Cyrus' Decree and the Return of Temple Vessels
Ezra 1:1-11
Ezr.1.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובשנת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- לכורש: PREP
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- פרס: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לכלות: VERB,qal,inf
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מפי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירמיה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כרש: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- פרס: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- ויעבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- קול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכותו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3ms
- וגם: CONJ
- במכתב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 (quotation): Near-verbatim parallel: records the same decree in the first year of Cyrus, the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s word and the written proclamation allowing the return and temple rebuilding.
- Isaiah 44:28 (allusion): Isaiah explicitly names Cyrus as the one who will restore and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, providing the prophetic rationale for Cyrus’s actions.
- Isaiah 45:1 (verbal): God ‘anoints’ and ‘stirs’ Cyrus to accomplish his purposes; language and theme echo Ezra’s claim that the LORD moved Cyrus’s spirit to issue the decree.
- Jeremiah 25:11-12 (thematic): Jeremiah’s prophecy of seventy years of exile is the prophecy whose fulfillment Ezra 1:1 cites as occurring with Cyrus’s decree.
- Ezra 6:3-5 (structural): Later Ezra passage reproduces and cites Cyrus’s written decree permitting the restoration of the temple, directly linked to the proclamation mentioned in Ezra 1:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing, saying:
- In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
Ezr.1.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כרש: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- פרס: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- כל: DET
- ממלכות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- פקד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- לבנות: ADJ,f,pl,abs
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ביהודה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 (quotation): Nearly identical wording: Chronicles records Cyrus' proclamation authorizing the exiles to return and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; Ezra 1:2 echoes/quotes this decree.
- Isaiah 45:1-4 (allusion): God names and commissions Cyrus as his instrument ('Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus'), anticipating and theologically explaining Cyrus' role in enabling the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 29:10 (thematic): Jeremiah prophesies that after seventy years God will bring the exiles back; Ezra presents Cyrus' decree as the fulfillment that makes the return and temple rebuilding possible.
- Haggai 1:8 (thematic): Prophetic exhortation, 'Go up... and bring wood, and build the house,' reflects the same concern and imperative behind Cyrus' authorization to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
- Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Ezr.1.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- בכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- מכל: PREP
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- יהי: VERB,qal,juss,3,m,sg
- אלהיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לירושלם: PREP+NOUN,prop,f,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ביהודה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויבן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 (verbal): Almost identical royal decree permitting exiles to return and rebuild the house of the LORD—direct verbal parallel to Ezra 1:3.
- Isaiah 44:28 (allusion): Isaiah names Cyrus as the LORD’s chosen instrument who will say to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be built,’ providing the prophetic background for Cyrus’ decree.
- Isaiah 45:13 (allusion): Speaks of God raising Cyrus to build Jerusalem and release the exiles—an explicit prophetic anticipation of the return and rebuilding in Ezra 1:3.
- Jeremiah 29:10 (thematic): Promises that after seventy years God will visit and bring the exiles back—historical/theological context for the return authorized by Cyrus.
- Haggai 1:8 (thematic): A later prophetic exhortation calling the people to ‘go up… and build the house of the LORD,’ reflecting the same corporate action of rebuilding initiated in Ezra 1:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- Whoever there is among you of all his people—may his God be with him—let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel, who is in Jerusalem.
- Whoever among you of all his people is of his God, let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel—he is God in Jerusalem.
Ezr.1.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- הנשאר: ADJ,ptcp,qal,m,sg,def
- מכל: PREP
- המקמות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- גר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שם: ADV
- ינשאוהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- מקמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- בכסף: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובזהב: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וברכוש: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובבהמה: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- הנדבה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cns
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 (quotation): Chronicles preserves the same decree of Cyrus nearly verbatim (including the command to support those remaining and to rebuild the house of the LORD), serving as a direct parallel and source for Ezra's account.
- Ezra 2:68-69 (verbal): A later list of gifts and offerings brought for the house of God; repeats the theme and many of the same kinds of contributions (gold, silver, freewill offerings) mentioned in Ezra 1:4.
- Nehemiah 7:69-70 (verbal): Nehemiah's recension of the return also records contributions of gold, silver and goods for the temple treasury, echoing the language and practice of supporting the house of God and those who returned.
- Isaiah 44:28 (allusion): Isaiah names Cyrus as the LORD's anointed who will say to Jerusalem, 'You shall be built'; this prophetic commissioning provides the theological background for Cyrus' decree and the authorized support for the returnees and temple rebuilding.
Alternative generated candidates
- And let every survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of that place with silver and with gold, with goods and with livestock, besides the freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
- And let every survivor in whatever place he sojourns be supported by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with voluntary offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
Ezr.1.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקומו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ראשי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- האבות: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ליהודה: PREP+PN,masc,sg
- ובנימן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והכהנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והלוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- לכל: PREP
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- האלהים: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- רוחו: NOUN,f,sg,prsuf3ms
- לעלות: VERB,qal,inf
- לבנות: ADJ,f,pl,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 (quotation): Contains the parallel decree of Cyrus that opens the restoration narrative; 2 Chron repeats the opening material of Ezra and provides the same structural basis for the return to build the house of the LORD.
- Ezra 3:2 (structural): Describes the assembled groups—people of Judah, priests, and Levites—who set about the work of the sanctuary, closely paralleling the actors and purpose in Ezra 1:5.
- Nehemiah 2:17-18 (verbal): The people's response to Nehemiah—'Let us rise up and build'—echoes the initiative and communal rise to rebuild Jerusalem's sacred structures found in Ezra 1:5.
- Haggai 1:14 (allusion): Says the LORD 'stirred up the spirit' of Zerubbabel, Joshua and the remnant to work on the house—language and concept parallel Ezra's 'whose spirit the God of Israel had moved.'
- Zechariah 4:6-9 (thematic): Emphasizes divine enablement ('not by might but by my Spirit') and names Zerubbabel as God's instrument to finish the house—theological parallel to Ezra 1:5's attribution of the initiative to God's moving of hearts to rebuild the temple.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the heads of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—arose to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
- Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites—whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem—arose.
Ezr.1.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- סביבתיהם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,pl
- חזקו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- בידיהם: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,con,3,pl
- בכלי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בזהב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ברכוש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובבהמה: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ובמגדנות: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לבד: PREP
- על: PREP
- כל: DET
- התנדב: VERB,hitp,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 12:35-36 (verbal): Egyptians gave Israel silver, gold and clothing as they departed — a close verbal and thematic parallel of neighboring peoples supplying valuables to God’s people.
- 1 Chronicles 29:3-9 (verbal): Lists gifts of gold, silver, animals and voluntary offerings given for the house of the LORD — parallels the catalogue of contributions and the motif of willing support.
- Ezra 6:8-10 (structural): Imperial provision and payment from the royal revenue for those rebuilding the temple — parallels the official and material support enabling the restoration project.
- Nehemiah 7:70-72 (thematic): Leaders and heads of families gave to the treasury and to the work for the rebuilding of the temple — a thematic parallel of communal giving of goods and resources to support the returnees.
Alternative generated candidates
- And all their neighbours supported them with vessels of silver and gold, with goods and with livestock, and with precious things, and with all that was willingly offered.
- And all their neighboring peoples strengthened them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with costly gifts, besides all that was freely offered.
Ezr.1.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והמלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כורש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הוציא: VERB,hif,perf,3,ms,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הוציא: VERB,hif,perf,3,ms,sg
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויתנם: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,obj:3mp
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אלהיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 36:23 (verbal): Direct parallel/duplicate of Ezra 1:7 (and surrounding verses): Cyrus' decree and the return/placement of the temple vessels; closely parallels wording and structure.
- 2 Kings 25:13-17 (verbal): Describes Nebuchadnezzar's removal of the house of the LORD's vessels to Babylon and their placement in foreign temples—the event whose reversal Cyrus undertakes in Ezra.
- Jeremiah 52:17-23 (verbal): Parallel account to 2 Kings 25, listing the vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar and set in the temples of his gods; provides the immediate historical background for the returned items.
- Isaiah 45:1 (thematic): Prophetic naming of Cyrus as the LORD's anointed who will subdue nations and enable Israel's restoration—the theological rationale for Cyrus' role in returning the temple vessels.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Cyrus king of Persia brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem, and put them in the house of his gods.
- Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.
Ezr.1.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויוציאם: VERB,hiphil,impf,3,m,sg
- כורש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- פרס: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- על: PREP
- יד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מתרדת: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הגזבר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויספרם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לששבצר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנשיא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ליהודה: PREP+PN,masc,sg
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 (quotation): Parallel proclamation naming Cyrus and his decree allowing the exiles to return and rebuild the temple; closely mirrors Ezra's opening context and wording.
- Ezra 5:13-16 (verbal): Report to the Persian authorities recounting that Nebuchadnezzar took the temple vessels and that Cyrus later brought them out and gave them to Sheshbazzar—repeats the same persons and action.
- Ezra 6:3-5 (quotation): Cites the archived decree about vessels carried away by Nebuchadnezzar and restored by Cyrus to Sheshbazzar; confirms and expands the administrative record behind Ezra 1:8.
- Isaiah 45:1 (allusion): God’s commissioning of Cyrus by name to subdue nations and facilitate Israel’s restoration; thematically connects Cyrus’s role as God’s instrument in returning cultic items and people.
- Isaiah 44:28 (allusion): Explicitly names Cyrus as the one who will ‘build my city’ and ‘set my exiles free,’ echoing the divine purpose behind Cyrus’s actions in restoring temple property and enabling the return.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Cyrus king of Persia delivered them by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer; and Mithredath counted them to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
- And Cyrus king of Persia brought them out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
Ezr.1.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואלה: CONJ+DEM,pl,abs
- מספרם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,pl
- אגרטלי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- זהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- אגרטלי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלף: NUM,m,sg
- מחלפים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- תשעה: NUM,m,sg
- ועשרים: NUM,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 25:13-17 (verbal): List of the temple vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar — provides the original inventory of items (gold, silver, bronze vessels) that Ezra 1 describes being returned.
- Jeremiah 52:17-23 (verbal): Parallel account to 2 Kings 25:13-17 recounting the removal of the Lord’s house vessels to Babylon; corresponds to the items later restored in Ezra 1.
- 2 Chronicles 36:18-23 (quotation): Summarizes the exile and includes Cyrus’s decree permitting the return and rebuilding of the temple — the broader narrative context for the return of the vessels listed in Ezra 1.
- Ezra 6:5 (structural): Later decree and administrative confirmation concerning the restoration of the temple and its vessels — echoes and implements the return of the sacred items noted in Ezra 1.
Alternative generated candidates
- These are the numbers of them: thirty dishes of gold, one thousand dishes of silver, twenty-nine cups;
- And this was their number: thirty gold dishes, one thousand silver dishes, twenty-nine other vessels.
Ezr.1.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כפורי: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- זהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- כפורי: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- משנים: NUM,card,m,pl
- ארבע: NUM,card,f
- מאות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ועשרה: NUM,m,pl
- כלים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אחרים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- אלף: NUM,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 (structural): Parallel account of Cyrus' decree ordering the exiles' return and restoration of the LORD's house and its vessels; provides the broader framework for Ezra's report of the returned temple vessels.
- Jeremiah 52:17-23 (thematic): Describes Nebuchadnezzar's removal of the temple vessels to Babylon—explains the original loss that Cyrus later rectifies in Ezra's account.
- 2 Kings 25:13-17 (verbal): Narrates the carrying off of the bronze and gold vessels from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar's officials, a concrete counterpart to the list of items restored in Ezra 1:10.
- 1 Chronicles 29:2-5 (thematic): Records the assembly's gifts of gold, silver, and vessels for the house of the LORD, thematically parallel to Ezra's enumeration of temple vessels and the concern for proper equipment for worship.
Alternative generated candidates
- thirty gold bowls, four hundred and ten silver bowls, and other vessels a thousand.
- Thirty gold bowls, four hundred and ten silver bowls, and one thousand other vessels.
Ezr.1.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כל: DET
- כלים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לזהב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולכסף: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חמשת: NUM,card,construct
- אלפים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וארבע: CONJ,NUM,card,f,sg
- מאות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- הכל: PRON,m,sg,abs
- העלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs,def
- ששבצר: NUM,card,m,sg
- עם: PREP
- העלות: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הגולה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- מבבל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לירושלם: PREP+NOUN,prop,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezra 5:14-16 (verbal): Reiterates that Sheshbazzar (Sesbazar) brought up the gold and silver vessels from Babylon to Jerusalem and supplies a parallel inventory—closely echoes the wording and claim of return.
- 2 Kings 25:13-17 (thematic): Lists the temple vessels Nebuchadnezzar carried to Babylon; provides the background for why these specific gold and silver articles were later returned.
- Jeremiah 52:17-23 (thematic): Parallel to 2 Kings' list of plundered temple vessels taken to Babylon, explaining the provenance of the items that Ezra records as returned.
- 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 (allusion): Records Cyrus' decree permitting exiles to return and rebuild the temple—the wider legal/political authorization that enables the recovery and return of temple vessels in Ezra 1:11.
- Ezra 1:7-9 (structural): Immediate literary context: earlier verses in the same chapter enumerate the royal orders and the handing over of the gold and silver vessels by the Persian officials, of which verse 11 is the concluding statement.
Alternative generated candidates
- All the vessels of gold and silver were five thousand four hundred; all these Sheshbazzar brought up with those who had been carried away from Babylon to Jerusalem.
- All the vessels of gold and silver were five thousand four hundred in all. All these Sheshbazzar brought up with the exiles who were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—so that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled—the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, and he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing, saying: Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Whoever among you of all his people—may his God be with him—let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And every one who remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place support him with silver and gold, with goods and with livestock, and with voluntary offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
Then the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, arose—every one in his city—whose spirit God had stirred, to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. And all their neighbors strengthened them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable articles, and with voluntary offerings besides all that was freely offered.
King Cyrus also brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and had placed in the house of his gods.
Cyrus king of Persia delivered them to Mithredath the treasurer, and Mithredath counted them to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
The number of the articles was: thirty gold basins, one thousand silver basins, and twenty-nine other basins.
Thirty gold pans, four hundred and ten silver pans, and one thousand other vessels.
All the vessels of gold and silver amounted to five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought up with the exiles who were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.