Zechariah 5:4
I 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.
Original Language Analysis
הוֹצֵאתִ֗יהָ
I will bring it forth
H3318
הוֹצֵאתִ֗יהָ
I will bring it forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
1 of 21
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֔וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֔וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
4 of 21
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
וּבָ֙אָה֙
and it shall enter
H935
וּבָ֙אָה֙
and it shall enter
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
5 of 21
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בֵּית֔וֹ
and into the house
H1004
בֵּית֔וֹ
and into the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
7 of 21
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
בֵּית֔וֹ
and into the house
H1004
בֵּית֔וֹ
and into the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
10 of 21
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
הַנִּשְׁבָּ֥ע
of him that sweareth
H7650
הַנִּשְׁבָּ֥ע
of him that sweareth
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
11 of 21
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
בִּשְׁמִ֖י
by my name
H8034
בִּשְׁמִ֖י
by my name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
12 of 21
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
לַשָּׁ֑קֶר
falsely
H8267
לַשָּׁ֑קֶר
falsely
Strong's:
H8267
Word #:
13 of 21
an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)
וְלָ֙נֶה֙
and it shall remain
H3885
וְלָ֙נֶה֙
and it shall remain
Strong's:
H3885
Word #:
14 of 21
to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain)
בְּת֣וֹךְ
in the midst
H8432
בְּת֣וֹךְ
in the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
15 of 21
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
בֵּית֔וֹ
and into the house
H1004
בֵּית֔וֹ
and into the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
16 of 21
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְכִלַּ֖תּוּ
and shall consume
H3615
וְכִלַּ֖תּוּ
and shall consume
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
17 of 21
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
וְאֶת
H854
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
18 of 21
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
עֵצָ֥יו
it with the timber
H6086
עֵצָ֥יו
it with the timber
Strong's:
H6086
Word #:
19 of 21
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
Cross References
Proverbs 3:33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.Malachi 3:5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.Job 18:15It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.Deuteronomy 7:26Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
Historical Context
In ancient Near Eastern culture, one's house represented legacy, family name, and accumulated wealth. God promises to destroy the covenant-breaker's inheritance root and branch. This echoes Achan's judgment—his theft brought corporate curse and personal annihilation (Joshua 7). The vision assures that though thieves and liars may prosper temporarily, divine justice will catch up, destroying even the stones of their houses.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the curse 'entering the house' show that sin's judgment extends to our private domains?
- What does destruction of 'timber and stones' teach about the permanence of wealth gained through sin?
- How does Christ shelter us from the 'flying scroll' curse that should consume our house?
Analysis & Commentary
I 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—God personally dispatches the curse: hōtsē'tīhā (הוֹצֵאתִיהָ, 'I will bring it forth/send it out'), emphasizing divine initiative in judgment. The curse isn't passive consequence but active prosecution. Ūbā'āh el-bēyt hagannāb ve'el-bēyt hannishbā' bishmi lashshāqer (וּבָאָה אֶל־בֵּית הַגַּנָּב וְאֶל־בֵּית הַנִּשְׁבָּע בִּשְׁמִי לַשָּׁקֶר, 'and it shall enter the house of the thief and the house of the one swearing by my name falsely')—the scroll invades private dwellings, penetrating where human courts can't reach.
And it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof—Total destruction: velāntāh betōkh bēytō vekillattū ve'et-'ētsa יו ve'et-'avānāyw (וְלָנְתָה בְתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ וְכִלַּתּוּ וְאֶת־עֵצָיו וְאֶת־אֲבָנָיו, 'and it shall lodge in the midst of his house and consume it, both timber and stones'). The scroll doesn't merely condemn but demolishes—burning wood and stones, obliterating even structural elements. Fire consumes wood, but destroying stones requires supernatural judgment. This pictures complete ruin: ill-gotten wealth won't endure; lying oaths won't protect property. The vision warns covenant-breakers that prosperity built on sin will collapse. This foreshadows final judgment when 'the elements shall melt with fervent heat' (2 Peter 3:10).