In this chapter, God gives Zechariah two visions of warning. First, he sees a flying roll, which is identified as the curse (Zechariah 5:3Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
See All...). This pictures the law of God and the curse on those who disobey it. Second, he sees a woman sitting in a basket called an ephah (after the size of the basket). This vision is called wickedness (Zechariah 5:8And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
See All...) and portrays false religion.

What Does It Say?

1. The length of the flying roll was ________ cubits and the breadth of the roll was ________ cubits.
2. When the roll enters into the house of a sinner, it shall remain in the _________ of his house.
3. In Zechariah’s second vision of this chapter, he saw a woman sitting the midst of an ___________.
4. The ephah of the second vision had a weight of __________ upon the mouth of it.
5. The ephah was carried by two _________ who had the wind in their wings and their wings were like the wings of a _________.

What Does It Mean?

1. What is the roll mentioned in the first verses of this chapter? One good way to understand a word is to look it up in other Bible passages. Read Jeremiah 36:2Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
   See All... and Ezekiel 2:9And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
   See All.... What do these verses tell you about the meaning of the word roll ?
2. Verses 3-4 refer to two particular sins: stealing and swearing falsely in God’s name. Both of these sins break one of the Ten Commandments. Check out the Ten Commandments as recorded in Exodus 20. Which of the commandments does each break? Hint: swearing falsely in God’s name is not bearing false witness.
3. What is an ephah? You may need to look the word up in a Bible dictionary or an English dictionary. Understand also that a unit of measurement is sometimes used to refer to the container that holds that unit of measure. For instance, is a cup a particular measurement or is it the container that holds that unit of measure?

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. In verse three, Zechariah says of the flying roll, “this is the curse.” Almost certainly, the flying roll is a picture of the law of Moses. How can God’s perfect law be considered a curse? Read Deuteronomy 27:26Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
   See All...; Galatians 3:10-13 [10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. [11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. [12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. [13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
   See All...; Romans 7:7-14 [7] What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. [8] But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. [9] For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. [10] And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. [11] For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. [12] Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. [13] Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. [14] For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
   See All.... How does one escape the curse of the law?
2. The second vision of this chapter (the woman sitting in the ephah) is almost certainly a picture of false religion. It has a house built for is “in the land of Shinar” (Zechariah 5:11And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
   See All...). Where is the land of Shinar? Read Genesis 11:1-4 [1] And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. [2] And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. [3] And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. [4] And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
   See All... and explain how Shinar is connected with false religion.