Ezra 1:1 kjv
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 1:1 nkjv
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, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,
Ezra 1:1 niv
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
Ezra 1:1 esv
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, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
Ezra 1:1 nlt
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:
Ezra 1 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prophecy Fulfilment | ||
| Jer 25:11-12 | "This whole land shall be a desolation and a horror... I will punish the king of Babylon..." | Predicts 70-year desolation and end of Babylonian rule. |
| Jer 29:10 | "For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you..." | Specific duration and God's promise to return exiles. |
| 2 Chr 36:21-23 | "to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths." | Direct echo of Ezra 1:1, fulfilling the Sabbath rest for the land. |
| Dan 9:2 | "I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass..." | Daniel's understanding of Jeremiah's prophecy. |
| Isa 44:28 | "who 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.'" | Names Cyrus over a century before, as God's instrument for rebuilding. |
| Isa 45:1-4 | "Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus... for the sake of my servant Jacob..." | God uses Cyrus for Israel's sake, granting him victory. |
| Matt 24:35 | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." | God's word is eternally reliable and will be fulfilled. |
| God's Sovereignty Over Kings and Nations | ||
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." | God's sovereign control over rulers' decisions. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings..." | God's ultimate authority over kingdoms. |
| Dan 4:17 | "to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom he will..." | God's dominion over all human authority. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | All authority, including pagan rulers, is established by God. |
| John 19:11 | "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above." | Jesus acknowledges divine source of Pilate's power. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples... The counsel of the Lord stands forever." | God's plans prevail over human designs. |
| God's Faithfulness & Covenant Remembrance | ||
| Gen 12:3 | "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse..." | The enduring promise to Abraham's descendants. |
| Deut 30:3-5 | "then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you..." | Promise of restoration after exile for repentance. |
| Lev 26:44-45 | "Yet even then, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them..." | God remembers His covenant despite Israel's disobedience. |
| Neh 1:9 | "If you return to me and keep my commandments... even if you have been driven out..." | Reaffirms the promise of gathering from exile. |
| Ps 105:42 | "For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant." | God's remembrance of His covenant with patriarchs. |
| Luke 1:72-73 | "to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant..." | God's faithfulness extended to the New Covenant promises. |
| Return from Exile | ||
| Isa 11:11-12 | "The Lord will set his hand a second time to recover the remnant... He will raise a signal for the nations..." | Prophecy of the scattered people returning. |
| Ezek 36:24 | "I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land." | Promises God's active role in their physical return. |
| Zech 10:9-10 | "Though I scatter them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me..." | Scattered people will remember God and return. |
Ezra 1 verses
Ezra 1 1 Meaning
Ezra 1:1 reveals God's meticulous orchestration of historical events to fulfill His prophetic word. In the specific timing of Cyrus's reign, the sovereign Lord prompted the pagan king's heart to issue a decree. This divine act paved the way for the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland, marking the commencement of the long-promised restoration after their seventy-year captivity, and preparing for the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple.
Ezra 1 1 Context
Ezra chapter 1 verse 1 serves as the crucial opening of the book of Ezra, directly linking to the closing verses of 2 Chronicles (2 Chr 36:22-23). This literary bridge emphasizes a continuous narrative of God's interaction with His people. The verse immediately places the reader at a pivotal historical juncture: the end of the stipulated seventy-year Babylonian captivity, as foretold by Jeremiah, and the dawn of the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great. This context is vital because it shows God's sovereign hand at work in global politics, moving a Gentile king, Cyrus, who conquered the Babylonian Empire (539 BC), to allow and even aid the Jewish exiles' return to their land and the rebuilding of their holy Temple. It is against the backdrop of desolation, displacement, and divine promise that this act of restoration unfolds.
Ezra 1 1 Word analysis
- Now: (Hebrew: *Wa-) - Connects this narrative directly to previous historical events, particularly the end of 2 Chronicles, indicating a continuation of God's story.
- in the first year of Cyrus: (Hebrew: בִּשְׁנַת אֶחַת לְכוֹרֶשׁ - bishnat ekhat l'Koresh) - Pinpoints the precise historical moment, approximately 538/539 BC. Cyrus (Koresh) is significant as the Persian king who overthrew the Babylonian Empire, marking a monumental shift in geopolitical power. His "first year" likely refers to his first year as king over the conquered Babylonian territory.
- king of Persia: (Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס - melekh Paras) - Identifies the vast empire now dominant, superseding Babylon, and indicates the vast reach of Cyrus's authority and thus, God's influence.
- that the word of the Lord: (Hebrew: לִכְלוֹת דְּבַר יְהוָה - likhlot devar YHWH) - States the explicit divine purpose behind Cyrus's action. "The word of the Lord" (davar YHWH) emphasizes God's direct, active, and prophetic communication. This highlights the reliability and power of God's spoken word.
- by the mouth of Jeremiah: (Hebrew: מִפִּי יִרְמְיָהוּ - mippi Yirmeyahu) - Specifies the particular prophet through whom the Lord delivered the prophecy (Jer 25:11-12, 29:10). This linkage underscores God's perfect timing and faithfulness in bringing His specific promises to pass.
- might be fulfilled: (Hebrew: יְהִיָּה - yihyah) - The Hebrew carries the nuance of completion or accomplishment, stressing the definite realization of God's stated purpose.
- the Lord: (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH) - The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, relational, and powerful involvement as the initiator and orchestrator of these events.
- stirred up: (Hebrew: הֵעִיר - he'ir) - From the verb עוּר (ur), meaning "to rouse," "awaken," or "incite." This strong verb indicates direct divine causation and influence on Cyrus's will. It is not mere coincidence, but a supernatural intervention.
- the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia: (Hebrew: רוּחַ כּוֹרֶשׁ מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס - ruakh Koresh melekh Paras) - Shows God working not just externally, but internally, by moving the very heart and disposition of a non-believing ruler. This demonstrates God's sovereignty extends even to the inner thoughts and intentions of humans.
- so that he made a proclamation: (Hebrew: וַיַּעֲבֶר קוֹל - vaya'aver qol) - "He caused a voice to pass," indicating a public, authoritative announcement. This was the tangible outcome of God's internal work in Cyrus.
- throughout all his kingdom: Demonstrates the wide reach and authority of the decree, covering vast territories and peoples.
- and also in writing: (Hebrew: וְגַם בְּמִכְתָּב - vegam bikhtav) - Signifies the official, legal, and permanent nature of the decree. This was not a mere spoken word but an imperial edict with lasting legal force.
Words-group analysis:
- "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled": This initial phrase establishes precise historical context and immediately frames Cyrus's actions within God's larger redemptive plan. It emphasizes that political changes are directly subservient to divine prophecy, making the fulfillment of God's promises the primary lens through which history is viewed. It asserts God's ultimate authorship over historical unfolding.
- "the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also in writing": This clause highlights God's active sovereignty. It explicitly attributes Cyrus's specific decision, a global policy shift, directly to God's prompting. This demonstrates God's ability to use any ruler, regardless of their personal faith or motivations, as an instrument to accomplish His purposes for His people. The "proclamation... in writing" ensures the edict's authority, widespread dissemination, and enduring legal weight, reflecting the comprehensive nature of God's preparatory work for the exiles' return.
Ezra 1 1 Bonus section
- The Cyrus Cylinder Connection: While not an exact match for the biblical decree specific to the Jews, the Cyrus Cylinder, a clay artifact, documents Cyrus's general policy of allowing deported peoples to return to their lands and restore their gods and temples. This historical evidence provides a secular corroboration of Cyrus's benevolent and pragmatic policy, lending credibility to the specific decree mentioned in Ezra. The Bible, however, provides the theological reason behind Cyrus's policy: God's direct divine impulse.
- The Literary Bridge from Chronicles: Ezra 1:1 begins exactly where 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 ends, creating a deliberate literary and theological continuity. This continuity underscores the unity of God's redemptive plan throughout history, connecting the lament of exile to the hope of restoration under God's unchanging faithfulness. It is as if the Chronicler's narrative paused for the duration of the exile, only to pick up directly with God's initiating act of restoration through Cyrus.
- The "Seventy Years" Timeline: The exact starting and ending points of Jeremiah's "seventy years" (Jer 25:11, 29:10) have been interpreted in various ways by scholars. While generally encompassing the period from Nebuchadnezzar's initial deportation of Judeans (e.g., 605 BC) to Cyrus's decree (538 BC), which indeed totals about 70 years, other interpretations exist based on the destruction of the Temple (586 BC). Regardless of the precise start date, Ezra 1:1 affirms the spiritual and practical fulfillment of this significant prophetic period.
Ezra 1 1 Commentary
Ezra 1:1 lays the foundational theological truth for the post-exilic narrative: God is utterly sovereign over human history. It unequivocally declares that Cyrus's famed decree, allowing the Jewish exiles to return, was not merely a political act or a pragmatic policy of a wise monarch, but a direct fulfillment of God's pre-revealed prophetic word through Jeremiah. This verse emphasizes God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His active, hands-on involvement in bringing them to pass. He does not just predict the future, but orchestrates it, even influencing the hearts of powerful pagan kings to achieve His redemptive purposes. This act of "stirring up" Cyrus's spirit demonstrates that God works within and through existing geopolitical structures, turning the hearts of leaders to align with His divine will. It transforms a historical event into a clear testament to divine sovereignty and the unwavering reliability of God's Word. The specific naming of Cyrus and Jeremiah validates the historical precision and prophetic certainty, providing a sure ground of hope for the exiles and a timeless reminder of God's overarching control.