Zechariah 5:4
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | I will send it out, declares the LORD of Hosts, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by My name. It will remain inside his house and destroy it, down to its timbers and stones.” | I will cause it to go forth, saith Jehovah 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 abide in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedIn one of Zechariah's night visions a huge flying roll goes out, and the angel says it is the curse on every thief and false swearer (5:1-3). In this verse the LORD says he himself sends it into their houses. There it stays until it eats up the whole house, beams and stones alike. Zechariah 5:1Zechariah 5:2Zechariah 5:3Zechariah 5:4Zechariah overview
SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks. His words are passed on by the angel who talked with Zechariah. Zechariah 5:3Zechariah 5:4Zechariah 5:5Strong's H5002
ToZechariah received the vision. Through him it reached the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah 5:2Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe thief, and the one who swears falsely by God's name. The curse comes on them and on their houses. Zechariah 5:3Zechariah 5:4
God promises that his curse will not miss its target. It will enter the home of the thief and the false swearer, settle there, and destroy it completely. Other Scripture says the same: "The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked" (Proverbs 3:33), and God will be "a swift witness... against false swearers" (Malachi 3:5). Zechariah 5:4Proverbs 3:33Malachi 3:5
Zechariah saw the vision among the returned exiles in Jerusalem. The curse goes out "over the face of the whole earth" (5:3) and comes to rest inside the guilty person's house. Zechariah overviewZechariah 5:3Zechariah 5:4
The eventsThe vision is one of the eight night visions in Zechariah's dated messages, given while the temple was being rebuilt under Darius king of Persia. Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote it, about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8, which include this vision, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse shows that God will deal with theft and false oaths. This fits the book's call, "turn ye unto me" (1:3). The next vision shows wickedness shut in an ephah and carried away to the land of Shinar (5:5-11). Zechariah overviewZechariah 5:8Zechariah 5:9Zechariah 5:11
In the whole of ScriptureOther Scripture ties wrongdoing to the ruin of the wrongdoer's house. "The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked" (Proverbs 3:33). Habakkuk says the stone and the beam of a covetous man's house cry out against him (Habakkuk 2:9, 11). Proverbs 3:33Habakkuk 2:9Habakkuk 2:11
For readersStealing and using God's name to back a lie are not hidden from God. His judgment reaches the very house of the one who does them. Zechariah 5:3Zechariah 5:4Malachi 3:5
- remainלוּן
The word means to lodge, stay the night, or abide. The curse is pictured as a guest that moves in and stays, not one that passes by. Strong's H3885AZechariah 5:4
- consumeכָּלָה
Its meanings include to finish, bring to an end, and consume. The curse stays until the house is completely finished off, timber and stones. Strong's H3615HZechariah 5:4
- falselyשֶׁ֫קֶר
The word means lie, deception, or fraud, and it is used of a false oath. The sin named is calling on God's name to support a lie. Strong's H8267Strong's H8034Zechariah 5:4
Takeaway
God's curse on theft and false swearing goes exactly where he sends it and stays until its work is done. Honesty toward others and truthfulness before God's name matter to him. Zechariah 5:4Proverbs 3:33Malachi 3:5
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
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.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I will send forth it | הוֹצֵאתִ֗יהָ | ho-tze-TI-ha | H3318H | to come out: comeיָצָא (ya.tsa) : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth |
| [the] utterance of | נְאֻם֙ | ne-'UM | H5002 | utteranceנְאֻם (ne.um) 1) (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet) 1a) utterance, declaration, revelation (of prophet in ecstatic state) 1b) utterance, declaration (elsewhere always preceding divine name) |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֣ה | YAH-weh | H3068G | Lordאֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| of hosts | צְבָא֔וֹת | tze-va-'ot | H6635B | Hostsצָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| and it will go | וּבָ֙אָה֙ | u-VA-'ah | H0935G | to come (in): comeבּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put |
| into | אֶל־ | 'el- | 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) |
| [the] house of | בֵּ֣ית | beit | H1004B | to lodgeבִּית (but) (P'al) to pass the night, lodge Aramaic of ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת ": home" H1004B) |
| the thief | הַגַּנָּ֔ב | ha-ga-NAV | H1590 | thiefגַּנָּב (gan.nav) thief |
| and into | וְאֶל־ | ve-'el- | 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) |
| [the] house of | בֵּ֛ית | beit | H1004B | to lodgeבִּית (but) (P'al) to pass the night, lodge Aramaic of ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת ": home" H1004B) |
| the [one who] swears an oath | הַנִּשְׁבָּ֥ע | ha-nish-BA' | H7650 | to swearשָׁבַע (sha.va) 1) to swear, adjure 1a) (Qal) sworn (participle) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to swear, take an oath 1b2) to swear (of Jehovah by Himself) 1b3) to curse 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to take an oath 1c2) to adjure |
| by name my | בִּשְׁמִ֖י | bish-MI | H8034 | nameשֵׁם (shem) 1) name 1a) name 1b) reputation, fame, glory 1c) the Name (as designation of God) 1d) memorial, monument Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036) |
| to the falsehood | לַשָּׁ֑קֶר | la-SHA-ker | H8267 | deceptionשֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) 1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood 1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one) 1b) deceit, fraud, wrong 1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb) 1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony) 1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely 1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets) 1e) lie, falsehood (in general) 1e1) false tongue 1f) in vain |
| and it will lodge | וְלָ֙נֶה֙ | ve-LA-neh | H3885A | to lodgeלוּן (lun) 1) to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lodge, pass the night 1a2) to abide, remain (fig.) 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rest, lodge 1c) (Hithpalpel) to dwell, abide |
| in [the] midst of | בְּת֣וֹךְ | be-TOKH | H8432 | midstתָּ֫וֶךְ (ta.vekh) 1) midst, middle 1a) midst, middle 1b) into, through (after verbs of motion) 1c) among (of a number of persons) 1d) between (of things arranged by twos) 1e) from among (as to take or separate etc) |
| house his | בֵּית֔וֹ | bei-TO | H1004B | to lodgeבִּית (but) (P'al) to pass the night, lodge Aramaic of ba.yit (בַּ֫יִת ": home" H1004B) |
| and it will destroy it | וְכִלַּ֖תּוּ | ve-khil-LA-tu | H3615H | to end: finishכָּלָה (ka.lah) : finish 1) to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be complete, be at an end 1a2) to be completed, be finished 1a3) to be accomplished, be fulfilled 1a4) to be determined, be plotted (bad sense) 1a5) to be spent, be used up 1a6) to waste away, be exhausted, fail 1a7) to come to an end, vanish, perish, be destroyed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to complete, bring to an end, finish 1b2) to complete (a period of time) 1b3) to finish (doing a thing) 1b4) to make an end, end … |
| woods its | עֵצָ֥יו | 'e-TZAV | H6086G | woodאָע (a) wood, beam, timber Aramaic of ets (עֵץ ": wood" H6086) |
| stones its | אֲבָנָֽיו׃ | 'a-va-NAV | H0068G | stoneאֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) : stone 1) stone (large or small) 1a) common stone (in natural state) 1b) stone, as material 1b1) of tablets 1b2) marble, hewn stones 1c) precious stones, stones of fire 1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon 1e) weight 1f) plummet (stones of destruction) also made of metal 1g) stonelike objects, eg hailstones, stony heart, ice 1h) sacred object, as memorial Samuel set up to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines 1i) (simile) 1i1) sinking in water, motionlessness 1i2) strength, firmness, solidity 1i3) commonness 1j) (metaph) 1j1) petrified with terror … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.