Zechariah 5:11
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar,” he told me. “And when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its pedestal.” | And he said unto me, To build her a house in the land of Shinar: and when it is prepared, she shall be set there in her own place. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedIn one of Zechariah's night visions, a woman whom the angel names "wickedness" is shut inside an ephah under a weight of lead. Two women with wings like a stork's lift the ephah up between the earth and the heaven. This verse gives the angel's answer to where they take it: to the land of Shinar, where a house is built for it and it is set there upon its own base. Zechariah overviewZechariah 5:6Zechariah 5:7Zechariah 5:8Zechariah 5:9Zechariah 5:10Zechariah 5:11
SpeakingThe angel that talked with Zechariah answers the prophet's question. Zechariah 5:10Zechariah 5:11
ToThe angel speaks to Zechariah. The book's messages are for the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah 5:10Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe thing carried away is the woman in the ephah, whom the angel names "wickedness." It is lifted up from the earth and taken away to Shinar. Zechariah 5:7Zechariah 5:8Zechariah 5:9Zechariah 5:11
Wickedness, sealed in the ephah under the lead, is carried to Shinar. There a house is built for it, and it is established and set down on its own base. It is given a fixed home in a far land. Zechariah 5:8Zechariah 5:9Zechariah 5:11Strong's H3559AStrong's H5117Strong's H4369
Zechariah received the visions in Jerusalem among the returned exiles. The ephah is taken to Shinar, the ancient name for the region later known as Babylonia or Chaldea. Zechariah overviewStrong's H8152Shinar
The eventsThis is one of the eight night visions in 1:7-6:8. The book's dated messages fall in the reign of Darius king of Persia, about 520-518 BC, while the temple was being rebuilt. Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote it, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8, which include this vision, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
HereThe vision follows the flying roll, the curse that cuts off the thief and him that sweareth falsely. Together they show God dealing with sin. Here wickedness is not only named and shut in but carried away and given a home elsewhere. Zechariah 5:3Zechariah 5:4Zechariah 5:8Zechariah 5:9Zechariah 5:11
In the whole of ScriptureShinar is where the kingdom of Babel began (Genesis 10:10). It is also where the vessels of God's house were carried "to the house of his god" when Judah's king was given into a foreign king's hand (Daniel 1:2). Isaiah foresaw God recovering the remnant of his people "from Shinar" (Isaiah 11:11). In this vision the people have come back, and it is wickedness that is carried off to Shinar. Genesis 10:10Daniel 1:2Isaiah 11:11Zechariah overviewZechariah 5:11
For readersThe exiles had once been told to "build ye houses" in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:28). Now it is wickedness that gets a house there. The vision tells God's people that he is taking wickedness away, in keeping with his promise to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 29:28Zechariah 5:11Zechariah overview
- Shinarשִׁנְעָר
The lexicon glosses Shinar as "country of two rivers," the old name for Babylonia or Chaldea. Scripture names it as the place where Babel's kingdom began (Genesis 10:10) and where the vessels of God's house were taken to the house of a foreign god (Daniel 1:2). So wickedness is sent to the land of exile. Strong's H8152Genesis 10:10Daniel 1:2
- establishedכּוּן
The word means to be set up, fixed, firmly established, stable, or enduring, and also to be prepared. Wickedness is not just dropped in Shinar; it is settled there. Strong's H3559A
- baseמְכֻנָה
The word means a resting place or base. Wickedness is set "upon her own base," a stand of its own in its new house in Shinar. Strong's H4369Zechariah 5:11
Takeaway
Zechariah 5:11 shows wickedness carried away and given a settled home in Shinar, the land of Babel and of exile. With the vision of the flying roll before it, it shows God dealing with sin as he promises to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Zechariah 5:3Zechariah 5:8Zechariah 5:11Strong's H8152Genesis 10:10Zechariah overview
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
Behind this verse
- The ephah
- An ephah was the basket or vessel used to measure grain. The law required "a just ephah," and Amos condemns sellers "making the ephah small." Zechariah 5:6Leviticus 19:36Amos 8:5
About 520-518 BC. King of Persia: Darius I (522-486 BC). Where Zechariah prophesied. A small, poor community was rebuilding the temple among the ruins of the city Babylon had burned.
Who ruled
- King of PersiaDarius I522-486 BC
Zechariah dates his messages by the years of Darius. Darius confirmed Cyrus's decree and ordered the temple work to go on at royal expense. Zechariah 1:1Zechariah 7:1Ezra 6:1-12Haggai 1:1Behistun Inscription
- Governor of JudahZerubbabelc. 520 BC
A descendant of David who led the rebuilding. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it." Zechariah 4:6-10Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:8
- High priestJoshua the high priestc. 520 BC
Called Jeshua in Ezra. He stands in Zechariah's vision clothed in filthy garments, which are taken away, and later receives crowns as a sign. Zechariah 3:1-10Zechariah 6:11Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:2
- Persian governor "on this side the river"Tattenaic. 520 BC
The governor of the province west of the Euphrates. He asked who had allowed the building, wrote to Darius, and was told to let the work go on. Ezra 5:3-6Ezra 6:6-13
What was happening, 539 BC to 332 BC
- 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus king of Persia took Babylon, ending the empire that had destroyed Jerusalem. Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleThe first return
Cyrus let the exiles go home to build the LORD's house. About fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Ezra 1:1-4Ezra 2:1-2Ezra 2:64-65
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe foundation is laid, then the work stops
The returned exiles laid the temple's foundation with shouting and weeping. Opposition from their neighbors stopped the work until the second year of Darius. Ezra 3:10-13Ezra 4:4-5Ezra 4:24
- 525 BCWarPersia conquers Egypt
Cyrus's son Cambyses invaded and took Egypt, bringing the whole region from the Nile to the Indus under one king. Herodotus, Histories 3.1-16
- 522-521 BCWarDarius crushes the revolts
When Darius took the throne, provinces across the empire rebelled, Babylon twice. By 520 he had put them all down. Compare the riders' report in Zechariah's first vision: "all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." Behistun InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 3.150-159Zechariah 1:11
- 520 BCGod's peopleHaggai and Zechariah stir the people to build
In Darius's second year the two prophets urged the people to take up the temple work again, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua began to build. Ezra 5:1-2Haggai 1:1-15Zechariah 1:1
- c. 520-519 BCRulersDarius confirms Cyrus's decree
Tattenai questioned the building. A search found Cyrus's decree at Achmetha, and Darius ordered the work to continue and be paid for from royal taxes. Ezra 5:3-6:12
- 515 BCBuildingThe second temple is finished
The temple was finished on the third day of Adar in Darius's sixth year and dedicated with joy. Ezra 6:14-18Zechariah 4:9
- 490-479 BCWarPersia's wars with Greece
Persia invaded Greece twice and was turned back at Marathon (490), Salamis (480) and Plataea (479). Greece, which Zechariah names in 9:13, was becoming Persia's great rival. Herodotus, Histories 6.102-117Herodotus, Histories 8.40-96Herodotus, Histories 9.1-89Zechariah 9:13
- 445 BCBuildingNehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem's walls
Under the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah came from Shushan and rebuilt the walls in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 6:15
- 332 BCWarAlexander takes Tyre and Gaza
Alexander the Great besieged island Tyre for seven months and then Gaza for two, on his way to Egypt. Zechariah 9 speaks of Tyre's "strong hold" and of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and Ashdod. Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 2.15-27Zechariah 9:3-7
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records (the Behistun Inscription, the Cyrus Cylinder, the Babylonian Chronicles) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Where
- Shinar regionMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and he said | וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | vai-YO-mer | H0559 | to sayאָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560) |
| to me | אֵלַ֔י | 'e-LAI | H0413 | to(wards)אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to) |
| to build | לִבְנֽוֹת־ | LIV-not- | H1129 | to buildבְּנָה (be.nah) 1) to build 1a) (P'al) to build 1b) (Ithp'il) to be built |
| a house | בַ֖יִת | VA-yit | H1004B | to lodgeבִּית (but) (P'al) to pass the night, lodge Aramaic of ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת ": home" H1004B) |
| in [the] land of | בְּאֶ֣רֶץ | be-'E-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
| Shinar | שִׁנְעָ֑ר | shin-'AR | H8152 | Shinarשִׁנְעָר (shin.ar) § Shinar = "country of two rivers" the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chaldea |
| and it will be prepared | וְהוּכַ֛ן | ve-hu-KHAN | H3559A | to establish: prepareכּוּן (kun) : prepare/direct 1) to be firm, be stable, be established 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed 1a1a) to be firmly established 1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring 1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined 1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense) 1a3) to prepare, be ready 1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm 1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish 1b3) to direct toward (moral sense) 1b4) to arrange, order 1c) (Hophal) … |
| and it will be placed | וְהֻנִּ֥יחָה | ve-hu-NI-chah | H5117 | to restיָנַח (ya.nach) 1) to rest 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rest, settle down and remain 1a2) to repose, have rest, be quiet 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to rest, give rest to, make quiet 1b2) to cause to rest, cause to alight, set down 1b3) to lay or set down, deposit, let lie, place 1b4) to let remain, leave 1b5) to leave, depart from 1b6) to abandon 1b7) to permit 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to obtain rest, be granted rest 1c2) to be left, be placed 1c3) open space (subst) |
| there | שָּׁ֖ם | sham | H8033G | thereשָׁם (sham) 1) there, thither 1a) there 1b) thither (after verbs of motion) 1c) from there, thence 1d) then (as an adverb of time) Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536) |
| on | עַל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| on own stand its | מְכֻנָתָֽהּ׃ ס | me-khu-na-TAH | H4369 | baseמְכֻנָה (me.khu.nah) resting place, base Another spelling of me.kho.nah (מְכוֹנָה "base" H4350) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.