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Selected Verse: Zechariah 5:4 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Zec 5:4 |
Strong Concordance |
I will bring it forth [03318], saith [05002] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], and it shall enter [0935] into the house [01004] of the thief [01590], and into the house [01004] of him that sweareth [07650] falsely [08267] by my name [08034]: and it shall remain [03885] in the midst [08432] of his house [01004], and shall consume [03615] it with the timber [06086] thereof and the stones [068] thereof. |
| |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
The "theft" immediately meant is similar sacrilege to that complained of in Neh 13:10; Mal 3:8. They robbed God by neglecting to give Him His due in building His house, while they built their own houses, forswearing their obligations to Him; therefore, the "houses" they build shall be "consumed" with God's "curse." Probably literal theft and perjury accompanied their virtual theft and perjury as to the temple of God (Mal 3:5). Stealing and perjury go together; for the covetous and fraudulent perjure themselves by God's name without scruple (see Pro 30:9).
enter . . . the house--In vain they guard and shut themselves up who incur the curse; it will inevitably enter even when they think themselves most secure.
consume . . . timber . . . stones--not leaving a vestige of it. So the "stones" and "timber" of the house of a leper (type of the sinner) were to be utterly removed (Lev 14:15; compare Kg1 18:38).
The "ephah" is the Hebrew dry measure containing about thirty-seven quarts. Alluding to the previous vision as to theft and perjury: the ephah which, by falsification of the measure, they made the instrument of defrauding, shall be made the instrument of their punishment [GROTIUS]. Compare "this is their resemblance" (Zac 5:6), that is, this is a representation of what the Jews have done, and what they shall suffer. Their total dispersion ("the land of Shinar" being the emblem of the various Gentile lands of their present dispersion) is herein fortetold, when the measure (to which the ephah alludes) of their sins should be full. The former vision denounces judgment on individuals; this one, on the whole state: but enigmatically, not to discourage their present building [PEMBELLUS]. Rather, the vision is consolatory after the preceding one [CALVIN]. Idolatry and its kindred sins, covetousness and fraud (denounced in the vision of the roll), shall be removed far out of the Holy Land to their own congenial soil, never to return (so Zac 3:9; Isa 27:9; Isa 52:1; Isa 60:21; Jer 50:20; Zep 3:13). For more than two thousand years, ever since the Babylonian exile, the Jews have been free from idolatry; but the full accomplishment of the prophecy is yet future, when all sin shall be purged from Israel on their return to Palestine, and conversion to Christ. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
I will bring it forth - Out of the treasure-house, as it were; as he says, "He bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures" Jer 10:13; Jer 51:16; and, "Is not this laid up in store with Me, sealed up among My treasures?" To Me belongeth "vengeance and recompense" Deu 32:34-35. And it shall remain, literally, "lodge for the night," until it has accomplished that for which it was sent, its utter destruction. Lap.: "So we have seen and see at this day powerful families, which attained to splendor by rapine or ill-gotten goods, destroyed by the just judgment of God, that those who see it are amazed, how such wealth perceptibly yet insensibly disappeared." Chrys. on the statues 15. n. 13. p. 259. Oxford Translation: "Why doth it overthrow the stones and the wood of the swearer's house? In order that the ruin may be a correction to all. For since the earth must hide the swearer, when dead, his house, overturned and become a heap, will by the very sight be an admonition to all who pass by and see it, not to venture on the like, lest they suffer the like, and it will be a lasting witness against the sin of the departed."
Paganism was impressed with the doom of him who consulted the oracle, whether he should foreswear himself for gain. "Swear," was the answer, "since death awaits too the man, who keeps the oath; yet Oath hath a son, nameless, handless, footless; but swift he pursueth, until he grasp together and destroy the whole race and house." "In the third generation, there was nought descended from him," who had consulted about this perjury, "nor hearthstone reputed to be his. It had been uprooted and effaced." A pagan orator relates, as well known, that "the perjurer escapes not the vengeance of the gods, and if not himself, yet the sons and whole race of the foresworn fall into great misfortunes." God left not Himself without witness.
Lap.: "The prophet speaks of the curse inflicted on the thieves and false swearers of his own day; but a fortiori he includes that which came upon them for slaying Christ. For this was the greatest of all, which utterly overthrew and consumed Jerusalem, the temple and polity, so that that ancient and glorious Jerusalem exists no longer, as Christ threatened. "They shall lay thee even with the ground, and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another" Luk 19:44. This resteth upon them these" 1800 "years." |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| It shall enter - This curse shall come with commission from me. It shall remain - It shall stick close to them and theirs like Gehazi's leprosy. And the stones - Nothing shall remain, as when both the timber and stones of a house are consumed. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Into the house of him - Babylon, the house or city of Nebuchadnezzar, who was a public plunderer, and a most glaring idolater. |
13 The remnant [07611] of Israel [03478] shall not do [06213] iniquity [05766], nor speak [01696] lies [03577]; neither shall a deceitful [08649] tongue [03956] be found [04672] in their mouth [06310]: for they shall feed [07462] and lie down [07257], and none shall make them afraid [02729].
20 In those days [03117], and in that time [06256], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], the iniquity [05771] of Israel [03478] shall be sought for [01245], and there shall be none; and the sins [02403] of Judah [03063], and they shall not be found [04672]: for I will pardon [05545] them whom I reserve [07604].
21 Thy people [05971] also shall be all righteous [06662]: they shall inherit [03423] the land [0776] for ever [05769], the branch [05342] of my planting [04302], the work [04639] of my hands [03027], that I may be glorified [06286].
1 Awake [05782], awake [05782]; put on [03847] thy strength [05797], O Zion [06726]; put on [03847] thy beautiful [08597] garments [0899], O Jerusalem [03389], the holy [06944] city [05892]: for henceforth there shall no more [03254] come [0935] into thee the uncircumcised [06189] and the unclean [02931].
9 By this [02063] therefore shall the iniquity [05771] of Jacob [03290] be purged [03722]; and this is all the fruit [06529] to take away [05493] his sin [02403]; when he maketh [07760] all the stones [068] of the altar [04196] as chalkstones [01615] that are beaten in sunder [05310], the groves [0842] and images [02553] shall not stand up [06965].
9 For behold the stone [068] that I have laid [05414] before [06440] Joshua [03091]; upon one [0259] stone [068] shall be seven [07651] eyes [05869]: behold, I will engrave [06605] the graving [06603] thereof, saith [05002] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], and I will remove [04185] the iniquity [05771] of that land [0776] in one [0259] day [03117].
6 And I said [0559], What is it? And he said [0559], This is an ephah [0374] that goeth forth [03318]. He said [0559] moreover, This is their resemblance [05869] through all the earth [0776].
38 Then the fire [0784] of the LORD [03068] fell [05307], and consumed [0398] the burnt sacrifice [05930], and the wood [06086], and the stones [068], and the dust [06083], and licked up [03897] the water [04325] that was in the trench [08585].
15 And the priest [03548] shall take [03947] some of the log [03849] of oil [08081], and pour [03332] it into the palm [03709] of his own [03548] left hand [08042]:
9 Lest I be full [07646], and deny [03584] thee, and say [0559], Who is the LORD [03068]? or lest I be poor [03423], and steal [01589], and take [08610] the name [08034] of my God [0430]in vain.
5 And I will come near [07126] to you to judgment [04941]; and I will be a swift [04116] witness [05707] against the sorcerers [03784], and against the adulterers [05003], and against false [08267] swearers [07650], and against those that oppress [06231] the hireling [07916] in his wages [07939], the widow [0490], and the fatherless [03490], and that turn aside [05186] the stranger [01616] from his right, and fear [03372] not me, saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
8 Will a man [0120] rob [06906] God [0430]? Yet ye have robbed [06906] me. But ye say [0559], Wherein have we robbed [06906] thee? In tithes [04643] and offerings [08641].
10 And I perceived [03045] that the portions [04521] of the Levites [03881] had not been given [05414] them: for the Levites [03881] and the singers [07891], that did [06213] the work [04399], were fled [01272] every one [0376] to his field [07704].
44 And [2532] shall lay [1474] thee [4571] even with the ground [1474], and [2532] thy [4675] children [5043] within [1722] thee [4671]; and [2532] they shall [863] not [3756] leave [863] in [1722] thee [4671] one stone [3037] upon [1909] another [3037]; because [473] [3739] thou knewest [1097] not [3756] the time [2540] of thy [4675] visitation [1984].
34 Is not this laid up in store [03647] with me, and sealed up [02856] among my treasures [0214]?
35 To me belongeth vengeance [05359], and recompence [08005]; their foot [07272] shall slide [04131] in due time [06256]: for the day [03117] of their calamity [0343] is at hand [07138], and the things that shall come [06264] upon them make haste [02363].
16 When he uttereth [05414] his voice [06963], there is a multitude [01995] of waters [04325] in the heavens [08064]; and he causeth the vapours [05387] to ascend [05927] from the ends [07097] of the earth [0776]: he maketh [06213] lightnings [01300] with rain [04306], and bringeth forth [03318] the wind [07307] out of his treasures [0214].
13 When he uttereth [05414] his voice [06963], there is a multitude [01995] of waters [04325] in the heavens [08064], and he causeth the vapours [05387] to ascend [05927] from the ends [07097] of the earth [0776]; he maketh [06213] lightnings [01300] with rain [04306], and bringeth forth [03318] the wind [07307] out of his treasures [0214].