Ezra 6:1 kjv
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
Ezra 6:1 nkjv
Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon.
Ezra 6:1 niv
King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives stored in the treasury at Babylon.
Ezra 6:1 esv
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored.
Ezra 6:1 nlt
So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury.
Ezra 6 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 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 sovereignty over rulers |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings..." | God's control over human leadership |
| Isa 44:28 | "who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’" | God inspiring rulers for His purposes |
| Isa 45:1 | "Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus..." | God designating pagan kings |
| Jer 29:10 | "For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill my good word to bring you back to this place." | Prophecy of return and fulfillment |
| Neh 2:4 | "Then the king said to me, ‘What are you asking?’" | Royal inquiry and response |
| Esth 1:19 | "If it please the king, let a royal order be issued by him and let it be written..." | Importance of royal decrees and written law |
| Esth 3:12 | "Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day..." | Summoning scribes for royal administration |
| Ezra 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..." | Cyrus's initial decree and divine fulfillment |
| Ezra 5:17 | "Therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the royal archives..." | Tatnai's request for verification |
| Ezra 6:2-5 | "And there was found in Ecbatana... a scroll... a memorandum... of Cyrus the king..." | Confirmation of the search results |
| Hag 1:14 | "And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel... and the spirit of Joshua... and the spirit of all the remnant of the people." | God stirring hearts for His work |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." | God's work through supernatural means |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | God institutes governing authorities |
| Job 23:10 | "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold." | God's trials lead to His will being done |
| Psa 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | Guidance by God's truth, akin to seeking decrees |
| Dan 6:8 | "Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed..." | Irrevocable nature of Persian decrees |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | "Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution... to governors as sent by him..." | Submission to authorities in God's plan |
| Psa 33:11 | "The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations." | God's eternal purposes endure |
| Psa 76:10 | "Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remainder of wrath you will restrain." | God working even through human opposition |
| Matt 5:18 | "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." | The immutability of God's word and decree |
Ezra 6 verses
Ezra 6 1 Meaning
Ezra 6:1 signifies a pivotal moment in the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple. Following inquiries by the provincial governor Tatnai regarding the legality of the Temple's reconstruction, King Darius Hystaspes commands a diligent and thorough search of the royal archives. This decree indicates Darius's commitment to due process and his imperial administration's meticulous record-keeping, which ultimately served God's sovereign plan to confirm Cyrus's earlier edict and ensure the Temple's completion.
Ezra 6 1 Context
Ezra chapter 6 marks the culmination of the legal challenge presented in the preceding chapter. Following the Jewish elders' assertion that their Temple reconstruction was authorized by an earlier decree from King Cyrus, the provincial governor Tatnai, with his associates, penned a letter to King Darius, requesting verification from the royal archives (Ezra 5:17). Ezra 6:1 records Darius's direct response to this inquiry. This specific action sets the stage for the rediscovery of Cyrus's foundational edict and ultimately paves the way for the Temple's completion. Historically, this occurs during the reign of Darius I Hystaspes (522-486 BC), who meticulously managed the vast Achaemenid Persian Empire and whose administration was renowned for its detailed record-keeping. The verse demonstrates that even pagan monarchs unknowingly act as instruments in God's larger plan for His people.
Ezra 6 1 Word analysis
- Then King Darius: Refers to Darius I Hystaspes, also known as Darius the Great. He ruled the Persian Empire from 522 to 486 BC. His reign followed Cambyses II and was characterized by administrative reforms, expansion, and careful governance, which included robust record-keeping systems. God's orchestration through a powerful pagan king underscores divine sovereignty over world rulers.
- issued a decree: The Aramaic word here is
ṭəʿēm(טְעֵם), meaning "he put, set, ordered, established, decreed." It conveys the formal and authoritative act of a monarch. This highlights the weight and legal force behind royal commands in the Persian Empire, vital for their vast administration. - and a search was made: Implies an investigation, a formal inquiry. This wasn't a casual request but a royal mandate. It indicates Darius's thoroughness and due diligence, showing that the Persian administration adhered to established legal procedures, thus lending credibility to the findings. This also subtly illustrates God's work through human systems of justice and order.
- in the archives: The Aramaic phrase is
bêṯ gənîzayyāʾ(בֵּית גְּנִיזַיָּא), literally "house of stored things" or "house of treasuries." These were official state depositories where important documents, legal decrees, and royal records were preserved alongside valuable goods. This signifies the importance the Persians placed on their administrative documents and edicts. For the Jews, this was crucial as it indicated where the confirmation of their work could be found. - where the treasures were stored: The word
gənîzayyāʾ(גְּנִיזַיָּא) from the previous phrase can mean "treasures," but in context ofbêṯ gənîzayyāʾ, it refers more broadly to anything stored or deposited, which included royal decrees, charters, and other administrative records, often considered precious due to their legal and administrative value. - in Babylon: At this point in history, Babylon was a key administrative center within the Persian Empire, being a significant capital from the Neo-Babylonian era. While Cyrus's decree was ultimately found in Ecbatana (Achmetha, Ezra 6:2), the initial search command to "Babylon" might have been due to it being a major record hub, or perhaps where a copy was expected. This detail reveals the vast geographical scope of the Persian Empire's record-keeping efforts.
Ezra 6 1 Bonus section
The historical and archaeological evidence regarding Persian imperial archives aligns perfectly with this verse, confirming the sophisticated administrative structure that the book of Ezra describes. Large collections of administrative texts and royal decrees have been discovered from various parts of the Achaemenid Empire (e.g., Persepolis, Elamite, and Babylonian texts), affirming that such "houses of treasures" or record depositories indeed existed and were regularly consulted for legal and administrative purposes. The discovery of Cyrus's specific decree in Ecbatana (Ezra 6:2) and not necessarily the first-searched capital of Babylon, further illustrates the dispersed nature of these vital records and the breadth of the empire's administrative reach, yet ultimately all within God's oversight.
Ezra 6 1 Commentary
Ezra 6:1 is brief but potent, illuminating God's meticulous providence. Faced with an official inquiry about the legality of Temple reconstruction, King Darius, through what seems like a standard administrative procedure, initiates a search of imperial archives. This royal decree to search for precedent reveals the high level of organization within the Persian Empire, where important decrees, like that of Cyrus concerning the Temple, were carefully cataloged and stored. The very act of the king seeking to verify a historical document, rather than dismiss the Jews' claims outright, demonstrates the providential hand of God working through secular authority. Darius's impartiality and administrative rigor were the means by which divine prophecy would find its practical fulfillment. This action was not a mere historical note but God orchestrating events through an unbelieving ruler to validate His word and allow His people to resume His sacred work, reinforcing the principle that "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord" (Prov 21:1). It showcases God's faithfulness in bringing His promises to pass, regardless of political changes or human opposition.