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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezra 5:13 In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezra/5-13.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/15_Ezr_05_13.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezra 5:13 - Tattenai's Letter to Darius" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="In his first year, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad13.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ezra/5-12.htm" title="Ezra 5:12">◄</a> Ezra 5:13 <a href="/ezra/5-14.htm" title="Ezra 5:14">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ezra/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ezra/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezra/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />However, King Cyrus of Babylon, during the first year of his reign, issued a decree that the Temple of God should be rebuilt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezra/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezra/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />In the first year of his reign, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezra/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon <i>the same</i> king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezra/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezra/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezra/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezra/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezra/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezra/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, [the same] King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezra/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />However, in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, he issued a decree to rebuild the house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezra/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, he issued a decree to rebuild the house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezra/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezra/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezra/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"However, in the first year of the reign of King Cyrus of Babylon, Cyrus gave permission for God's temple to be rebuilt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezra/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then in the first year of the reign of King Cyrus as emperor of Babylonia, Cyrus issued orders for the Temple to be rebuilt. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezra/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />However, during King Cyrus' first year—that same King Cyrus of Babylon—issued a decree to reconstruct this Temple of God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezra/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />In the first year of his reign, however, Cyrus king of Babylon issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezra/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, King Cyrus enacted a decree to rebuild this temple of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezra/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But in the first year of Kurush king of Babylon, Kurush the king made a decree to build this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezra/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezra/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezra/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />but in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezra/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> but in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezra/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />But in one year to Cyrus the king of Babel, Cyrus the king set up a decree to build this house of God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezra/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />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. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezra/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezra/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />However, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree for the rebuilding of this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezra/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />However, King Cyrus of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezra/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezra/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />However in the first year of Kurash King of Persia, Kurash the King appointed the law to build this house of God.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezra/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezra/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And in the first year of king Cyrus, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezra/5-13.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sh6ec6iQe9M?start=1208" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezra/5.htm">Tattenai's Letter to Darius</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">12</span>But 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. <span class="reftext">13</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2298.htm" title="2298: ḥă·ḏāh (Number-fs) -- One. (Aramaic) corresponding to chad; as card. One; as article single; as an ordinal, first; adverbially, at once.">In his first</a> <a href="/hebrew/8140.htm" title="8140: biš·naṯ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- A year. (Aramaic) corresponding to shaneh.">year,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1297.htm" title="1297: bə·ram (Conj) -- (Aramaic) perhaps from ruwm with a prepositional prefix; properly, highly, i.e. Surely; but used adversatively, however.">however,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3567.htm" title="3567: lə·ḵō·w·reš (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- A Pers. king. (Aramaic) corresponding to Kowresh.">Cyrus</a> <a href="/hebrew/4430.htm" title="4430: mal·kā (N-msd) -- King. (Aramaic) corresponding to melek; a king.">king</a> <a href="/hebrew/1768.htm" title="1768: dî (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that, because. ">of</a> <a href="/hebrew/895.htm" title="895: ḇā·ḇel (N-proper-ms) -- An E. Mediterranean empire and its capital city. (Aramaic) corresponding to Babel.">Babylon</a> <a href="/hebrew/3567.htm" title="3567: kō·w·reš (N-proper-ms) -- A Pers. king. (Aramaic) corresponding to Kowresh."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4430.htm" title="4430: mal·kā (N-msd) -- King. (Aramaic) corresponding to melek; a king."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7761.htm" title="7761: śām (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To set, make. (Aramaic) corresponding to suwm.">issued</a> <a href="/hebrew/2942.htm" title="2942: ṭə·‘êm (N-ms) -- Taste, judgment, command. ">a decree</a> <a href="/hebrew/1124.htm" title="1124: lib·bə·nê (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To build. (Aramaic) or bnah (Aramaic); corresponding to banah; to build.">to rebuild</a> <a href="/hebrew/1836.htm" title="1836: ḏə·nāh (Pro-ms) -- This. (Aramaic) an orthographical variation of dek; this.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/1005.htm" title="1005: bêṯ- (N-msc) -- A house. (Aramaic) corresponding to bayith.">house</a> <a href="/hebrew/426.htm" title="426: ’ĕ·lā·hā (N-msd) -- God, god. (Aramaic) corresponding to 'elowahh; God.">of God.</a> </span><span class="reftext">14</span>He 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…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/1-1.htm">Ezra 1:1-4</a></span><br />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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/36-22.htm">2 Chronicles 36:22-23</a></span><br />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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-28.htm">Isaiah 44:28</a></span><br />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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/45-1.htm">Isaiah 45:1</a></span><br />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:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/45-13.htm">Isaiah 45:13</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/6-28.htm">Daniel 6:28</a></span><br />So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/9-25.htm">Daniel 9:25</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/haggai/1-1.htm">Haggai 1:1-2</a></span><br />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.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/1-1.htm">Zechariah 1:1</a></span><br />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:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/25-12.htm">Jeremiah 25:12</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/29-10.htm">Jeremiah 29:10</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/50-3.htm">Jeremiah 50:3</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/25-11.htm">2 Kings 25:11-12</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/25-21.htm">2 Kings 25:21</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/25-27.htm">2 Kings 25:27-30</a></span><br />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. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/1-1.htm">Ezra 1:1-8</a></b></br> 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 <i>put it</i> also in writing, saying, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/6-3.htm">Ezra 6:3-5</a></b></br> In the first year of Cyrus the king <i>the same</i> Cyrus the king made a decree <i>concerning</i> 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, <i>and</i> the breadth thereof threescore cubits; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/44-28.htm">Isaiah 44:28</a></b></br> That saith of Cyrus, <i>He is</i> 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.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezra/5-12.htm">Babylon</a> <a href="/ezra/5-11.htm">Build</a> <a href="/ezra/5-11.htm">Building</a> <a href="/ezra/4-5.htm">Cyrus</a> <a href="/ezra/5-9.htm">Decree</a> <a href="/ezra/4-6.htm">First</a> <a href="/ezra/5-12.htm">House</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/35-22.htm">However</a> <a href="/ezra/5-9.htm">Issued</a> <a href="/ezra/4-21.htm">Order</a> <a href="/ezra/5-9.htm">Orders</a> <a href="/ezra/5-9.htm">Rebuild</a> <a href="/ezra/4-21.htm">Rebuilt</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezra/5-14.htm">Babylon</a> <a href="/ezra/5-17.htm">Build</a> <a href="/ezra/5-16.htm">Building</a> <a href="/ezra/5-14.htm">Cyrus</a> <a href="/ezra/5-17.htm">Decree</a> <a href="/ezra/6-3.htm">First</a> <a href="/ezra/5-14.htm">House</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-30.htm">However</a> <a href="/ezra/5-17.htm">Issued</a> <a href="/ezra/6-1.htm">Order</a> <a href="/ezra/6-1.htm">Orders</a> <a href="/ezra/5-15.htm">Rebuild</a> <a href="/ezra/5-15.htm">Rebuilt</a><div class="vheading2">Ezra 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/5-1.htm">Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward to building</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/5-3.htm">Tattenai and Shethar-Bozenai are not able to hinder the Jews</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezra/5-6.htm">Their letter to Darius against the Jews</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezra/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezra/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezra/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>In the first year of his reign</b><br>This phrase refers to the first year of Cyrus the Great's rule over Babylon, which began in 539 BC after he conquered the city. This marks a significant transition in the ancient Near East, as the Persian Empire replaced the Babylonian Empire. The timing is crucial because it fulfills the prophecy of Jeremiah (<a href="/jeremiah/25-11.htm">Jeremiah 25:11-12</a>) regarding the end of the Babylonian captivity after seventy years.<p><b>however, Cyrus king of Babylon</b><br>Cyrus is referred to as the king of Babylon, highlighting his authority over the region after his conquest. Historically, Cyrus is known for his policy of religious tolerance and his efforts to restore temples and religious practices in the territories he controlled. This aligns with the biblical narrative of him allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. His actions are seen as a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy (<a href="/isaiah/44-28.htm">Isaiah 44:28</a>), where Cyrus is named as the one who will facilitate the rebuilding of Jerusalem.<p><b>issued a decree</b><br>The decree issued by Cyrus is a pivotal moment in Jewish history, as it officially ends the Babylonian exile and permits the Jews to return to their homeland. This decree is recorded in <a href="/ezra/1.htm">Ezra 1:1-4</a> and is corroborated by the Cyrus Cylinder, an archaeological artifact that describes Cyrus's policies of repatriation and temple restoration. The decree is an example of God's sovereignty in using a pagan king to accomplish His purposes.<p><b>to rebuild this house of God</b><br>The "house of God" refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. The rebuilding of the temple is central to Jewish worship and identity, as it represents the restoration of their covenant relationship with God. This act of rebuilding is also seen as a type of Christ, who referred to His body as the temple (<a href="/john/2-19.htm">John 2:19-21</a>), symbolizing the ultimate restoration and reconciliation between God and humanity through His death and resurrection.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/c/cyrus_king_of_babylon.htm">Cyrus King of Babylon</a></b><br>Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire, is noted for his decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. His leadership is seen as divinely appointed to fulfill God's purposes.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_decree.htm">The Decree</a></b><br>This was a royal edict issued by Cyrus, which allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. It signifies a pivotal moment in Jewish history, marking the end of the Babylonian captivity.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_house_of_god.htm">The House of God</a></b><br>Refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which was central to Jewish worship and identity. Its reconstruction was crucial for the restoration of Jewish religious life.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylon.htm">Babylon</a></b><br>Although Cyrus is referred to as the king of Babylon, he was actually the king of Persia. This highlights the transition of power from Babylon to Persia and the fulfillment of God's plan through different empires.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_first_year_of_cyrus.htm">The First Year of Cyrus</a></b><br>This marks the beginning of a new era for the Jewish people, as Cyrus's decree was issued shortly after he conquered Babylon in 539 BC.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_world_events.htm">God's Sovereignty in World Events</a></b><br>God can use anyone, even a pagan king, to accomplish His divine purposes. This reminds us that God is in control of history and can work through unexpected means.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">The Importance of Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>The Jews' response to Cyrus's decree demonstrates the importance of seizing opportunities to obey God's commands, even when they come through unlikely sources.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/restoration_and_renewal.htm">Restoration and Renewal</a></b><br>The rebuilding of the temple symbolizes spiritual renewal and restoration. In our lives, God desires to rebuild and restore areas that have been broken or neglected.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_to_god's_promises.htm">Faithfulness to God's Promises</a></b><br>God's promise to restore His people was fulfilled through Cyrus's decree. This encourages us to trust in God's faithfulness to His promises, even when circumstances seem bleak.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophecy_in_god's_plan.htm">The Role of Prophecy in God's Plan</a></b><br>The fulfillment of prophecy through Cyrus's actions underscores the reliability of God's word and the importance of understanding biblical prophecy.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezra_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezra 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_extrabiblical_proof_of_cyrus'_decree.htm">(Ezra 5:13–15) Why does no extrabiblical source confirm the specific decree of Cyrus authorizing the temple’s rebuilding? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_verify_ezra_8_2-14_genealogies.htm">In Ezra 8:2–14, how can these genealogies be accurately verified given the long exile gap and sparse extrabiblical records? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_haggai_and_zechariah_fit_persia's_era.htm">(Ezra 5:1) How can we reconcile the prophetic claims of Haggai and Zechariah with the broader historical timeline of Persian dominance? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_clear_evidence_for_daniel_9_25.htm">Why is there no clear historical or archaeological evidence supporting the exact timing of the decree mentioned in Daniel 9:25? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezra/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">In the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon.</span> 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 (<a href="/nehemiah/13-6.htm">Nehemiah 13:6</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezra/5-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">However,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּרַם֙</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ram)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1297.htm">Strong's 1297: </a> </span><span class="str2">Highly, surely, however</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in his first</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲדָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2298.htm">Strong's 2298: </a> </span><span class="str2">As card, one, single, first, at once</span><br /><br /><span class="word">year,</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּשְׁנַ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(biš·naṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8140.htm">Strong's 8140: </a> </span><span class="str2">A year</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Cyrus</span><br /><span class="heb">לְכ֥וֹרֶשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḵō·w·reš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3567.htm">Strong's 3567: </a> </span><span class="str2">Cyrus -- a person king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">king</span><br /><span class="heb">מַלְכָּ֖א</span> <span class="translit">(mal·kā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular determinate<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4430.htm">Strong's 4430: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of</span><br /><span class="heb">דִּ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(dî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1768.htm">Strong's 1768: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, that, because</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Babylon</span><br /><span class="heb">בָבֶ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(ḇā·ḇel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_895.htm">Strong's 895: </a> </span><span class="str2">Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city</span><br /><br /><span class="word">issued</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(śām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7761.htm">Strong's 7761: </a> </span><span class="str2">To set, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a decree</span><br /><span class="heb">טְעֵ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(ṭə·‘êm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2942.htm">Strong's 2942: </a> </span><span class="str2">Flavor, judgment, account</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to rebuild</span><br /><span class="heb">לִבְּנֵֽא׃</span> <span class="translit">(lib·bə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1124.htm">Strong's 1124: </a> </span><span class="str2">To build</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this</span><br /><span class="heb">דְנָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ḏə·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1836.htm">Strong's 1836: </a> </span><span class="str2">This</span><br /><br /><span class="word">house</span><br /><span class="heb">בֵּית־</span> <span class="translit">(bêṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1005.htm">Strong's 1005: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of God.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלָהָ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lā·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular determinate<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_426.htm">Strong's 426: </a> </span><span class="str2">God</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezra/5-13.htm">Ezra 5:13 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezra/5-13.htm">OT History: Ezra 5:13 But in the first year of Cyrus (Ezr. Ez) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezra/5-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezra 5:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezra 5:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezra/5-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezra 5:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezra 5:14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>