2 Chronicles 36:23 kjv
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
2 Chronicles 36:23 nkjv
Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!
2 Chronicles 36:23 niv
"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "?'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the LORD their God be with them.'?"
2 Chronicles 36:23 esv
"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.'"
2 Chronicles 36:23 nlt
"This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: "The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go there for this task. And may the LORD your God be with you!"
2 Chronicles 36 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezr 1:2-3 | Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven...’ | Direct parallel to 2 Chr 36:23, shows continuation and fulfillment. |
| Isa 44:28 | ...[the LORD] says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose,’ saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ | Prophecy of Cyrus's role in rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. |
| Isa 45:1 | Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped... | God identifies Cyrus as His "anointed," highlighting divine empowerment for His purpose. |
| Isa 45:4-5 | For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name... I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you... | God's use of Cyrus is for Israel's sake, affirming His exclusive deity and sovereignty. |
| Jer 29:10 | For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. | Prophetic promise of return from exile, fulfilled by Cyrus's decree. |
| Ezr 1:1 | 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... | Explicit statement of fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; | God's absolute sovereignty over earthly rulers and kingdoms. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. | Illustrates God's ability to influence the will and decisions of rulers. |
| Neh 1:4 | When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. | "God of heaven" is a post-exilic term, emphasizing God's transcendent and supreme authority. |
| Psa 115:3 | Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. | Affirms God's dwelling in heaven and His ultimate control and power. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment; he brings down one and lifts up another. | God's role in appointing and removing human authorities. |
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust... to make them sit with princes... | God's sovereignty extends to all aspects of human status and power. |
| Ezr 6:14 | And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia. | Highlights multiple Persian decrees for the temple's completion, originating from God's decree. |
| Hag 1:8 | Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD. | God's command to His people to rebuild the house/temple. |
| Zec 1:16 | Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and a measuring line shall be stretched over Jerusalem.’ | Prophecy of God's desire for the temple's rebuilding in Jerusalem. |
| Acts 17:24 | The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, | God's transcendence and sovereignty over physical structures, yet He commands their building for worship. |
| Php 2:13 | for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | God's ability to work through individuals, even non-believers like Cyrus, to achieve His purposes. |
| Heb 1:2 | but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. | All things, including kingdoms, are given by God, now fulfilled through Christ's ultimate inheritance. |
| Dan 5:18-19 | O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. | Reinforces God's granting of earthly kingdoms and power to rulers. |
| Gen 14:19-20 | And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” | Introduces "God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth," showing universal dominion. |
2 Chronicles 36 verses
2 Chronicles 36 23 Meaning
This verse presents the definitive decree of King Cyrus of Persia, a pivotal moment in biblical history. It asserts that Yahweh, the God of heaven, has sovereignly granted Cyrus dominion over all earthly kingdoms. Consequently, this same God has divinely mandated Cyrus to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem, within the territory of Judah, marking the end of the Babylonian exile and the beginning of Israel's restoration. It signifies the fulfillment of prophecy and the demonstration of God's power over human rulers and historical events.
2 Chronicles 36 23 Context
2 Chronicles 36:23 serves as the climactic and redemptive conclusion to the entire Chronicler's history, spanning from Adam to the Babylonian exile. The preceding verses in Chapter 36 detail Judah's increasing wickedness, the continuous rejection of God's prophets, and the ultimate divine judgment manifested in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, along with the seventy-year exile to Babylon. After outlining the utter devastation and God's patience reaching its limit, the Chronicler ends not on a note of despair, but on an emphatic promise of hope. This final verse immediately following the description of the desolate land keeping its sabbath, directly transitions the narrative to the divinely appointed return. By beginning with Cyrus’s decree, the Chronicler links the restoration with a fulfillment of prophecy and an act of God's sovereign will, effectively ending with a bridge to the book of Ezra, where this decree is repeated and acted upon. It highlights that even in exile, God remains in control of history, utilizing an unexpected pagan king to initiate the rebuilding of His house and the restoration of His people.
2 Chronicles 36 23 Word analysis
- Thus says (כֹּה אָמַר - koh 'amar): A formulaic declaration, emphasizing an authoritative and often divinely-inspired message. In this context, it signals Cyrus's solemn and formal pronouncement.
- Cyrus (כּוֹרֶשׁ - Koresh) king of Persia (מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס - melek Paras): Identifies the specific monarch and his empire. That a pagan king issues such a decree for Yahweh's temple underscores God's transcendent sovereignty over all earthly powers and nations.
- The LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal, covenant name of God, exclusive to Israel. Its inclusion in a decree by a Persian king is remarkable and speaks to God's self-revelation even to foreign rulers, demonstrating His distinctiveness from their many gods.
- the God of heaven (אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם - 'Elohei hashShamayim): A post-exilic term that emphasizes God's transcendence, supreme power, and universal dominion. It contrasts with localized deities and affirms Yahweh as the ultimate cosmic ruler. This specific designation highlights His unparalleled authority.
- has given (נָתַן - nathan) me all the kingdoms of the earth: "Given" (nathan) indicates a divine conferral, not mere human achievement. "All the kingdoms of the earth" (כָּל־מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ - kol-mamlekot ha'arets) signifies the vast extent of Cyrus's empire and, more importantly, attributes this universal dominion directly to Yahweh's gifting, reaffirming His sovereignty over geopolitical landscapes.
- and he has charged me (הוּא־פָקַד עָלַי - hu-faqad 'alay): The Hebrew verb "פקד" (paqad) means to command, commission, appoint, or visit with a purpose. It indicates a direct, divine mandate or obligation placed upon Cyrus. This wasn't a choice; it was a divine assignment.
- to build him a house (לִבְנוֹת־לוֹ בַיִת - livnot-lo bayit): Refers to the sacred temple, the center of Israel's worship. The phrase "him a house" underscores that this is for Yahweh Himself, a place dedicated to His name and presence.
- in Jerusalem (בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם - Biyerushalayim), which is in Judah (אֲשֶׁר בִּיהוּדָה - 'asher biYehudah): Specifies the divinely chosen location for the temple. Jerusalem, the city of David, and Judah, the tribal land where the Messiah would emerge, were central to God's covenant promises. This precision roots the spiritual command in historical and geographical reality.
2 Chronicles 36 23 Bonus section
The Chronicler's abrupt ending of his monumental history with Cyrus's decree is a sophisticated literary and theological device. It provides an immediate and undeniable link to the book of Ezra (Ezr 1:2-3 repeats this verse verbatim), emphasizing the continuity of God's redemptive work. This strategic placement signals to the post-exilic community that while their past was marked by covenant disobedience leading to judgment, their future is grounded in God's faithfulness to His promises. The temple, though built by human hands, becomes the symbol of divine presence and a renewed covenant relationship, foreshadowing the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity. This also serves a polemical function against polytheistic beliefs by unequivocally stating that the vast Persian Empire, controlled by Cyrus, was gifted to him by YHWH, the one "God of heaven," asserting His supremacy over all other deities.
2 Chronicles 36 23 Commentary
This concluding verse of 2 Chronicles is profound, acting as a divine promise despite prior human failure. It reveals Yahweh's absolute sovereignty, capable of influencing the hearts and decrees of pagan kings to accomplish His redemptive plans (Isa 45:1-4; Prov 21:1). The declaration from Cyrus, attributing his imperial power to "The LORD, the God of heaven," demonstrates God's unique ability to reveal Himself and His purposes beyond the boundaries of His covenant people. It is a testament to the prophetic fulfillment (Jer 29:10; Isa 44:28) that the seventy-year exile concludes precisely as foretold, with an edict for the temple's reconstruction in Jerusalem. This mandate is not Cyrus’s benevolence but a "charge" from God, underscoring the divine initiative in the restoration of Israel and the rebuilding of the worship center. Ultimately, the verse provides immense hope: even after catastrophic judgment and deep unfaithfulness, God remains faithful to His promises, His covenant, and His ultimate plan for a people to worship Him in His chosen city. It's a powerful statement of divine continuity and grace.