King James Version

What Does Zechariah 5:6 Mean?

Zechariah 5:6 in the King James Version says “And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance thro...” — study this verse from Zechariah chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.”

Zechariah 5:6 · KJV

Context

4

I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

5

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.

6

And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.

7

And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. talent: or, weighty piece

8

And 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.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth—Zechariah sees an 'ēphāh (אֵיפָה), a large measuring basket used for grain and dry goods, holding about 22 liters (5.8 gallons). The ephah was the standard commercial measure, used in honest trade—or dishonest fraud (Deuteronomy 25:14-15; Amos 8:5; Micah 6:10-11). The angel explains: zō't hā'ēphāh hayyōtsē't (זֹאת הָאֵיפָה הַיּוֹצֵאת, 'this is the ephah going forth'), using the same language as the flying scroll (v. 3, 5)—another instrument of divine action moving with purpose.

He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth—Zō't 'ēynām beḵol-hā'āretz (זֹאת עֵינָם בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ, 'this is their eye/appearance in all the earth/land'). The ephah symbolizes the 'appearance' or 'focus' of the people's hearts—their consuming preoccupation throughout the land. What obsesses God's people? Commercial gain, material accumulation, economic advantage. The ephah represents the idolatry of prosperity, the worship of wealth. This connects to vision 5's theft and false oaths—both motivated by greed. The basket symbolizes Israel's corporate wickedness: making material prosperity their god rather than Yahweh. Jesus would later warn, 'You cannot serve God and mammon' (Matthew 6:24). The vision previews Paul's teaching that 'covetousness is idolatry' (Colossians 3:5).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Post-exilic Judah struggled with economic obsession and dishonest commerce (Nehemiah 5:1-13; 13:15-22; Malachi 3:5, 8-10). Haggai rebuked them: 'You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough... because of my house that is waste, and you run every man unto his own house' (Haggai 1:6, 9). The ephah vision diagnoses the root problem: prioritizing economic security over covenantal obedience, trusting in wealth rather than God.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the ephah (commercial measure) symbolize the idolatry of materialism?
  2. What does 'their eye in all the land' reveal about where God's people focus their attention?
  3. In what ways does contemporary church culture struggle with the same ephah-idolatry Zechariah saw?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר1 of 12

“And I said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מַה2 of 12
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

הִ֑יא3 of 12
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר4 of 12

“And I said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

זֹ֤את5 of 12
H2063

this (often used adverb)

הָֽאֵיפָה֙6 of 12

“This is an ephah”

H374

an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general

הַיּוֹצֵ֔את7 of 12

“that goeth forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר8 of 12

“And I said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

זֹ֥את9 of 12
H2063

this (often used adverb)

עֵינָ֖ם10 of 12

“moreover This is their resemblance”

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

בְּכָל11 of 12
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָאָֽרֶץ׃12 of 12

“through all the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Zechariah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Zechariah 5:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Zechariah 5:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Amos 8:5Ezekiel 44:10-11

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