Zechariah 5:9
Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
Original Language Analysis
וַתִּשֶּׂ֙אנָה֙
Then lifted I up
H5375
וַתִּשֶּׂ֙אנָה֙
Then lifted I up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
1 of 20
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
עֵינַ֜י
mine eyes
H5869
עֵינַ֜י
mine eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
2 of 20
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
וָאֵ֗רֶא
and looked
H7200
וָאֵ֗רֶא
and looked
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
3 of 20
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
יֽוֹצְאוֹת֙
and behold there came out
H3318
יֽוֹצְאוֹת֙
and behold there came out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
7 of 20
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
וְר֣וּחַ
and the wind
H7307
וְר֣וּחַ
and the wind
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
8 of 20
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
כְּכַנְפֵ֣י
like the wings
H3671
כְּכַנְפֵ֣י
like the wings
Strong's:
H3671
Word #:
9 of 20
an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bedclothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinna
וְלָהֵ֥נָּה
for they had
H2007
וְלָהֵ֥נָּה
for they had
Strong's:
H2007
Word #:
10 of 20
themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)
כְּכַנְפֵ֣י
like the wings
H3671
כְּכַנְפֵ֣י
like the wings
Strong's:
H3671
Word #:
11 of 20
an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bedclothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinna
כְּכַנְפֵ֣י
like the wings
H3671
כְּכַנְפֵ֣י
like the wings
Strong's:
H3671
Word #:
12 of 20
an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bedclothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinna
וַתִּשֶּׂ֙אנָה֙
Then lifted I up
H5375
וַתִּשֶּׂ֙אנָה֙
Then lifted I up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
14 of 20
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָ֣אֵיפָ֔ה
the ephah
H374
הָ֣אֵיפָ֔ה
the ephah
Strong's:
H374
Word #:
16 of 20
an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general
בֵּ֥ין
H996
בֵּ֥ין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
17 of 20
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
הָאָ֖רֶץ
between the earth
H776
הָאָ֖רֶץ
between the earth
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
18 of 20
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:49The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;Hosea 8:1Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.
Historical Context
The imagery of flying women carrying wickedness away symbolizes the complete removal of idolatrous materialism from post-exilic Judah. God promises not mere suppression but exile of wickedness itself—reversing the pattern where Israel went into exile because of sin. Now sin goes into exile so Israel can remain pure. The two women may represent divine judgment executed through various means, or angelic/demonic forces enlisted to accomplish God's purposes.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God use 'unclean' agents (stork-winged women) to remove unclean wickedness?
- What does suspension 'between earth and heaven' during wickedness's transport symbolize?
- How does this vision of sin's exile reverse the pattern of God's people going into exile for sin?
Analysis & Commentary
Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork—Zechariah observes two women (shetayim nāshīm, שְׁתַּיִם נָשִׁים) emerging with rūach biḵnaphēyhem (רוּחַ בְּכַנְפֵיהֶם, 'wind/spirit in their wings'). They possess kenaphayim kaḵnaphē hachasīdāh (כְּנָפַיִם כַּכְנָפֵי הַחֲסִידָה, 'wings like the wings of the stork')—the stork being a large, strong migratory bird capable of long-distance flight, though ritually unclean (Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14:18).
And they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven—The two winged women seize the wickedness-filled basket and vattissē'nāh et-hā'ēphāh bēyn hā'āretz ūvēyn hashshāmayim (וַתִּשֶּׂאנָה אֶת־הָאֵיפָה בֵּין הָאָרֶץ וּבֵין הַשָּׁמָיִם, 'and they lifted the ephah between the earth and the heaven'). Suspended between earth and sky suggests transportation, removal from one realm to another. The women function as agents executing God's judgment—removing wickedness from Judah and transporting it elsewhere. Their unclean nature (stork wings) suits handling unclean cargo (wickedness). The 'wind in their wings' may be divine enabling or demonic energy—either way, they accomplish God's purposes of purging His land.