Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! New Living Translation Then the heavy lead cover was lifted off the basket, and there was a woman sitting inside it. English Standard Version And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! Berean Standard Bible And behold, the cover of lead was raised, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket. King James Bible And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. New King James Version Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket”; New American Standard Bible And behold, a lead cover was lifted up.” He continued, “And this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” NASB 1995 (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” NASB 1977 (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” Legacy Standard Bible (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” Amplified Bible (and behold, a [round, flat] lead cover was lifted up); and there sat a woman inside the ephah.” Christian Standard Bible Then a lead cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then a lead cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket.” American Standard Version (and, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead); and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah. Contemporary English Version The lead cover of the basket was opened, and in the basket was a woman. English Revised Version (and behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead:) and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah. GOD'S WORD® Translation A lead cover [on the basket] was raised, and a woman was sitting in the basket. Good News Translation The basket had a lid made of lead. As I watched, the lid was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! International Standard Version Look, a round lead cover was being lifted, and there was one woman seated inside the basket! NET Bible Then a round lead cover was raised up, revealing a woman sitting inside the basket. New Heart English Bible And look, a lead cover was raised up, and there was a woman sitting in the basket. Webster's Bible Translation And behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd behold, the cover of lead was raised, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket. World English Bible and behold, a lead cover weighing one talent was lifted up—and there was a woman sitting in the middle of the ephah basket.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd behold, a disc of lead lifted up; and this [is] a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah.” Young's Literal Translation And lo, a cake of lead lifted up; and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah.' Smith's Literal Translation And behold, a talent of lead was lifted up: and this one woman sitting in the midst of the ephah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd behold a talent of lead was carried, and behold a woman sitting in the midst of the vessel. Catholic Public Domain Version And behold, a talent of lead was being carried; and behold, one woman sitting in the middle of the container. New American Bible Then a leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket. New Revised Standard Version Then a leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd behold, a talent of lead was lifted up, and a woman was sitting in the midst of the ephah. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And behold, a talent of lead was lifted up, and one woman was sitting inside the measure OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917and, behold, there was lifted up a round piece of lead--and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the measure.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And behold a talent of lead lifted up: and behold a woman sat in the midst of the measure. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Vision of the Woman in a Basket…6“What is it?” I asked. And he replied, “A measuring basket is going forth.” Then he continued, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” 7And behold, the cover of lead was raised, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket. 8“This is Wickedness,” he said. And he shoved her down into the basket, pushing down the lead cover over its opening.… Cross References Revelation 18:4-5 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues. / For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Revelation 17:1-5 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” / And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ... Jeremiah 51:7-9 Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad. / Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed. / “We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed. Abandon her! Let each of us go to his own land, for her judgment extends to the sky and reaches to the clouds.” Ezekiel 8:9-10 Then He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked abominations they are committing here.” / So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel. Isaiah 47:7-9 You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome. / So now hear this, O lover of luxury who sits securely, who says to herself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.’ / These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells. Revelation 14:8 Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.” Revelation 18:21-24 Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again. / And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will never ring out in you again. Nor will any craftsmen of any trade be found in you again, nor the sound of a millstone be heard in you again. / The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.” ... Jeremiah 25:15-17 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.” / So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations drink from it, each one to whom the LORD had sent me, Habakkuk 2:6-8 Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’ / Will not your creditors suddenly arise and those who disturb you awaken? Then you will become their prey. / Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers. Isaiah 13:19-22 And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. / She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there. / But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. ... Revelation 18:2-3 And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. / All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.” Jeremiah 50:38-40 A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols. / So the desert creatures and hyenas will live there and ostriches will dwell there. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation. / As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there. Ezekiel 7:10-11 Behold, the day is here! It has come! Doom has gone out, the rod has budded, arrogance has bloomed. / Their violence has grown into a rod to punish their wickedness. None of them will remain: none of their multitude, none of their wealth, and nothing of value. Isaiah 21:9 Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!” Revelation 16:19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. Treasury of Scripture And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sits in the middle of the ephah. talent. Isaiah 13:1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. Isaiah 15:1 The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; Isaiah 22:11 Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago. is. Jeremiah 3:1,2 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD… Ezekiel 16:1-63 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, … Ezekiel 23:1-49 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, … Jump to Previous Basket Cake Cover Ephah Inside Lead Measure Middle Midst Piece Plate Raised Round Sat Seated Sitteth Sitting TalentJump to Next Basket Cake Cover Ephah Inside Lead Measure Middle Midst Piece Plate Raised Round Sat Seated Sitteth Sitting TalentZechariah 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. And behold, the cover of lead was raised This phrase introduces a dramatic moment in Zechariah's vision, emphasizing the unveiling of something significant. The use of "behold" signals the importance of what is about to be revealed. The lead cover suggests heaviness and containment, symbolizing the suppression of sin or iniquity. Lead, being a dense and heavy metal, indicates the seriousness of what is being contained. In biblical times, lead was used for various purposes, including weights and seals, which could imply the sealing of judgment or the weight of sin. The act of raising the cover signifies the revelation of hidden sin, aligning with themes of exposure and judgment found throughout prophetic literature. and there was a woman sitting inside the basket Persons / Places / Events 1. ZechariahA prophet of the post-exilic period, Zechariah was instrumental in encouraging the Jewish people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem after their return from Babylonian exile. His visions, including the one in Zechariah 5:7, are rich with symbolic meaning. 2. The Woman in the Basket In Zechariah 5:7, the woman represents wickedness. The vision of the woman in the basket is a symbolic representation of sin being contained and removed from the land. 3. The Basket (Ephah) The ephah is a unit of measurement, and in this vision, it symbolizes the containment of wickedness. The basket is covered with a lead cover, indicating the suppression and control of sin. 4. The Lead Cover The lead cover signifies the weight and seriousness of sin. It also represents the divine action of sealing and containing wickedness. 5. The Vision This vision is part of a series of eight visions given to Zechariah, each conveying messages of judgment, purification, and restoration for Israel. Teaching Points The Nature of SinSin is pervasive and must be dealt with decisively. The vision of the woman in the basket illustrates the need for sin to be contained and removed from our lives. God's Sovereignty Over Sin Just as the lead cover seals the basket, God's power and authority are sufficient to control and ultimately eradicate sin. The Call to Holiness Believers are called to live lives that reflect God's holiness, actively seeking to remove sin from their lives and communities. The Assurance of Divine Justice The vision assures us that God will not allow wickedness to prevail indefinitely. His justice will ultimately triumph. Hope for Restoration The removal of wickedness is a precursor to restoration and blessing, encouraging believers to look forward to God's redemptive work. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Zechariah 5:7?2. What does the "lead cover" symbolize in Zechariah 5:7 for believers today? 3. How does Zechariah 5:7 illustrate God's judgment against sin in our lives? 4. Connect Zechariah 5:7 with other biblical instances of God's justice and righteousness. 5. How can understanding Zechariah 5:7 deepen our commitment to living a holy life? 6. What practical steps can we take to avoid the sins depicted in Zechariah 5:7? 7. What is the significance of the lead cover in Zechariah 5:7? 8. How does Zechariah 5:7 relate to the theme of judgment in the Bible? 9. What does the woman in the basket symbolize in Zechariah 5:7? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Zechariah 5? 11. What archaeological evidence supports or contradicts the idea of a physical basket and woman representing wickedness (Zechariah 5:5–8)? 12. What are the symbolic meanings of Zechariah's visions? 13. How should we reconcile the imagery of stork-winged women transporting the basket in Zechariah 5:9 with the broader biblical prohibition of associating with pagan symbols? 14. Zechariah 7:5 mentions seventy years of fasting; is there archaeological or historical evidence to confirm the exact duration of this period? What Does Zechariah 5:7 Mean And beholdZechariah hears the angel’s call to pay attention. Scripture often uses this word to pull back the curtain so readers see what God is doing. • Zechariah 2:4 says, “Run, tell that young man, ‘Behold, I am measuring Jerusalem’ ”, signaling a fresh vision. • Revelation 4:1 echoes the same tone: “Behold, a door standing open in heaven.” Here the command underscores that what follows is not imagination but a divinely granted glimpse of reality. God wants His people to notice His active judgment against sin. the cover of lead was raised A lead lid is a weighty, unbreakable seal. Lifting it pictures God deliberately exposing what has been hidden. • Psalm 90:8 affirms, “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.” • Luke 8:17 reinforces, “For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed.” Lead also speaks of heaviness—sin carries real, measurable weight. God’s justice is not casual; it brings a firm hand that both contains and reveals transgression. The removal of the lid tells the prophet that judgment is already in motion, not merely promised for a distant day. and there was a woman Verse 8 immediately explains, “This is Wickedness.” The woman personifies active, deliberate evil that had infiltrated the land. • Proverbs 5:3-4 paints the “forbidden woman” as alluring yet destructive, a fitting parallel to sin’s deceit. • Revelation 17:4-5 shows another prophetic woman, “Babylon the Great,” embodying worldwide corruption. The image is not a slight against women; it is a graphic symbol chosen by God to communicate the seductive nature of rebellion. By revealing her identity, God leaves no doubt: wickedness is a tangible foe that He names and confronts. sitting inside the basket The woman is not roaming free; she is seated, confined within an ephah—a standard marketplace measure. • Psalm 1:1 warns of “the seat of scoffers,” linking the act of sitting with settled defiance. • Revelation 18:7 portrays arrogant Babylon declaring, “I sit as queen,” confident yet doomed. Key observations: • Containment: God restrains evil under His sovereign hand. • Measurement: The ephah suggests that wickedness has filled up to its allotted limit, echoing Genesis 15:16 where “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” • Temporary state: Verse 11 will move the basket to Shinar (Babylon), showing that God intends a final relocation and ultimate destruction of sin away from His covenant people. summary Zechariah 5:7 presents a snapshot of God exposing and restraining wickedness. The raised lead cover shows His power both to reveal hidden sin and to keep it under control. The woman inside depicts rebellion personified, alluring yet condemned, seated in a measured container that signals God’s precise judgment. The verse assures believers that evil is neither overlooked nor unchallenged; the Lord already has it weighed, sealed, and scheduled for removal, guaranteeing the triumph of His holiness among His people. Verse 7. - There was lifted up a talent of lead. As the prophet gazed, the leaden cover of the ephah was raised, so that the contents became visible. The word rendered "talent" (kikkar) denotes a circle. It is used in Genesis 13:10, 12, for the tract of country of which the Jordan was the centre, and in 1 Samuel 2:36 for a round loaf. Here it means a disc or circular plate which formed the cover of the round shaped ephah. In the next verse it is called, "the weight of lead." And this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah; and there was a woman sitting, etc. When the leaden lid was raised one woman (mulier una, γυνὴ μία) was seen in the measure. She is called "one," as uniting and concentrating in her person all sinners and all sins.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And behold,וְהִנֵּ֛ה (wə·hin·nêh) Conjunctive waw | Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! the cover כִּכַּ֥ר (kik·kar) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3603: A round, a round district, a round loaf, a round weight, a talent (a measure of weight or money) of lead עֹפֶ֖רֶת (‘ō·p̄e·reṯ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5777: Lead (a metal) was raised, נִשֵּׂ֑את (niś·śêṯ) Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take and there was אַחַ֔ת (’a·ḥaṯ) Number - feminine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first a woman אִשָּׁ֣ה (’iš·šāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female sitting יוֹשֶׁ֖בֶת (yō·wō·še·ḇeṯ) Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry inside בְּת֥וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre the basket. הָאֵיפָֽה׃ (hā·’ê·p̄āh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 374: Ephah -- an ephah (a measure of grain) Links Zechariah 5:7 NIVZechariah 5:7 NLT Zechariah 5:7 ESV Zechariah 5:7 NASB Zechariah 5:7 KJV Zechariah 5:7 BibleApps.com Zechariah 5:7 Biblia Paralela Zechariah 5:7 Chinese Bible Zechariah 5:7 French Bible Zechariah 5:7 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Zechariah 5:7 And behold a talent of lead was (Zech. 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