Definition: And he said, This [is] wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down that passage from Zechariah 5:8. It's a really interesting and symbolic description of a situation! Here’s an explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a massive pile of something – think of it like a very large, heavy sack or container – being deliberately placed inside a container called “ephah.” And the person who did this is saying, "This is wickedness." Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And he said…” : This tells us that the person speaking was likely in a position of authority or responsibility. They were making a decision and explaining what they were doing. “…This [is] wickedness.” : "Wickedness" is a big word, but it means something wrong, bad, immoral, or harmful. It's behaving in a way that goes against God’s rules and principles. “And he cast it into the midst of the ephah…” : This is the crucial part. An ephah was a very large, durable container used for storing grain – like a massive sack filled with wheat or barley. The person was deliberately placing the "wickedness" (which could be anything from a crime to a serious betrayal) into this enormous container. It’s placed right in the center of it. “…and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.” : This is where it gets really symbolic. “Lead” represents something precious, something important, or something that holds significance – maybe a sacred object, a promise, or even a person's life. The person was dropping this precious thing onto the open end (the "mouth") of the ephah. It’s like dropping a priceless jewel into a pile of grain. Putting it all together - A Possible Interpretation: This verse is telling us about a very serious and deliberate act of wickedness – something that caused significant harm or disruption. The person deliberately placed this thing in a large container filled with precious items, demonstrating the severity of their offense. It’s a powerful image of judgment and consequence. Important Note: This is an interpretation based on the text itself. Different people might interpret it differently depending on their theological understanding. --- Would you like me to: Explain any specific part in more detail? Talk about what this verse might be used to illustrate?