Zechariah 5:3
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
Original Language Analysis
הַיּוֹצֵ֖את
that goeth forth
H3318
הַיּוֹצֵ֖את
that goeth forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
5 of 20
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֣י
over the face
H6440
פְּנֵ֣י
over the face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
7 of 20
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָאָ֑רֶץ
of the whole earth
H776
הָאָ֑רֶץ
of the whole earth
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
9 of 20
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
10 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כָל
H3605
כָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגֹּנֵ֗ב
for every one that stealeth
H1589
הַגֹּנֵ֗ב
for every one that stealeth
Strong's:
H1589
Word #:
12 of 20
to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive
מִזֶּה֙
H2088
נִקָּֽה׃
shall be cut off
H5352
נִקָּֽה׃
shall be cut off
Strong's:
H5352
Word #:
15 of 20
to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be bare, i.e., extirpated
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
16 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַ֨נִּשְׁבָּ֔ע
to it and every one that sweareth
H7650
הַ֨נִּשְׁבָּ֔ע
to it and every one that sweareth
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
17 of 20
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
מִזֶּ֖ה
H2088
Cross References
Exodus 20:15Thou shalt not steal.Isaiah 48:1Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.Isaiah 24:6Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.Isaiah 43:28Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.Jeremiah 5:2And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.Jeremiah 26:6Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.Zechariah 5:4I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.James 5:12But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.Leviticus 19:12And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.Malachi 4:6And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Historical Context
Post-exilic economic hardship tempted theft (Nehemiah 5:1-5), and commercial dealings involved frequent oath-taking where perjury was common (Malachi 3:5). The curse targets sins that undermine community trust and God's honor. The scroll's two-sided curse encompasses the entire law, summarized by loving God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). Violation brings 'cutting off'—exclusion from covenant community, possibly physical death, or ultimate separation from God.
Questions for Reflection
- Why do theft and false swearing represent the full range of covenant violations?
- How does recognizing God's law as containing active 'curses' change your view of sin's seriousness?
- In what ways does Christ bear the covenant curse for us (Galatians 3:13)?
Analysis & Commentary
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth—The scroll's content revealed: zō't hā'ālāh hayyōtsē't 'al-pənē kol-hā'āretz (זֹאת הָאָלָה הַיּוֹצֵאת עַל־פְּנֵי כָל־הָאָרֶץ, 'this is the curse going forth over the face of all the earth/land'). The term 'ālāh (אָלָה) denotes a covenant curse—the penalties invoked for breaking covenant stipulations (Deuteronomy 27-28). The scroll contains not abstract law but active curses seeking violators.
For every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it—Two representative sins: theft (8th commandment) and false swearing (3rd commandment, taking God's name in vain). The scroll has two sides, each side bearing curses for a category of sin—sins against neighbor (theft) and sins against God (false oaths). Yinnāqeh (יִנָּקֶה, 'shall be cut off/purged') promises purifying judgment. Theft violates property rights and stewardship; false swearing misuses God's name for personal gain. Together they represent all covenant violations—vertical (toward God) and horizontal (toward others). The vision warns that moral laxity will face divine judgment.