Ezra 6:15 kjv
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
Ezra 6:15 nkjv
Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
Ezra 6:15 niv
The temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
Ezra 6:15 esv
and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
Ezra 6:15 nlt
The Temple was completed on March 12, during the sixth year of King Darius's reign.
Ezra 6 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezra 1:1-2 | "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia... to build him a house..." | Cyrus's decree initiating the first return |
| Ezra 3:8 | "From the first day of the second month of the second year... the rebuilding of the house..." | Foundation of the temple laid |
| Ezra 4:4-5 | "Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah... hindering their work..." | Opposition faced during building |
| Ezra 5:1 | "Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah... prophesied to the Jews..." | Prophetic encouragement to resume work |
| Ezra 6:8 | "Moreover, I issue a decree as to what you are to do... the costs..." | Darius's decree for temple support |
| Hag 1:8 | "Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the house..." | Haggai's call to rebuild |
| Zech 4:9 | "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation... his hands shall finish it." | Prophecy of Zerubbabel completing |
| 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.’" | Cyrus's prophetic role |
| 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 you..." | Prophecy of exile's end and return |
| Dan 9:25 | "Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem..." | Prophetic timeline to restoration |
| Ps 127:1 | "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." | Divine enablement for any work |
| Neh 6:15 | "So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days." | Similar completion after opposition |
| John 2:19-21 | "Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ... He was speaking about the temple of his body." | Temple foreshadows Christ's body |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come... through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands)..." | New Covenant superseded earthly temple |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house..." | Believers as spiritual temple today |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "So then you are no longer strangers... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure... a holy temple in the Lord." | Church as God's spiritual dwelling |
| Zech 6:12-13 | "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch... he shall build the temple of the Lord..." | Prophecy of Messiah as temple builder |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple..." | Coming of Messiah to the temple |
| Ezra 7:6 | "This Ezra came up from Babylon; he was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses..." | Arrival of Ezra to establish order |
| 1 Chr 29:1-5 | "David the king said... ‘Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young... The work is great, for the temple will not be for man but for the Lord God.’" | Preparation for Solomon's temple |
| 2 Chr 5:1 | "Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished." | Completion of the First Temple |
| Isa 55:11 | "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose..." | God's word accomplishes its purpose |
Ezra 6 verses
Ezra 6 15 Meaning
Ezra 6:15 marks the monumental completion of the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This "house" refers to the holy sanctuary for the worship of the God of Israel, rebuilt by the returning exiles. The precise date, the third day of the month Adar in the sixth year of King Darius's reign, signifies the culmination of years of labor, opposition, and prophetic encouragement, underscoring God's faithfulness in bringing His plans to fruition despite adversity.
Ezra 6 15 Context
Ezra 6:15 is situated within the narrative of the post-exilic return of the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem. Following the decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4), a remnant returned and laid the temple's foundation (Ezra 3:8). However, Samaritan opposition and discouragement led to a long pause in construction (Ezra 4). This changed with the powerful prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1), who stirred the people and leaders to resume the work. When new opposition arose, an appeal was made to King Darius. Darius, upon reviewing the imperial archives, reaffirmed Cyrus's original decree and even ordered royal support for the temple's completion, under penalty for those who hindered it (Ezra 6:1-12). Thus, emboldened by divine favor and royal decree, the leaders Zerubbabel and Jeshua, alongside the people, finished the "house" on the specified date, allowing the re-establishment of formal worship and the celebration of Passover. This event was not merely architectural but deeply spiritual, marking a renewal of the covenant relationship between God and His people in their homeland.
Ezra 6 15 Word analysis
- And: A conjunction that connects this completion directly to the preceding events of renewed effort, royal decrees, and divine enablement, emphasizing continuity.
- this house: Refers specifically to the second Temple in Jerusalem. In Aramaic, it is baytā’ (בַּיְתָא֙), meaning "house" or "temple." This term underscores its sacred purpose as God's dwelling place on Earth. It had been desecrated and destroyed, and its re-establishment was paramount to the re-centering of Israel's faith life.
- was finished: The Aramaic verb is šᵉlīm (שְׁלִים֙), meaning "was completed," "brought to a conclusion," or "perfected." This indicates the successful culmination of a long, arduous process. It implies divine empowerment over human weakness and persistent opposition. It contrasts with the long period of delay mentioned earlier in Ezra.
- on the third day: Pinpoints the exact date within the month, highlighting the precision of the biblical record and God's sovereign timing.
- of the month Adar: Adar (אֲדַר֙) is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil calendar (late February/early March). This is significant as it means the Temple was completed just before the annual Passover celebration, allowing for the dedication and celebration described in the subsequent verses (Ezra 6:16-19).
- which was in the sixth year: Provides a clear chronological marker within the reign of the Persian king, Darius I Hystaspes.
- of the reign: Links the event to specific historical governance, contextualizing it within the broader world empire.
- of Darius the king: Identifies Darius I, son of Hystaspes (ruled 522-486 BC), as the ruling monarch during the temple's completion. This fixed point in secular history confirms the biblical narrative. The sixth year of his reign is precisely 516 BC. This date marks seventy years since the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BC, thus fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy of seventy years of desolation (Jer 29:10).
Ezra 6 15 Bonus section
- The completion of the Second Temple exactly seventy years after the destruction of the First Temple (586 BC - 516 BC) is a remarkable fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the duration of the Babylonian exile and Judah's desolation (Jer 29:10; Dan 9:2). This precision underscores the trustworthiness of God's prophetic word.
- While a major triumph, the Second Temple was, by many accounts, less glorious than Solomon's First Temple, particularly for those elders who had seen the former glory (Hag 2:3). However, Haggai prophesied that the "latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former" (Hag 2:9), a prophecy widely understood to point to the future coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would grace this temple with His presence, signifying a spiritual glory far surpassing material splendor.
- The persistence in rebuilding despite significant resistance demonstrates the vital role of faith, obedience, and prophetic leadership in the lives of God's people. This account serves as a testament to the fact that when God's people commit to His work, even formidable obstacles can be overcome through divine assistance and appointed leaders.
Ezra 6 15 Commentary
Ezra 6:15 encapsulates the triumphant completion of the Second Temple, a moment of profound spiritual significance for the returned exiles. It marks the definitive end to seventy years of exile, bringing to fruition divine promises uttered through Jeremiah and subsequent prophetic encouragement by Haggai and Zechariah. The exact dating emphasizes God's sovereign hand in orchestrating both natural and geopolitical events to ensure His purposes are fulfilled. Despite fierce opposition and a protracted pause in construction, the Temple stood finished, not by human might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord working through committed leaders like Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and a receptive populace. This completion facilitated the restoration of regular sacrifices and feasts, vital to the Jewish identity and their relationship with God. Although this temple lacked some features of Solomon's grand structure, like the Ark of the Covenant, it remained a potent symbol of God's presence among His people and set the stage for later Messianic expectations.