The Winged Women of Zech 5:9-11

In Zechariah's seventh vision, the prophet beholds “winged women” carrying a basket to the land of Shinar. Some interpreters have, I think mistakenly, taken these as proof of female angels. However, several things should be noted to the contrary.

First, the beings are pictured carrying out an evil act. They take the basket containing a personification of wickedness itself to Shinar (Babylon), apparently to be set on a religious pedestal in a temple “house” constructed specifically for it. Whatever these beings are, they promote idolatry of the worst kind.

Secondly, the women have stork wings. Storks were among the birds proscribed as “unclean” according to the Old Covenant, under which Zechariah lived. The prophet would have sensed something unholy about the women.

Finally, archeologists have uncovered artifacts like the Burney Relief, believed to represent the goddess Ishtar as a winged woman. Such objects of false worship found in and around Shinar suggest that Zechariah would have understood the creatures to portray demonically-inspired religion propping up evil.

Oil Lamps in Biblical Times

This week we're studying Zechariah 4. There, the prophet beholds a golden lampstand notably different from that which stood in the tabernacle (Ex 25:31-40). The former menorah looked something like this:

By comparison, Zechariah describes his lampstand thus:

"And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it." (Zech 4:2)

Basically, the lamppost was topped with a central basin filled with oil. This fed to seven protruding "lamps" each with seven cast "lips" (spouts). The result would be an impressive amount of light coupled with an efficient means of refueling.

Now examine these artifacts found in and around biblical Israel.:

While not exactly matching Zechariah's vision, they reveal the contemporary existence of menorahs that featured central reservoirs to feed several lamp-protrusions, as well as lamps with multiple cast "lips" (spouts).

To learn more check out this article, "Oil Lamps from the Times of the Bible (3,500 - A.D. 600).”