Zechariah 5:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The vision, which may seem straightforward, unveils a profound truth: the divine oath will indeed eliminate thieves and all those who are accustomed to bear false witness, cutting down arrogant blasphemers as if with a sickle. It will expose the boundaries of homes, consigning them to flames, and it will enter the dwelling of the husband, wreaking severe destruction. It is vital to examine why this particular vision is connected to the others. One might query, given the multitude of sinners among them and the various accusations leveled against the Israelites, why the punishment signified by the sickle is specifically directed at the thieves and those who perjure themselves. Why is an oath taken that delineates the guilty for complete destruction?

In response, we assert that God, who seeks the welfare of all who listen to Him, conveyed through the holy prophets a message pertinent to every era. Thus, it was essential for the contemporaries of this vision to grasp its specific significance. When the Israelites had scarcely departed from the land of the Chaldeans and were liberated from bondage, returning to Judea and reaching Jerusalem, they ought to have renounced their old ways and atoned for their previous sins. They were to honor the Deliverer by adhering to His will. However, they flouted the law just as boldly as before. Although Moses instructed them not to intermarry with foreign women, they scoffed at this command, marrying daughters from among the Gentile nations and fathering children from these unions. Notable individuals among them fell prey to such transgressions. Ezra grieved over this and came to the house of God, praying for those who had acted unjustly. The account continues in his writings: "And while Ezra was praying and weeping, casting himself down before the temple, a great assembly gathered to him from Jerusalem—men, women, and youths; for there was a great mourning among the people. And Jechoniah Jehiel of the children of Israel spoke to Ezra, ‘We have sinned against the Lord our God, and have taken foreign wives from the peoples of the land, and now all Israel has joined in this.’ Let us make an oath before the Lord to send away all our wives and their children, as you have instructed us, and as those who follow the law should do. Rise up and take action; we will support you in this matter.’ Then Ezra arose, and swore by the ancestors of the priests and Levites of all Israel to do as they had pledged" (1 Ezra 10:1-5).

Thus, it was imperative that those who vowed to uphold the law should be warned of the curse that inevitably awaits habitual perjurers, ensuring they honor their pledges. Moreover, during the construction of the divine temple, when significant funds were amassed—partly due to gifts from Darius and partly from the people—it was evident that some appointed to manage these resources might misappropriate what was designated for God's glory. Hence, the curse upon thieves serves to deter them from coveting these sacred funds, preventing them from misusing what is meant for divine purposes. This explains the vision’s significance. Those who engage in theft and false oaths ought to heed the warning of the curse and the sickle. God will undoubtedly enforce His judgments, showing no mercy to thieves or any others who transgress, for He continually despises those who disregard His divine majesty, coveting what does not belong to them.

Yet, those who mislead and deceive due to their poverty will not be held accountable by God." Consequently, God revealed a scroll sent from Him, soaring through the air, inscribed with the judgments for those who deceive and swear falsely.

Turning, the prophet observed a sobering vision, shifting from joy to sorrow as he saw a flying scroll, referred to in Hebrew as "megilla." In other translations, it is described as a leather writing tablet. The image has connotations linked to the message of the Psalm: "In the head of the book, it is written of me" (Psalms 39:8), or, as noted by the Seventy, a flying sickle.

The previous revelations regarding temple restoration and the arrival of the Savior (2 Corinthians 12:7) are juxtaposed with this troubling sight. This scroll represents the sins of humanity, ensuring that individuals are judged either righteously or condemned based on their actions, as articulated in Daniel: "Thrones are set up, and books are opened" (Daniel 7:10). If we view the scroll as a sickle, we can refer to the Revelation of John, where the angel instructs, "Throw down thy sharpest sickle and reap, for the harvest is ripe" (Revelation 14:18).

In Deuteronomy, instead of a sickle, we find references to arrows and swords: "I will make My arrows drunk with blood, and My sword shall devour flesh" (Deuteronomy 32:42). God did not spare the fallen angels who defiled the heavenly realm; as declared through Isaiah, "My sword is drunk in heaven" (Isaiah 34:5). All nations that embrace sin will meet their end through this sword—not merely the physical blade, for there are myriad ways to encounter death—but by the spiritual sword that strikes unrepentant souls. The Psalmist warns: "If you do not turn, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready, and prepared the instruments of death" (Psalm 7:13-14).

From the prophet Jeremiah, we learn: "O sword of the Lord, how long until you are quiet? Return to your sheath" (Jeremiah 47:6). This sword, signifying not just a sickle that harvests chaff but also the axe that fells trees unworthy of fruit, recalls John the Baptist's declaration: "Behold, the axe is laid at the root of the trees; every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 3:10).

This scroll, outlining humanity's transgressions, is sent to the vineyard of Sodom, affirming, "Your enemies are mad; their vineyard is from Sodom, and their offspring from Gomorrah. Their grapes are of gall, their clusters, bitterness. The venom of serpents is their wine; the poison of asps is unhealed" (Deuteronomy 32:31-33). The dimensions of this sickle—a length of twenty cubits and a breadth of ten—symbolize a blend of joy and sorrow, reflecting that the Lord strikes to uplift. The number twenty, being two tens, signifies a message of severity, while ten indicates a blessing of prosperity.

Through various trials, Israel is guided. Those who underestimate the gravity of offenses like theft and perjury must recognize the weight of the curse represented by the scroll and sickle that will invade the home of the unrepentant and bring ruin to all it encompasses. If what is deemed minor—like theft and swearing—faces such grave consequence, what then of greater sins such as fornication, adultery, murder, sacrilege, and others listed amongst the sinful acts identified by the Apostle (Galatians 5:19-21)?

It has been observed that the measurements of twenty cubits in length and ten in breadth may symbolize the life of the Lord Savior, corresponding to the age of thirty. For the Father does not judge anyone but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, with the world destined to be evaluated by Him (John 5:21).