Zechariah 5:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consequently, he declared, "Out is the Aggel that speaketh in me." To where must he depart? Where was he prior to this? This phrase illustrates the shift from the vision involving the sickle to a new vision of the measure. The prophet elevates his gaze upwards, a fitting posture for those who diligently pursue divine truth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to grasp the mysteries revealed. He inquired about the significance of the vision, and the angel revealed, "This is the measure that goes forth; this is their unrighteousness throughout the whole earth."

It is essential to engage in a discussion regarding the nature of this measure. We profess that the God of all creation is inherently good and compassionate; He exhibits great patience with those who sin and bears with transgressors, anticipating their repentance. Yet, if an individual reaches the utmost degree of wickedness, exhausting the mercy allotted to them by divine Providence, they will ultimately face judgment, leaving no room for the defense of their prolonged iniquities. For this reason, Christ admonished the people of Judaea, who were recklessly pursuing all that is unnatural: "and ye shall fulfil the measure of your fathers" (Matthew 23:32). In this context, the measure witnessed by the prophet symbolizes the culmination of the people’s sins. Within the measure sat a woman, representing iniquity, as if overflowing it, with portions of her excess spilling beyond the boundaries. Yet, he observes that a talent of lead emerges and enters her mouth. This vision portrays iniquity as a wife, symbolizing both pleasure and frailty. For all transgressions arise from the allure of pleasure, which entices one towards evil, revealing a weakness within the soul. A resolute and courageous soul would resist such inclinations; however, the moment the soul is indulged and drawn into pleasure, it finds itself beset by sorrows. Therefore, it is fitting to depict iniquity through the image of a wife. The talent of lead that rises to seal her mouth undoubtedly represents our Lord Jesus Christ, who was exalted upon the honorable cross, bearing "our iniquity lifted up on his body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24) and abolishing "every manuscript about us" (Col. 2:14), ensuring that, as the divine Psalmist states, "all iniquity shall block up your mouth" (Ps. 106:42). The comparison to lead is also significant; as I pointed out, lead serves to purify metals in the hands of silversmiths. In a similar manner, the power of Christ at work within us completely eradicates all impurity. Some interpret the lead placed in the mouth of iniquity as God's way of restraining and preventing it from excessively accusing sinners. Thus, iniquity is bound by a measure, akin to a rope, because I believe that God, in His mercy, proportionately administers punishment according to each person's offenses.

Upon their return from captivity, the children of Israel, facing tribulations from neighboring nations, expressed in despair, "Our sins, along with the sins of our fathers, still weigh heavily upon us. God shows us no mercy, nor does He eradicate the foes that besiege us, nor does He rescue us from their grasp. Why should we burden ourselves with futile efforts? Why should we attempt to restore the city and the temple? Even if we desire to rebuild them, our adversaries will thwart us, relentlessly opposing us."

It is for this reason that God reveals to the prophet the measure and the woman at its center, representing iniquity. At the same time, it is disclosed that this woman shall not remain in Judah but will be transported to Babylon, where the children of Israel endured suffering: there they will construct a temple for her, and she will stay until the appointed time for her destruction and annihilation arrives. Although the description of the woman being exiled to Babylon signifies God's particular decree to eradicate the sins of the Israelites, it also mysteriously alludes to the elimination of sin for the entirety of humankind. The tin weight placed in the mouth of the woman symbolizes our Lord, who has restrained and silenced sin, preventing it from further consuming the souls of the living.

When I saw this, a lead weight resembling a stone began to ascend on its own, likely by divine command or through an unnamed authority. The angel who had emerged from me seized the woman identified as wickedness and swiftly confined her within the vessel, now fully visible to all. To prevent her from escaping or resurfacing to parade in her iniquity, the angel placed a heavy lead weight over the opening, ensuring the containment of all wickedness.

In this interpretation, we've attempted to portray a vision of what is to come, shaping the outlines to enhance our understanding. The angel commanded me to observe the aggregation of Israel's sins and their culmination in this vessel. The vessel's designation in Hebrew corresponds to the essence of their sins, serving as a focal point for the transgressions of the nation. While a talent of lead is mentioned, it can also be understood as a stone of lead, representing the weight of their sins. Observing closely, we see that lodged in this vessel is ungodliness, which could also be regarded as idolatry or the denial of the Divine. Consequently, the Savior addressed the Jews, stating that they had completed the measure of their ancestors (Matt. 23:32).

This wickedness, which presided over the sins of Israel, ultimately found its fate within Babylon, subdued by the calamity of exile. Alternatively, according to Theodotion’s interpretation, wickedness itself is cast into the vessel and hidden, encumbered by the oppressive weight of lead, silencing its pride. Thus, it may also signify that the angel of God has suppressed that which once reveled in its iniquity to eternal silence. Further examination of the text reveals the details of the removal of the imprisoned wrongdoing.