Zechariah 5:1
New International Version
I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll.

New Living Translation
I looked up again and saw a scroll flying through the air.

English Standard Version
Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll!

Berean Standard Bible
Again I lifted up my eyes and saw before me a flying scroll.

King James Bible
Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.

New King James Version
Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll.

New American Standard Bible
Then I raised my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll.

NASB 1995
Then I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll.

NASB 1977
Then I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I lifted up my eyes again and saw, and behold, a flying scroll.

Amplified Bible
Again I looked up, and I saw a scroll flying in the air!

Christian Standard Bible
I looked up again and saw a flying scroll.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I looked up again and saw a flying scroll.”

American Standard Version
Then again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, a flying roll.

Contemporary English Version
When I looked the next time, I saw a flying scroll,

English Revised Version
Then again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold, a flying roll.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I looked up again and saw a flying scroll.

Good News Translation
I looked again, and this time I saw a scroll flying through the air.

International Standard Version
Then I looked up and saw a flying scroll!

Majority Standard Bible
Again I lifted up my eyes and saw before me a flying scroll.

NET Bible
Then I turned to look, and there was a flying scroll!

New Heart English Bible
Then again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and look, a flying scroll.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.

World English Bible
Then again I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I turn back, and lift up my eyes, and look, and behold, a flying scroll.

Young's Literal Translation
And I turn back, and lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, a flying roll.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I shall turn back and lift up mine eyes and see, and behold, a roll flying.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I turned and lifted up my eyes: and I saw, and behold a volume flying.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I turned and lifted up my eyes. And I saw, and behold, a book flying.

New American Bible
Then I raised my eyes again and saw a flying scroll.

New Revised Standard Version
Again I looked up and saw a flying scroll.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THEN I turned and lifted up my eyes and looked, and beheld a flying scroll.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I turned I lifted my eyes and I saw a scroll that was flying
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold a flying roll.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked and behold a flying sickle.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Vision of the Flying Scroll
1Again I lifted up my eyes and saw before me a flying scroll. 2“What do you see?” asked the angel. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”…

Cross References
Revelation 6:14
The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.

Ezekiel 2:9-10
Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, / which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

Revelation 10:8-11
Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the small scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land.” / And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” / So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter. ...

Jeremiah 36:2
“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today.

Revelation 5:1-2
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. / And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

Ezekiel 3:1-3
“Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.” / So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll. / “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

Isaiah 34:4
All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.

Revelation 14:6
Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.

Jeremiah 1:11-12
And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied. / “You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”

Daniel 7:10
A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.

Isaiah 8:1
Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

Revelation 1:11
saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Ezekiel 1:3
the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.

Jeremiah 25:15-16
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it. / And they will drink and stagger and go out of their minds, because of the sword that I will send among them.”


Treasury of Scripture

Then I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.

roll.

Zechariah 5:2
And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.

Isaiah 8:1
Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

Jeremiah 36:1-6,20-24,27-32
And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, …

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Air Eyes Flight Flying Lifted Roll Scroll Turn Turned
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Air Eyes Flight Flying Lifted Roll Scroll Turn Turned
Zechariah 5
1. By the flying scroll is shown the curse of thieves and swearers;
5. and by a woman pressed in an ephah the final judgment of wickedness.














Again I lifted up my eyes
This phrase indicates a continuation of a series of visions experienced by the prophet Zechariah. The act of lifting up one's eyes is often associated with receiving divine revelation or insight. In biblical context, it suggests readiness and openness to God's communication, as seen in other prophetic books like Daniel and Ezekiel.

and saw before me
The phrase suggests a direct and personal encounter with the vision. Zechariah's role as a prophet involves receiving and interpreting visions for the people of Israel. This personal witnessing underscores the authenticity and immediacy of the message being conveyed.

a flying scroll
The flying scroll is a significant symbol in this vision. Scrolls in ancient times were used for writing important documents, including legal decrees and religious texts. The fact that the scroll is flying suggests a supernatural element, indicating that the message it contains is from God and is meant to reach its intended audience swiftly. The scroll's flight may symbolize the pervasive and inescapable nature of God's word and judgment. This imagery can be connected to other scriptural references where God's word is described as active and powerful, such as in Isaiah 55:11 and Hebrews 4:12. The scroll's content, revealed in subsequent verses, relates to judgment against sin, aligning with the themes of justice and righteousness found throughout the prophetic literature.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zechariah
A prophet of the post-exilic period, Zechariah is the author of the book. He is known for his visions and prophecies that encourage the rebuilding of the temple and the spiritual renewal of the people.

2. Flying Scroll
The central image in this verse, the flying scroll represents a divine message or decree. In the context of Zechariah's vision, it symbolizes judgment and the word of God moving swiftly across the land.

3. Vision
This is one of the eight night visions given to Zechariah. These visions are symbolic and convey messages of judgment, restoration, and hope for Israel.
Teaching Points
The Authority of God's Word
The flying scroll signifies the authority and power of God's word. Just as the scroll moves swiftly, God's word is active and accomplishes His purposes.

Judgment and Accountability
The scroll represents judgment, reminding us that God holds us accountable for our actions. It calls for self-examination and repentance.

Hope and Restoration
While the scroll brings judgment, it is also a part of God's plan for restoration. God's discipline is meant to lead us back to Him and restore our relationship.

The Importance of Vision
Zechariah's vision encourages us to seek God's perspective in our lives. Spiritual insight helps us understand God's plans and align our lives with His will.Verses 1-4. - § 8. The sixth vision: the flying roll. Verse 1. - Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes; i.e. I lifted up mine eyes again, and saw the vision that follows. The prophet had seen, in the fourth vision, how in the new theocracy the priesthood should be pure and holy; in the fifth how the Church should be restored; he is now shown that sinners should be cut off, that no transgression should be left in the kingdom of God. A flying roll; volumen volans (Vulgate): comp. Ezekiel 2:9, 10. The Hebrews used parchment and leather scrolls for writing; the writing was divided into columns, and when completed the document was rolled round one or two sticks and kept in a case. In the present vision the scroll is unrolled and exhibited in its full length and breadth, showing that it was to be made known to all. Its flight denotes the speedy arrival of the judgment, and, as it is seen in the heaven, so the punishment proceeds from God. Theodotion and Aquila render the word, διφθέρα, "leather;" the Septuagint, by mistake, δρέπανον, "a sickle."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Again
וָאָשׁ֕וּב (wā·’ā·šūḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

I lifted
וָאֶשָּׂ֥א (wā·’eś·śā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

up my eyes
עֵינַ֖י (‘ê·nay)
Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

and saw
וָֽאֶרְאֶ֑ה (wā·’er·’eh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

before me
וְהִנֵּ֖ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

a flying
עָפָֽה׃ (‘ā·p̄āh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 5774: To fly, to faint

scroll.
מְגִלָּ֥ה (mə·ḡil·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4039: A scroll


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OT Prophets: Zechariah 5:1 Then again I lifted up my eyes (Zech. Zec Zc)
Zechariah 4:14
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