Ezra 5:13
New International Version
“However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

New Living Translation
However, King Cyrus of Babylon, during the first year of his reign, issued a decree that the Temple of God should be rebuilt.

English Standard Version
However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.

Berean Standard Bible
In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

King James Bible
But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

New King James Version
However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of God.

New American Standard Bible
However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

NASB 1995
‘However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

NASB 1977
‘However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

Amplified Bible
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, [the same] King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

Christian Standard Bible
However, in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, he issued a decree to rebuild the house of God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, he issued a decree to rebuild the house of God.

American Standard Version
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.

English Revised Version
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"However, in the first year of the reign of King Cyrus of Babylon, Cyrus gave permission for God's temple to be rebuilt.

Good News Translation
Then in the first year of the reign of King Cyrus as emperor of Babylonia, Cyrus issued orders for the Temple to be rebuilt.

International Standard Version
However, during King Cyrus' first year—that same King Cyrus of Babylon—issued a decree to reconstruct this Temple of God.

Majority Standard Bible
In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.

NET Bible
But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, King Cyrus enacted a decree to rebuild this temple of God.

New Heart English Bible
But in the first year of Kurush king of Babylon, Kurush the king made a decree to build this house of God.

Webster's Bible Translation
But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

World English Bible
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God,

Young's Literal Translation
but in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God,

Smith's Literal Translation
But in one year to Cyrus the king of Babel, Cyrus the king set up a decree to build this house of God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, king Cyrus set forth al decree, that this house of God should be built.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, in the first year of Cyrus, the king of Babylon, king Cyrus issued a decree, so that this house of God would be built.

New American Bible
However, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree for the rebuilding of this house of God.

New Revised Standard Version
However, King Cyrus of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia. Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
However in the first year of Kurash King of Persia, Kurash the King appointed the law to build this house of God.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And in the first year of king Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be built.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Tattenai's Letter to Darius
12But since our fathers angered the God of heaven, He delivered them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean who destroyed this temple and carried away the people to Babylon. 13In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. 14He also removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles belonging to the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken and carried there from the temple in Jerusalem. King Cyrus gave these articles to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he appointed governor…

Cross References
Ezra 1:1-4
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows: / “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. / Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. ...

2 Chronicles 36:22-23
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows: / “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’”

Isaiah 44:28
who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”

Isaiah 45:1
This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:

Isaiah 45:13
I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.”

Daniel 6:28
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel 9:25
Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.

Haggai 1:1-2
In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating / that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’”

Zechariah 1:1
In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying:

Jeremiah 25:12
But when seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, declares the LORD, and I will make it an everlasting desolation.

Jeremiah 29:10
For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place.

Jeremiah 50:3
For a nation from the north will come against her; it will make her land a desolation. No one will live in it; both man and beast will flee.”

2 Kings 25:11-12
Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the population. / But the captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.

2 Kings 25:21
There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land.

2 Kings 25:27-30
On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. / And he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. / So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life. ...


Treasury of Scripture

But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

Ezra 1:1-8
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, and put it also in writing, saying, …

Ezra 6:3-5
In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; …

Isaiah 44:28
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.

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Babylon Build Building Cyrus Decree First House However Issued Order Orders Rebuild Rebuilt
Ezra 5
1. Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward to building
3. Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai are not able to hinder the Jews
6. Their letter to Darius against the Jews














In the first year
This phrase sets a specific historical context, referring to the first year of King Cyrus's reign over Babylon, which began in 539 BC. The significance of this timing is profound, as it marks the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy (Jeremiah 29:10) regarding the end of the Babylonian exile. The phrase underscores God's sovereignty over time and history, orchestrating events according to His divine plan.

of Cyrus king of Babylon
Cyrus the Great, though a Persian ruler, is referred to here as the king of Babylon, highlighting his conquest of the Babylonian Empire. Historically, Cyrus is known for his enlightened approach to governance, including his policy of repatriation for exiled peoples. This aligns with Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 44:28) that Cyrus would be God's instrument to restore Jerusalem and the temple. His role as a non-Israelite king used by God emphasizes the theme of God's universal dominion and ability to use any leader to accomplish His purposes.

King Cyrus issued a decree
The decree of Cyrus is a pivotal moment in Jewish history, as it officially permits the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. This decree is corroborated by the Cyrus Cylinder, an archaeological artifact that records Cyrus's policy of allowing displaced peoples to return to their homelands and restore their places of worship. The decree illustrates the fulfillment of God's promises and His faithfulness to His covenant people.

to rebuild this house of God
The "house of God" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship for the Israelites and the symbol of God's presence among His people. The rebuilding of the temple signifies not only a physical restoration but also a spiritual renewal for the Jewish community. It represents a return to proper worship and a reestablishment of the covenant relationship with God. This phrase highlights the importance of worship and the centrality of God's presence in the life of His people.

Verse 13. - In the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon. Recent discoveries of contract tablets have shown that at Babylon Cyrus bore the title of "king of Babylon" from the date of his conquest of the city. The same title was passed on to his successors, Cambyses, Darius, etc. Hence we find Artaxerxes Longimanus called "king of Babylon" by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13:6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
However,
בְּרַם֙ (bə·ram)
Conjunction
Strong's 1297: Highly, surely, however

in his first
חֲדָ֔ה (ḥă·ḏāh)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 2298: As card, one, single, first, at once

year,
בִּשְׁנַ֣ת (biš·naṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8140: A year

Cyrus
לְכ֥וֹרֶשׁ (lə·ḵō·w·reš)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3567: Cyrus -- a person king

king
מַלְכָּ֖א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

of
דִּ֣י (dî)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

Babylon
בָבֶ֑ל (ḇā·ḇel)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 895: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

issued
שָׂ֣ם (śām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7761: To set, make

a decree
טְעֵ֔ם (ṭə·‘êm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2942: Flavor, judgment, account

to rebuild
לִבְּנֵֽא׃ (lib·bə·nê)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1124: To build

this
דְנָ֖ה (ḏə·nāh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 1836: This

house
בֵּית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1005: A house

of God.
אֱלָהָ֥א (’ĕ·lā·hā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 426: God


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OT History: Ezra 5:13 But in the first year of Cyrus (Ezr. Ez)
Ezra 5:12
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