Read & explore together
The Vision of the Flying Scroll
Zechariah sees another vision: a large flying scroll. Its meaning is explained within the passage itself. Yahweh says this scroll is a curse that goes out over the land against the thief and the one who swears falsely by his name.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Zechariah first reports what he sees, and then he answers a question about it. After that, the vision is interpreted. The flying scroll is identified as a curse over the whole land. Yahweh of Armies says it will go into the house of the thief and the one who swears falsely by his name, and it will destroy that house.
Zechariah 5:1–4Main takeaway
This vision shows Yahweh sending judgement against stealing and false swearing by his name.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Zechariah sees a flying scrollThe vision begins simply and clearly. Zechariah lifts up his eyes and sees “a flying scroll”.
Explanation
The vision begins simply and clearly. Zechariah lifts up his eyes and sees “a flying scroll”. The passage does not leave the image unexplained for long. Later, the scroll is identified as a curse that goes out over the land. The first detail to notice is the striking sight itself: a scroll in flight.
02The scroll has a measured sizeSomeone asks Zechariah what he sees, and Zechariah answers with both the object and its dimensions.
Explanation
Someone asks Zechariah what he sees, and Zechariah answers with both the object and its dimensions. He sees a flying scroll that is twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide. These details make the vision specific rather than general. Zechariah reports exactly what he sees before the meaning is explained to him.
03The meaning names two sinsThe explanation says, “This is the curse that goes out over the surface of the whole land.”
Explanation
The explanation says, “This is the curse that goes out over the surface of the whole land.” It then names two offences. On one side is everyone who steals. On the other side is everyone who swears falsely. Verse 4 adds that this false swearing is done by Yahweh’s name, which makes the charge very specific.
04Yahweh sends the curse into the houseYahweh of Armies says, “I will cause it to go out”. The curse does not stay distant. It enters the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by Yahweh’s name.
Explanation
Yahweh of Armies says, “I will cause it to go out”. The curse does not stay distant. It enters the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by Yahweh’s name. It remains in the middle of that house and destroys it with its timber and stones. The judgement reaches the wrongdoer’s house and remains there.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Zechariah first say he sees, and what extra detail does he give when asked about it?
Start with the phrase “a flying scroll”, then add the measurements Zechariah gives in his answer.
02Which two sins are named in the interpretation of the scroll?
Look at the two parts of the explanation in verse 3, then notice how verse 4 describes the false swearing more fully.
03What does Yahweh say the curse will do inside the offender’s house?
Follow the sequence in verse 4: it enters, remains in the middle, and destroys.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Zechariah 5:1–4
1Then again I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll.
2He said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.”
3Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the surface of the whole land, for everyone who steals shall be cut off according to it on the one side; and everyone who swears falsely shall be cut off according to it on the other side.
4I will cause it to go out,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him who swears falsely by my name; and it will remain in the middle of his house, and will destroy it with its timber and its stones.”