Daily Devotional for Saturday, June 07, 2025

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The Flying Scroll and the Curse: A Devotional on Zechariah 5:3

God’s Law Still Judges All Who Transgress It

“Then he said to me: ‘This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, because everyone who steals will be swept away according to what is on one side of it, and everyone who swears falsely will be swept away according to what is on the other side of it.’” — Zechariah 5:3

This passage comes from one of the most graphic and sobering visions given to the prophet Zechariah during the post-exilic restoration period. Zechariah prophesied around 520 B.C.E., alongside Haggai, after the Jewish exiles had returned from Babylonian captivity in 537 B.C.E. under the decree of Cyrus. At this point, the temple rebuilding had stalled due to opposition and spiritual apathy.

In a series of night visions (chapters 1–6), Jehovah gives Zechariah prophetic imagery to encourage faithfulness, expose sin, and confirm His future plans for Israel and the coming Messiah. Zechariah 5:3 is part of the sixth vision—the vision of the flying scroll. This scroll contains divine curses, not blessings. It announces judgment, not comfort.

Unlike previous visions that emphasized the hope of restoration, this vision shows that Jehovah’s holiness cannot tolerate sin, even among His restored people. Grace does not erase law. Mercy does not void accountability. God will still purge the land of iniquity by enforcing His written standards.

“This is the curse…”

The Hebrew word for “curse” is הַמְּאֵרָה (hamme’erah), referring to a divine imprecation or judicial sentence issued by God. This is not a vague threat or poetic figure—it is a legal declaration issued by the Judge of all the earth. The curse is not manmade; it is not a consequence of natural misfortune or bad decisions. It is a revealed pronouncement from God, written down and now being enforced.

This same term is used in the Law of Moses, particularly in passages like Deuteronomy 27–28, where blessings and curses are read aloud to the people of Israel based on their obedience or disobedience to God’s covenant. In Deuteronomy 28:15, it says:

“But if you will not obey the voice of Jehovah your God… then all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.”

The “curse” of Zechariah 5:3 is based on that same principle: violation of God’s revealed Law brings divine consequences. The vision makes clear that though the Jews had returned to Jerusalem physically, many were still harboring spiritual sin. The restoration required more than a rebuilt temple—it required personal holiness and reverence for the covenant.

“…that is going out over the face of all the land…”

The phrase “going out” signifies that this curse is being actively enforced. It is not merely being read or remembered—it is being carried out. The scroll is not stationary or closed—it flies swiftly, visibly, and publicly across the entire land. The Hebrew word for “land” (הָאָרֶץ, ha’aretz) can refer to Israel specifically, and in this context it means the land of the returned exiles, the promised land, now being resettled under Persian rule.

This curse “goes out over the face of all the land,” meaning no one is hidden from its reach. It is a public declaration, universally applied, and shows that God sees every act, even those that might seem hidden to human eyes. There is no partiality. The curse goes everywhere. It does not stay in the temple or among the priests—it sweeps across the entire land, seeking out transgressors of the law.

This detail emphasizes that no one can evade accountability, even after returning from exile. Restoration does not grant immunity. If sin remains, judgment follows.

“…because everyone who steals will be swept away according to what is on one side of it…”

The scroll has writing on both sides, much like the stone tablets Moses received (Exodus 32:15), showing that the law is complete, thorough, and binding. One side addresses theft. “Everyone who steals” is a direct reference to the eighth commandment: “You must not steal” (Exodus 20:15).

Stealing here refers not only to criminal theft, but includes dishonest gain, deception in business, withholding wages, corrupt practices, or taking what is not rightfully earned. In post-exilic Judah, these sins were rampant. Haggai had already rebuked the people for prioritizing personal wealth while neglecting God’s house (Haggai 1:4). Malachi later would condemn them for robbing God in tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8–9).

The curse declares that those who steal will be “swept away,” a phrase that translates a Hebrew word meaning cut off, banished, or purged. God is not tolerating these sins. This is not figurative language—it is a declaration of real judgment upon real sinners for real violations.

“…and everyone who swears falsely will be swept away according to what is on the other side of it.”

The second sin addressed is false oaths, a violation of the third commandment: “You must not take the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way” (Exodus 20:7). Swearing falsely refers to making deceitful promises, lying under oath, or invoking God’s name for dishonest purposes. In ancient Israel, oaths were often made in God’s name to confirm contracts or testify in disputes (Leviticus 19:12). To swear falsely was to defile God’s name and pervert justice.

This was a common abuse among those who sought to appear righteous while engaging in fraud. The people would swear in God’s name to make their lies more believable. This is not merely a social or legal infraction—it is a personal offense against God Himself.

Again, the consequence is the same: “will be swept away.” This confirms that both moral and verbal sins are equally subject to divine judgment. Theft and perjury may differ in method, but both bring God’s curse when unrepented of.

Application: God’s Law Still Judges the Unrepentant

Though we are not under the Law of Moses, the moral principles behind it still reflect God’s unchanging standard. The curse written on this scroll is a sobering reminder that God’s Word is active, His justice is holy, and His eyes are on all the earth.

God sees and judges sin, even after restoration
The Jews had returned to their land, but the presence of sin still demanded judgment. External religious observance means nothing if inward rebellion remains.
No sin is too hidden for God to expose
The flying scroll covered the whole land. This symbolizes that God’s Word penetrates every home, every heart, every transaction, and every lie.
Both action and speech are subject to divine law
Theft and false oaths are judged alike. God expects integrity in business, honesty in speech, and truth in every part of life.
God’s judgment is not symbolic—it is real
This is not about poetic consequences. The language of being “swept away” is about real punishment, divine wrath, and the necessity of repentance.
True restoration demands both return and repentance
It is not enough to rebuild temples or churches. God demands moral purity. True revival is always accompanied by the rejection of sin and submission to God’s Word.

Conclusion: God’s Word Still Flies Over the Land

Zechariah 5:3 is not a vision of mystical abstraction—it is a literal picture of God’s moral authority moving through the land, confronting sin with divine justice. It reminds us that even in times of rebuilding and restoration, God does not overlook disobedience.

This is a message for every age. The same God who judged theft and false oaths in Zechariah’s time is still watching today. His Word still flies, still confronts, and still calls men to repentance. There is no refuge in religion, ritual, or reputation. The only refuge is obedience and faithfulness to His commands.

“This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, because everyone who steals will be swept away according to what is on one side of it, and everyone who swears falsely will be swept away according to what is on the other side of it.”

Let the scroll fly across your life. Let it expose sin—and then let it be your guide back to righteousness.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).