Zechariah 5:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophet felt compelled to recount these actions so that those who had just been liberated might understand the intercessions made by men and holy angels that secured their freedom, only to realize now that they were antagonizing the Almighty once more, slipping back into their prior transgressions. Thus, he proclaimed, “Out is the Aggel that speaketh in me.” Departing from where? What was his prior state? This transition hints at a shift from the vision of the sickle to that of a measuring instrument. The prophet raised his eyes upward, a stance befitting those who seek to comprehend the divine mysteries with sincere lamentation. He inquired about the significance of what he was shown, to which the angel responded, “This is the measure that goes forth; this is their unrighteousness throughout the whole earth.”

It is essential to consider what this measure represents. We acknowledge that the God of all is inherently good and merciful, exhibiting patience toward sinners while awaiting their repentance. Nonetheless, when one reaches the utmost limits of sin and exhausts the divine forbearance, they will ultimately face punishment without justification for their prolonged negligence, thus evading the judgment that corresponds to their actions is no longer possible. For this reason, Christ admonished the people of Judea, who recklessly pursued unnatural desires, “and ye shall fulfil the measure of your fathers” (Matthew 23:32). The measure revealed to the prophet illustrated the culmination of the people's sins. In the measure sat a woman, embodying iniquity, seemingly overflowing the limits, while other elements lingered outside. Remarkably, a talent of lead emerged and was placed in her mouth, symbolizing iniquity depicted as a wife, representing both allure and frailty. Every sin is ultimately borne from the attraction of pleasure leading to wrongdoing, facilitated by weakness within the soul. If the soul were steadfast and brave, it would resist the allure of evil; yet once it succumbs to indulgence, sorrow inevitably follows. Thus, it is fitting that iniquity is illustrated through the imagery of a wife.

The talent of lead, which rises to seal her mouth, signifies no less than our Lord Jesus Christ, who was exalted upon the honorable cross; our sins were “lifted up on his body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24), thereby abolishing “every manuscript about us” (Col. 2:14), so that, as the divine Psalmist declares, “all iniquity shall block up your mouth” (Ps. 106:42). Lead serves as a comparison, akin to its use by silversmiths to purify metals. Such is the transformative power of Christ within us; when He resides in the soul and heart, He eradicates all impurities. Others interpret the lead placed in the mouth of iniquity as a divine restraint, signifying that God limits its capacity to accuse sinners excessively. Consequently, iniquity is bound as if with a measuring rope, reflecting the notion that God, in His mercy, administers punishment proportionate to each individual’s transgressions.

When the children of Israel returned from exile, facing suffering at the hands of neighboring nations, they expressed their fears, saying, “Our iniquities and those of our ancestors cling to us. God shows us no compassion; he fails to eliminate our adversaries nor rescue us from their grasp. Why should we burden ourselves with futile efforts? Why should we endeavor to restore the city and the temple? Even if we desire to rebuild, our foes will thwart us, relentlessly opposing our efforts." Thus, God presented the prophet with the measure and the woman positioned in its center, symbolizing iniquity; concurrently, it is revealed that she will not remain in Judah but will be taken to Babylon, a place of Israel's suffering. There, a temple will be constructed for her, where she will abide until the destined moment of her ruin and desolation arrives. Although this mention of the woman being exiled to Babylon may directly reflect God's resolve to obliterate the sins of the Israelites, it also enigmatically signifies the eradication of the sinful nature that affects the entire world. The lead weight placed in the woman’s mouth symbolizes our Lord, who has sealed and silenced sin, preventing it from consuming the souls of the living any longer.

The vessel was transported through the air, and to avoid any uncertainty about its designation, the angel who had revealed it provided clarity, stating—in the Septuagint—'This is their unrighteousness throughout the whole earth,' while in the Hebrew context it represents ‘the eye,’ denoting the entirety of sinfulness. There the woman resided in the measure, recognized in Hebrew as epha (איפה), often translated in the Septuagint as οἴφι or ephi; she was identified as wickedness. As this unfolded, a significant weight of lead, resembling a stone, was transported; it may have been moved by its own force, by God's command, or through an unnamed agent.

The angel who communicated with the prophet emerged from him and, speaking from the side, instructed him to observe the sins of the Israelites, which had aggregated in a vessel, reaching the peak of their transgressions. This is their eye, indicated by the Hebrew term enam (עינם), which is spelled with the letters ain, iod, nun, and mem, reflecting their iniquity. Were this term composed with the letter vau, it would read onam or unam (אוינם), a misunderstanding commonly found in the prevailing editions of the Vulgate, where the letters vau and iod, similar in appearance but differing in size, are misread.

The aforementioned measure serves as the index of their sins throughout the earth, revealing the vices of Israel brought together for all to see, so that Israel might emerge from its land, allowing all nations to witness its condition. Additionally, a lead weight, significant in mass, soared above. The term 'lead weight' in this passage is later described as a 'stone of lead.' The Hebrew word for talent is chachar (ככר), while the word for stone is aben (אבן). Thus, a talent of lead can also be described as a stone of lead, representing the immense burden of sin. Upon this measure sat ungodliness, which we might refer to as idolatry or the rejection of God. Consequently, the Savior rebuked the Jews, ‘You have completed the measure of your forefathers’ (Matt. 23:32). This wickedness, perched upon the collective sins of Israel, boasting in its transgressions, would eventually be directed towards Babylon and subdued through the trials of exile; or, as interpreted by Theodotion, it is itself confined within the vessel and concealed, bearing the immense weight of the lead, effectively silenced, unable to boast any longer. It can also be seen as being oppressed by God's angel, rendering it, once proud of its offenses, mute in eternal silence. Further reading reveals the details of where and by whom this imprisoned iniquity was taken away.

Furthermore, the outcome of sin is disgrace, as the blessed Apostle Paul conveys: “Being freed from sin, you became a servant of righteousness. What, then, is the fruit of those things of which you are now ashamed?” (Romans 6:18, 21).