Zechariah 5:9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 5:5-11

The foregoing vision was very plain and easy, but in this are things dark and hard to be understood; and some think that the scope of it is to foretel the final destruction of the Jewish church and nation and the dispersion of the Jews, when, by crucifying Christ and persecuting his gospel, they should have filled up the measure of their iniquities; therefore it is industriously set out in obscure figures and expressions, ?lest the plain denunciation of the second overthrow of temple and state... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 5:9

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked ,.... This is not a new vision, but a continuation of the former, as appears from the "ephah" seen in it: and, behold, there came out two women ; out of the same place the "ephah" did. The Targum explains these "two women" by two provinces; and Kimchi interprets them of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who had been carried captive into Babylon; and others of the two kings, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, who were the cause of the captivity; but Jarchi... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 5:9

There came out two women - As the one woman represented the impiety of the Jewish nation; so these two women who were to carry the ephah, in which the woman Iniquity was shut up, under the weight of a talent of lead, may mean the desperate Unbelief of the Jews in rejecting the Messiah; and that Impiety, or universal corruption of manners, which was the consequence of their unbelief, and brought down the wrath of God upon them. The strong wings, like those of a stork, may point out the power... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 5:9

Verse 9 The Prophet says here that such would be the change of things, that God would in turn afflict the Chaldeans, who had so cruelly treated the chosen people. And this is the reason why I think that iniquity is to be taken for the violent injustice and plunder which heathen enemies had exercised towards the Jews. For when he says that a house would be for iniquity in the land of Shinar, it is as though he had said, “as Judea has been for a long time plundered by enemies, and has been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 5:5-11

§ 9. The seventh vision: the woman in the ephah. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 5:5-11

Worldliness in the Church. I. SADLY PREVALENT . "This is their eye"—what they mind and what they lust after. There is a climax. First two classes of sinners are figured, next one great indistinguishable mass. Then "wickedness" is personified, as one woman. This teaches how worldliness is: 1 . Common. 2 . Absorbing. 3 . Debasing—corrupting all that is beautiful and fair. II. SPECIALLY OFFENSIVE . Bad in the world; infinitely worse in the Church. 1 . Opposed to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 5:5-11

A materialistic community. "Then 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. And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth," etc. Here is another (the seventh) vision in the wonderful series of visions which the prophet had that night. This is one of the strangest of the whole, one, perhaps, admitting of no certain interpretation—a " woman in the ephah." We know what an "ephah" was. It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 5:6-11

The vindication of Law. "Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes," etc. The last vision was one of warning. This, as we take it, is one of judgment. The subject appears, however, to be the same. What the prophet previously dreaded and threatened he now describes as fulfilled. In other words, in a mystical fashion, and in language only partially understood by himself, he foretells how the warning just uttered by him would be, on the one hand, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 5:9

Then lifted I up mine eyes. This is the conclusion of the vision. And looked; and saw. There came out ( forth ) two women. These two women who now come in sight have been supposed to represent the Assyrians and Babylonians, who wore the agents in the deportation of Israel; or else are considered abettors of the woman in the ephah, who for a time save her from destruction. This latter supposition proceeds on the erroneous idea that wickedness is herein rescued from punishment,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 5:9

There came out two women - It may be that there may be no symbol herein, but that he names women because it was a woman who was so carried; yet their wings were the wings of an unclean bird, strong, powerful, borne by a force not their own; with their will, since they flew; beyond their will, since the wind was in their wings; rapidly, inexorably, irresistibly, they flew and bore the Ephah between heaven and earth. No earthly power could reach or rescue it. God would not. It may be that evil... read more

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