Zechariah 5:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Jerusalem also indulged in various forms of unfaithfulness, worshiping idols and offering sacrifices to Baal, Astarte, and celestial bodies, while also surrendering to moral corruption, effectively dismissing the teachings of the wise Moses.

Thus, the vision once again parallels the kingdoms of Israel to two women, described as possessing the wings of a hoopoe, which reflects the profound impurity of their souls and their inclination toward sinful pursuits. The hoopoe, a humble bird that revels in filth, seeks out decay and feeds on the most wretched refuse, epitomizes the mindset of idolaters. Such individuals do not walk the righteous path to goodness; instead, they chase after wrongdoing, lack knowledge of the divine law, and are consumed by moral filth, drawing sustenance from all manners of wrongdoing. This is why the vision attributes the wings of the hoopoe to the women, indicating that their aspirations are aligned with those of the hoopoe. Yet these women carry a heavy load of iniquity; every soul inevitably bears the burden of its own sins.

Since the transgressions of both Samaria and Jerusalem are similar, they are equally weighed down by iniquity and swiftly carried away to the land of foreigners—specifically, to Babylon—as their sinful spirit propelled them. When the unclean spirit led them into sin and imposed the burden of iniquity upon them, they were taken captive and fell under their foes’ control. The blessed angel remarked that the measuring line was “taken to build her a temple in the land of Babylon,” which signifies the protracted exile of the Israelites among their captors, as this iniquity constructed a dwelling for them—indicating that accommodations were prepared for them among their adversaries. This came to fruition, as they remained in bondage until the completion of seventy years.

The prophet illustrates that they swiftly pursue falsehood and idolatry at every chance, as if propelled by wings. The angel instructs, Create her a temple in Babylon. This indicates that while the apostles and prophets may drive away the Jewish wickedness and idol worship, a remnant will persist until the arrival of the Antichrist, who will rule in Babylon.

The spirit carried in their wings represents the devil's power, as noted in Ecclesiastes: "If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post" (Ecclesiastes 10:4). In the Gospel, we learn about an unclean spirit that, after being expelled, wanders through arid places and returns to its former abode with seven other spirits even more wicked than itself (Luke 11:24-26). Thus, these women, overtaken by this spirit, were swift and had the ability to fly.

The Hebrew term asida, which Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion render as "heron," is translated by the LXX as "hoopoe." The term asida refers to predatory birds, whereas the heron comprises several types: white, brilliant, and black, with the last being the most aggressive and vicious. The hoopoe, known in Greek as "irira," is associated with human refuse and is often found near burial sites, making its nest from decaying matter. Each of these birds aptly symbolizes the women of Judah and Israel, who, due to their abominable sins, fell under demonic influence and were carried off to Babylon.

They transported the measure containing the evil, secured with a heavy lid to prevent its escape, lifting this immense burden of sin into the space between heaven and earth. The prophet, recognizing this, did not inquire about who the women were or what they carried, as this had been revealed to him previously; he only sought to know their destination.

Finally, he inquired of the angel, "Where do they carry the vessel?" The angel replied, "To prepare a house for it in the land of Shinar." The Seventy, however, translated it to refer specifically to Babylon. Indeed, Shinar is noted as the Chaldean valley where those who journeyed from the East, unable to uphold divine service, constructed a tower of hubris (Genesis 11:4), leading to the city being named Babylon, meaning confusion, due to the mingling of languages there.

Thus, wickedness is transported to Babylon, to build a firm dwelling for it, setting it on an everlasting foundation. Indeed, Babylon is a bastion of iniquity, understood both historically and spiritually. If you consider the two women to represent the heretical and the Jewish nations—both distanced from God and driven by a restless spirit, with wings likened to those of predatory birds, accumulating wealth through unrighteousness, seeking to pilfer the Church's inheritance and leading others to destruction through their allure and moral filth—you will see that these two women carry forth the gravest burden of iniquity, establishing a residence in disarray and serving the king of Babylon. Where these heretical and Jewish groups dwell, idolatry persists, manifesting in the servile worship of wood and stone.

When I inquired of the celestial messenger, “What is the nature of this action?” I was informed that they were traveling to Babylon, not merely to deliver a measure to the city, but also "to construct a temple for it and to place it there for their delight;" for the Lord declares, “I will not show Babylon favor as I did Jerusalem, for I have appointed a time for its desolation, followed by mercy and forgiveness; whereas Babylon, due to its immense iniquity, shall endure unceasing punishment."