If this curse from Zechariah 5:3–4 literally targets every thief and liar, why do we see no historical records of a widespread, supernatural judgment occurring?

1. Historical and Literary Context of Zechariah 5:3–4

Zechariah 5:3–4 states, “Then he said to me, ‘This is the curse that goes out over the face of all the earth; for every thief shall be removed according to what is written on one side, and every liar shall be removed according to what is written on the other side. 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 stay inside his house and destroy it, along with its timbers and stones.’”

This passage appears in a series of visions given to the prophet Zechariah during the post-exilic period, shortly after the return from Babylonian captivity (late sixth century BC). These visions convey both present warnings and future judgments, tied to God’s covenant with Israel and ultimately His plan for all humankind.

2. The Flying Scroll and Symbolism of Judgment

In the immediate context (Zechariah 5:1–2), Zechariah sees a massive flying scroll measuring twenty cubits by ten cubits (approximately 30 feet by 15 feet [9m x 4.5m]), representing the widespread nature of God’s Word and subsequent judgment. Historically, such dimensions resonate with the size of the porch of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 6–7), suggesting that the standard of holiness and judgment is tied to God’s own dwelling place and His holiness.

The imagery of a scroll “flying” across the land symbolizes the swift and sure spread of divine judgment. Ancient Jewish interpreters, as preserved in early Aramaic Targums, often wrote about the seriousness of sin—particularly theft and false oath-taking. The “curse” is thus not random but a direct extension of covenant law seen throughout the Pentateuch (cf. Deuteronomy 27–28).

3. The Nature of Divine Judgment in Scripture

Scripture consistently teaches that God’s judgment can take many forms—immediate, delayed, partial, or ultimate. For instance, Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 experienced sudden, literal destruction, whereas the judgment upon Nineveh in the time of Jonah was postponed because of repentance (Jonah 3:10). In other cases, judgments may unfold quietly rather than in a cataclysmic display, as seen in the gradual downfall of Israel and Judah prior to their exiles (2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 36).

The concept of not seeing a single, cataclysmic event targeting “every thief and liar” fits into the broader biblical framework: God’s judgments in the Old Testament were often contextual and designed for specific points in history, and yet the final, universal judgment remains a future climactic event (John 5:28–29).

4. Personal and Corporate Consequences

Zechariah’s reference to thieves and liars is particularly striking because these sins, while certainly individual, also undermine the social fabric of an entire community. In the post-exilic setting, unethical behaviors such as theft or speaking false oaths could threaten the renewed community’s stability and witness. Therefore, God pledges that the curse “will enter the house” of the offenders (Zechariah 5:4).

Rather than requiring an immediate “widespread, supernatural judgment” across all nations in one moment of history, this curse indicates that wherever these sins persist, God’s hand of judgment or discipline will reach them—on a personal, familial, or communal scale. While we do not have a detailed historical archive of individual households destroyed supernaturally, the principle remains: sin carries dire spiritual and sometimes physical ramifications (Psalm 34:16; Romans 1:18).

5. Why No Large-Scale Historical Record?

1) Focus of Ancient Records: Many ancient chronicles and secular histories primarily document major political or military events, the deeds of kings, and large-scale cultural developments. Instances of individual household destruction—and particularly ones connected to divine judgment—would rarely become the subject of official archives. The lack of “widespread, supernatural events” in external histories often reflects historical bias rather than an absence of divine activity.

2) Gradual or Surrogate Judgments: In many scriptural accounts, God’s judgment does not always manifest as an overt, cataclysmic event. Just as the exile of Judah took place through several invasions and the decline of social structures over time (2 Kings 24–25), judgment can unfold progressively, escaping the notice of contemporaneous record-keepers.

3) Eschatological Perspective: Scripture presents a final judgment, wherein all sin will be accounted for (Revelation 20:11–15). The vision in Zechariah underscores the certainty of God’s curse on sin but does not necessarily dictate a single historical moment marking its complete fulfillment. It points to redemption for those who repent, while others remain under the continual threat of divine justice until the final day.

6. Parallel Old Testament Warnings and Their Fulfillments

Throughout the Old Testament, curses or prophetic warnings often included both immediate and broader future ramifications. Deuteronomy 28 lists curses for disobedience, many of which came to pass during the conquests by Assyria (722 BC) and Babylon (586 BC). Yet not every aspect was recorded in non-Israelite records.

Similarly, the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered at Qumran, preserve portions of Zechariah and other prophets. These manuscripts underscore the Hebrew understanding that God’s Word endures and remains effectual, even if secular historical documents do not always corroborate specific fulfillments. In short, the biblical text itself functions as a historical record from within the covenant community (Luke 1:1–4), documenting how God interacts with His people.

7. Consistency with a Broader Biblical Timeline

From the perspective of a consistent biblical narrative, the theme of sin and judgment extends from Eden to the promised final restoration. The promise in Zechariah 5 that thieves and liars will face God’s curse fits seamlessly with the broader scriptural assertion that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The immediate context of Zechariah deals with the purification of the post-exilic community, but it also anticipates an ultimate reckoning for all who persist in wrongdoing.

8. Theological Significance and Application

Even if we do not see a historically recorded, widespread supernatural event where every thief and liar was simultaneously judged, the principle stands that God’s holiness cannot tolerate sin. The message in Zechariah pushes readers toward repentance and conformity with divine standards. Indeed, many Christian theologians see an alignment between these Old Testament warnings and the New Testament call to righteousness through faith (Romans 5:1–2).

Furthermore, Scripture affirms that God’s mercy and patience often delay immediate judgment (2 Peter 3:9). This underscores the dual reality of God’s justice and grace. Those who neglect or undermine ethical behavior might not see a flamboyant display of destruction, but they remain under divine scrutiny.

9. Final Reflections

The curse in Zechariah 5:3–4 targets those who steal and lie, warning that divine judgment will certainly fall upon them. The absence of a spectacular, well-documented, universal disaster tied exclusively to theft and lying does not disrupt or nullify the biblical claim. Historical records, both secular and religious, focus on prominent events and do not necessarily detail the personal or gradual ways that God’s judgment can unfold.

Ultimately, this passage reminds believers and skeptics alike that God takes moral failure seriously. Scripture indicates that whether by immediate intervention or at the final judgment, wrongdoers will not escape divine accountability. The call is to abide in truth and integrity, trusting that the God who issued this warning remains active and will bring all things to final justice in His perfect timing.