Ezra 1:3 kjv
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 is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:3 nkjv
Who is among you of all His people? May 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 is God), which is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:3 niv
Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.
Ezra 1:3 esv
Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel ? he is the God who is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 1:3 nlt
Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you!
Ezra 1 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 36:22-23 | Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia... Whosoever is among you of all his people... | Parallel decree; prophecy fulfillment |
| 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. | Prophecy of 70-year exile's end |
| 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.’ | Prophecy naming Cyrus as God's instrument |
| Isa 45:13 | I stir him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward,” says the LORD of hosts. | God orchestrating Cyrus for restoration |
| Gen 28:15 | Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. | God's promise of presence and return to the land |
| Deut 31:6 | Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. | Assurance of God's continuous presence and faithfulness |
| Josh 1:5 | No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. | God's promise to be with His chosen leaders and people |
| 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. | Subsequent call to rebuild the temple |
| Zech 4:9 | “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it... | Prophecy concerning Zerubbabel and temple completion |
| 1 Kgs 6:1 | In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD. | Reference to the building of the first Temple |
| Exo 25:8 | And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. | Divine purpose for a sanctuary; God dwelling with His people |
| 1 Chr 28:20 | David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you... to complete all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. | God's presence enabling temple building |
| Matt 28:20 | ...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. | Christ's promise of perpetual presence with His disciples |
| Rom 8:31 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? | Assurance of God's empowering support |
| Heb 13:5 | Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” | God's eternal promise of presence and provision |
| 1 Tim 2:4 | who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. | God working through various people, including rulers |
| Rev 21:3 | And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. | Ultimate fulfillment of God dwelling with His people |
| Ps 68:8 | the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. | Affirmation of "God of Israel" and His power |
| Neh 1:3 | And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity there in the province are in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” | Reflects the desolation that awaited the returnees |
| Zech 8:3 | Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in your midst, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. | Prophecy of God's return to dwell in Jerusalem |
Ezra 1 verses
Ezra 1 3 Meaning
Ezra 1:3 presents the core of King Cyrus’s decree, divinely inspired, granting the exiled people of Israel permission to return to Jerusalem. The verse commands "whosoever there is among you of all his people" to travel to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild the "house of the LORD God of Israel," with an affirmation of God's presence and unique identity as "the God." It signifies the end of the Babylonian captivity and the restoration of Judah's spiritual life centered on the Temple.
Ezra 1 3 Context
Ezra chapter 1 opens in 538 BC, nearly 70 years after Jerusalem's destruction and the Babylonian exile. It serves as a direct fulfillment of prophecies, particularly Jeremiah's foretelling of a 70-year captivity and Isaiah's remarkable prediction concerning Cyrus. Cyrus, the king of Persia, conquered Babylon in 539 BC, establishing the vast Achaemenid Empire. Unlike previous empires that displaced conquered peoples, Cyrus enacted a policy allowing various ethnic groups to return to their homelands and restore their temples. This verse specifically highlights his decree for the Judeans. The phrase "the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus" (Ezr 1:1) indicates that this was not merely a political move by Cyrus but a divine orchestration, demonstrating God's sovereignty over pagan rulers and nations for the good of His chosen people. The original audience, the returned exiles, would understand this as a powerful vindication of God's covenant faithfulness and power, proving that the God of Israel had indeed triumphed over the Babylonian deities and even compelled a foreign king to acknowledge Him.
Ezra 1 3 Word analysis
- Whosoever there is among you: Hebrew:
mi kôl-'ammô(literally "who among all his people"). This signifies an open invitation rather than a forced command. It implies that only those whose hearts were stirred by God would respond, emphasizing spiritual readiness over mere national identity. It sets a voluntary tone for the return. - of all his people: Refers specifically to God's chosen people, Israel, identifying them as distinct even amidst exile. This underlines the unique covenant relationship.
- his God: Hebrew:
’ĕlōhāyw. This possessive suffix "his" profoundly emphasizes the personal covenantal relationship God has with His people, acknowledgingYHWHas Israel's distinct deity even when spoken by a foreign king. - be with him: Hebrew:
y'hi ’ĕlōhāyw ‘immô. A crucial divine blessing, promising God's protective, guiding, and empowering presence throughout the arduous journey and the monumental task of rebuilding. This echoes God's assurances to patriarchs (Gen 28:15) and leaders (Josh 1:5). - and let him go up: Hebrew:
yᶜ‘al. Implies ascent, not just physically traveling to higher-elevated Jerusalem but also spiritually "going up" in devotion and commitment to the sacred task. It's a call to action. - to Jerusalem, which is in Judah: Specifies the divinely appointed place. Jerusalem was the capital and religious center, and Judah was the tribal territory where it resided. This emphasizes the restoration of the land as well as the city.
- and build: Hebrew:
w<sup>e</sup>yib<sup>e</sup>nê. The imperative task. More than restoration of a structure, it symbolized the rebuilding of community, worship, and national identity. - the house of the LORD God of Israel: Hebrew:
bêt YHWH ’ĕlōhê yiśrā’êl. "House of the LORD" is the Temple, the focal point of Israelite worship and the symbol of God's presence among His people. The full title "LORD God of Israel" explicitly namesYHWH, the covenant God, confirming His unique relationship with His chosen nation. - he is the God: Hebrew:
hū’ hā’ĕlōhîm. This phrase is a powerful theological declaration of monotheism and the supremacy ofYHWH. It differentiatesYHWHfrom all other deities worshiped by surrounding nations, emphasizing His singular, ultimate authority. It implies Cyrus's recognition that the God of Israel is not just a god but the one true God, over and above other pantheons. - which is in Jerusalem: Reaffirms the Temple's designated location, emphasizing its centrality to the faith and its identity with the sacred city.
Ezra 1 3 Bonus section
- Divine Initiative: The entire decree originates not from Cyrus's own political will but from the LORD "stirring his spirit" (Ezr 1:1), emphasizing God's ultimate control over kings and historical events.
- Prophetic Harmony: This verse represents a precise fulfillment of numerous prophecies regarding the end of the exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple. It underscores the reliability of God's word.
- Symbolic Rebuilding: The "house of the LORD" was more than a physical structure; it was the dwelling place of God's glory and the center of Israel's covenant identity. Rebuilding it was critical for their spiritual renewal and future.
- Return from Spiritual Exile: Beyond the physical journey, the call to return was a call for a spiritual revival and re-commitment to
YHWHand His laws, signifying a restoration of their unique identity as God's covenant people. - God's Universal Sovereignty: Cyrus, as a dominant world ruler, was made to recognize and articulate the unique standing of
YHWHas "the God." This declaration points toYHWH's reign not just over Israel but over all nations.
Ezra 1 3 Commentary
Ezra 1:3 is a landmark verse, detailing Cyrus's specific call for the Jewish exiles to return and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This was not a forced exodus but an open invitation to those "whose spirit God has stirred," ensuring the returned remnant consisted of committed individuals. The permission "to go up" signifies a spiritual ascent as much as a physical journey to Jerusalem, which was deemed a holy city and elevated ground. The divine command for the returning exiles to rebuild "the house of the LORD God of Israel" was the core purpose, reflecting God's desire for restored worship and renewed fellowship with His people. Crucially, the decree includes the profound declaration, "he is the God," an astonishing acknowledgment by a pagan king of the God of Israel as the supreme and true Deity. This theological affirmation not only highlights YHWH's sovereignty over nations and history, but also functions as a subtle polemic against the polytheistic beliefs of the time, unequivocally declaring the singular preeminence of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This edict demonstrates God working through human authorities, even unexpected ones, to accomplish His redemptive purposes and fulfill His prophetic promises.