Zechariah 5:11
And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
Original Language Analysis
בַ֖יִת
it an house
H1004
בַ֖יִת
it an house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
5 of 12
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְהוּכַ֛ן
and it shall be established
H3559
וְהוּכַ֛ן
and it shall be established
Strong's:
H3559
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, to be erect (i.e., stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,
שָּׁ֖ם
H8033
Cross References
Genesis 11:2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.Genesis 10:10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.Daniel 1:2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.Isaiah 11:11And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.Genesis 14:1And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;Jeremiah 29:28For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.Luke 21:24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.Hosea 3:4For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
Historical Context
Historically, Babylon represented paganism, idolatry, and opposition to God's purposes. By Zechariah's time (520 BC), the Neo-Babylonian Empire had fallen to Persia (539 BC), but 'Babylon' remained a symbol. The vision isn't necessarily predicting literal reconstruction of Babylon but using it symbolically as wickedness's proper home. Throughout Scripture, 'Babylon' represents the world system opposed to God, while 'Jerusalem' represents God's kingdom and people.
Questions for Reflection
- What does wickedness having its 'own house' in Babylon teach about the separation between God's kingdom and the world system?
- How does the 'base' or pedestal imagery reveal that wickedness becomes enthroned and worshiped in Babylon?
- In what ways do you need to ensure wickedness is 'sent to Babylon' (removed) rather than tolerated in your life?
Analysis & Commentary
And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base—The angel reveals wickedness's destination: 'eretz shin'ār (אֶרֶץ שִׁנְעָר, 'land of Shinar'), the ancient name for Babylon (Genesis 10:10; 11:2; Daniel 1:2). The phrase livnōt-lāh bayit (לִבְנוֹת־לָהּ בַיִת, 'to build for it a house') indicates establishing a permanent dwelling—wickedness will have its own temple, its own shrine in Babylon. Vehūḵan vehunnīchāh shām 'al-meḵōnātāh (וְהוּכַן וְהֻנִּיחָה שָּׁם עַל־מְכֹנָתָהּ, 'and it shall be prepared and set there upon its base')—fixed, established, permanently housed.
The irony is stunning: wickedness gets its own 'house' in Babylon while God's house (temple) is being built in Jerusalem. The two houses represent two kingdoms—God's kingdom centered in Jerusalem, Satan's kingdom centered in Babylon. Wickedness finds its proper home in the land where humanity first rebelled corporately (Tower of Babel, Genesis 11) and where Judah experienced judgment (Babylonian exile). The 'own base' suggests idolatrous pedestals—wickedness enthroned and worshiped in Babylon. This previews Revelation 17-18 where Babylon represents the final anti-God religious-economic system, ultimately destroyed. The vision assures God's people that wickedness won't remain among them—it's exiled to its native habitat, leaving Jerusalem pure.