Zechariah 5:1

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

The fraudulent and prejuring transgressors of the law shall be extirpated from Judea.

Behold, a flying roll - of papyrus or dressed skins, used for writing on when paper was not known. It was inscribed with the words of the curse (; ). Being written implied that its contents were beyond all escape or repeal (). Its "flying" shows that its curses were ready swiftly to visit the transgressors. It was unrolled, or else its dimensions could not have been seen (). Being open to all, none could say in excuse he knew not the law and the curses of disobedience. As the previous visions intimated God's favour in restoring the Jewish state; so this vision denounces judgment, and intimates that God, notwithstanding His favour, could only condemn their sins. Being written on both sides, "on this and on that side," (Vatablus), connects it with the two tables of the law (), and implies its comprehensiveness. One side denounced "him that sweareth falsely () by God's name," according to the third commandment of the first table, which sets forth man's duty to God; the other side denounced theft, according to the eighth commandment, which is in the second table, that sets forth the duty to one's neighbour.