This will come either through forgiveness (in the case of those who repent) or destruction (in the case of those who continue in their sin). This latter judgment is now pictured in the vision of a huge flying scroll that announces God’s judgment on all those who choose to ignore God’s law. No one has any excuse, because the scroll is large enough for all to read and it... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Zechariah 5:1

looked = This is the sixth vision. See the Structure on p. 1281. roll = scroll. Hence our word "volume". Compare Ezekiel 2:9 - Zec 3:11 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Zechariah 5:1

Two more of the eight visions are in this chapter, that of the flying roll, and that of the lead-covered ephah. Radically different views about the meaning of these visions have been advocated; and it must be confessed that they are somewhat difficult of interpretation. Some think that the Law and the Gospel are meant, the Law by the flying roll, and the Gospel by the symbolical removal of "sin" to Babylon, the contrast being, that whereas under the Law, the violators were adjudged guilty and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Zechariah 5:1

Zechariah 5:1. A flying roll— See Ezekiel 2:9. Revelation 10:10. This flying roll inclosed an account of the sins and punishments of the people, and is described as flying, to denote the swiftness of God's judgments. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 5:1

1. flying roll—of papyrus, or dressed skins, used for writing on when paper was not known. It was inscribed with the words of the curse (Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Being written implied that its contents were beyond all escape or repeal ( :-). Its "flying" shows that its curses were ready swiftly to visit the transgressors. It was unrolled, or else its dimensions could not have been seen ( :-). Being open to all, none could say in excuse he knew not the law and the curses of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 5:1

The next thing Zechariah saw in his visions was an unrolled scroll flying through the air. This was a scroll that contained writing, the equivalent of a modern book."A scroll (or roll), in Scripture symbolism, denotes the written word, whether of God or man (Ezra 6:2; Jeremiah 36:2; Jeremiah 36:4; Jeremiah 36:6, etc.; Ezekiel 3:1-3, etc). Zechariah’s sixth vision is of the rebuke of sin by the Word of God. The two sins mentioned [in Zechariah 5:3] really transgress both tables of the law. To... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 5:1-4

F. The flying scroll 5:1-4The priests and the kings in Israel were responsible for justice in the nation (cf. Deuteronomy 17:9; 2 Samuel 15:2-3), though neither group could prevent wickedness from proliferating. The sixth and seventh visions deal with the removal of wickedness. This sixth one deals with the elimination of lawbreakers, and the next one with the removal of wickedness from the land. What God promised in the preceding two visions required the purging predicted in these two... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 5:1-11

The Sixth and Seventh Visions1-4. A flying roll inscribed with curses comes down upon the earth. The previous visions had promised many blessings to the people; and the sixth and seventh teach that wickedness will be removed from the land; for if evil still remained, the blessings would be worthless. The first part of this process consists in the punishment of evildoers. The flying roll signifies the sin of the evildoer coming home to roost.5-11. The Seventh Vision: A woman (typifying the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Zechariah 5:1

(1) Then I turned . . . eyes.—Better, And I again lifted up my eyes. (Comp. Zechariah 4:1.)Flying roll.—A scroll floating in the air. The form of the vision seems to be suggested by Ezekiel 2:9-10. LXX., omitting the final ah of the word for “scroll,” render δρέπανον, “sickle.” read more