Cyrus
The Persian king who sent the exiles home to rebuild the temple, named by Isaiah long before.
Old Testament · c. 539 BC · Ezra, 2 Chronicles, Isaiah, Daniel · Also known as Cyrus the Great, King of Persia
About Cyrus
Cyrus was king of Persia when the people of Judah were exiles. "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia... the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus," and he made a proclamation: "Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel." He even sent back the temple’s gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar had taken. Isaiah had already named him: "He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure."
Cyrus founded the Persian empire and took Babylon in 539 BC. His decree fulfilled "the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah," who had said the exile would last seventy years. Isaiah calls him the LORD’s "anointed," yet God also says to him, "thou hast not known me." Daniel lived on into his reign. This portrayal speaks only from what Scripture records.
The story
Named before his time
Through Isaiah, God spoke of a coming king: "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." And: "Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him."
Isaiah 44:28–45:1
Though thou hast not known me
God says he chose Cyrus for Israel’s sake: "For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me." The king of a great empire was being used for a purpose bigger than his own.
Isaiah 45:4-5
The proclamation
"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom." It said: "The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah."
Ezra 1:1-4
The treasures go home
"Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem." He counted them out to Sheshbazzar, "the prince of Judah": "All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred." Years later, when rebuilding was challenged, his decree was found in the records: "In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem."
Ezra 1:7-11
Key moments
- Named by Isaiah: "He is my shepherd." (Isaiah 44:28)
- Daniel serves on: "In the reign of Cyrus the Persian." (Daniel 6:28)
- The decree: "Let him go up to Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:3)
- Treasures returned: "Five thousand and four hundred." (Ezra 1:11)
- His decree found again: "Let the house be builded." (Ezra 6:3)
Questions about Cyrus
In meetBible these answers are given in Cyrus’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why did you let the exiles go home?
Scripture puts it plainly: "the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia," so "that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled." My proclamation said, "The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem." Any other reasons a king might have had are not recorded.
Did you believe in Israel’s God?
My decree speaks of "the LORD God of heaven" and calls him "the God" of Israel. But through Isaiah, God said to me, "I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me." Scripture shows God using me for his people. It does not say I came to worship him.
What did Isaiah say about you?
He named me before I ruled: "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built." And: "Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden." A foreign king, called the LORD’s shepherd and anointed.
What did you give back to Jerusalem?
"Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem." They were counted out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah: "All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred."
Connected people
- Isaiah: Named him
- Jeremiah: Prophecy fulfilled
- Daniel: Served in his reign
- Ezra: Recorded his decree
- Nebuchadnezzar: Returned what he took
- Darius: Fellow king
Read it yourself
Start with Ezra 1:1-11; Isaiah 44:28–45:4.