Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, is a significant figure in biblical history, particularly in relation to the Jewish people and the fulfillment of God's promises. His reign, which began around 559 BC, marked a pivotal moment in the history of the ancient Near East and the Jewish exiles in Babylon.

Cyrus in Biblical Prophecy

Cyrus is notably mentioned in the prophecies of Isaiah, written over a century before his birth. Isaiah 44:28 declares, "who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he will fulfill all My pleasure,’ saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’" This prophecy highlights Cyrus's role as an instrument of God's will, chosen to facilitate the return of the Jewish exiles and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple.

Isaiah 45:1-4 further emphasizes Cyrus's divine appointment: "This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him so that the gates will not be shut: 'I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. For the sake of Jacob My servant and Israel My chosen one, I call you by name; I give you a title of honor, though you have not known Me.'"

Cyrus's Decree and the Return of the Exiles

The fulfillment of these prophecies is recorded in the Book of Ezra. In Ezra 1:1-2, it is written: "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing: 'This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.'"

Cyrus's decree allowed the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, marking the end of the Babylonian captivity. This act of liberation is seen as a direct fulfillment of God's promise to restore His people to their land.

Cyrus's Legacy

Cyrus's policies of tolerance and respect for the customs and religions of the peoples he conquered set a precedent for future rulers. His approach to governance is reflected in the Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient artifact that some consider a declaration of human rights. While the Bible does not delve into these aspects, it portrays Cyrus as a divinely appointed leader whose actions were instrumental in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan for Israel.

Cyrus's role in biblical history underscores the sovereignty of God in using even foreign rulers to accomplish His purposes. His reign is a testament to the fulfillment of prophecy and the faithfulness of God to His covenant people.2 Chronicles 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, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
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Ezra 1:1
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,
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Ezra 3:7
They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, to them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
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Ezra 4:3
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said to them, You have nothing to do with us to build an house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.
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Ezra 5:13,14,17
But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
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Ezra 6:3
In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof three score cubits, and the breadth thereof three score cubits;
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Isaiah 41:2,3
Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
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Isaiah 44:28
That said of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built; and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.
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Isaiah 45:1-4,13
Thus said the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
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Isaiah 46:11
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes my counsel from a far country: yes, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
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Isaiah 48:14,15
All you, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them has declared these things? The LORD has loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.
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Accession of Cyrus to the Throne.
... It was more or less connected with the government of Astyages, so that Cambyses,
the chief ruler of Persia, Cyrus's father, is called sometimes a king and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter v accession of cyrus.htm

The visit to Media.
... His reason for it."Amusement of the guests."Cyrus becomes a greater favorite than
ever."Mandane proposes to return to Persia."Cyrus consents to remain ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter iii the visit to.htm

The Birth of Cyrus.
... of Harpagus."Astyages becomes uneasy."The magi again consulted."Advice of the
magi."Astyages adopts it."Cyrus sets out for Persia."His parents' joy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter ii the birth of.htm

The Eve of the Restoration
... EZRA THE EVE OF THE RESTORATION. '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 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the eve of the restoration.htm

Rebuilding the Temple
... That the promise made by Jehovah through the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled,
Jehovah influenced Cyrus, king of Persia, in the first year of his reign to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/rebuilding the temple.htm

Cambyses.
... the nature of this dream, it is necessary first to state that Cyrus had two sons.
Their names were Cambyses and Smerdis. He had left them in Persia when he set ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter i cambyses.htm

Building in Troublous Times
... 5. And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days
of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.'"Ezra ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/building in troublous times.htm

How Cyrus, King of the Persians, Delivered the Jews Out Of
... "King Cyrus To Sisinnes ... when they offer them, they shall pray to God for the
preservation of the king and of his family, that the kingdom of Persia may continue ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how cyrus king.htm

How Upon the Death of Cyrus the Jews were Hindered in Building of ...
... the Cutheans, whom Shalmanezer, king of Assyria, had brought out of Persia and Media ...
for rendering this building a slow and a careless work, for Cyrus, who was ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how upon the.htm

Cyrus.
... Cyrus set up his uncle, who is commonly called Darius, to be king in Babylon, while
he returned to Persia; and Daniel, though so old a man, was made one of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xii cyrus.htm

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