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Person · Persia

Cyrus

Emperor living at the time of Exile and Return

Cyrus, Emperor of Persia, issued a decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

🗺 Places mentioned alongside Cyrus on the map →

Cyrus, also known as Cyrus the Great, was the Emperor of Persia who played a significant role in the history of Israel. He is mentioned in several books of the Bible, including 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Isaiah, and Daniel.

According to 2Ch.36.22-23 and Ezr.1.1-2, in the first year of his reign, Cyrus issued a proclamation allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This decree fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the end of the Babylonian captivity after 70 years.

Cyrus also returned the articles of the Temple that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem (Ezr.1.7-8). The returning exiles, led by Zerubbabel, began to rebuild the Temple with the support of Cyrus (Ezr.3.7).

The prophets Isaiah and Daniel both mention Cyrus by name. Isa.44.28 and Isa.45.1 refer to Cyrus as the Lord's "anointed" and the one who would carry out God's purpose in rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple. Dan.1.21 and Dan.10.1 indicate that Daniel lived until the reign of Cyrus, and Dan.6.28 mentions Cyrus as the king who succeeded Darius the Mede.

Ezr.4.3-5 records the opposition faced by the Jews in rebuilding the Temple during the reigns of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes. However, Ezr.5.13-17 and Ezr.6.3-14 recount how Cyrus' original decree was rediscovered during the reign of Darius, leading to the completion of the Temple reconstruction.

Historically, Cyrus was the founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. His conquest of Babylon in 539 BC and his subsequent policy of allowing captive peoples to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples made him a significant figure in Jewish history and a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Connections

Part of: Last kings of Judah and the prophets of the exile · Persian era: Esther and the return

Daniel and Darius the Mede

RoleDebated

Darius the Mede, son of Ahasuerus, organised 120 satraps and set Daniel over them; officials tricked Darius into a decree that put Daniel in the lions' den. Who Darius the Mede was is debated.

DanielA prophetDariusPersian rulerCyrusPersian Emperor
Where the text shows it: Dan 5:31 — Darius the Mede receives the kingdomDan 6:1-3 — Satraps; Daniel over themDan 6:16-23 — Lions' denDan 9:1 — Son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent
Ways people read this (4)
  • Identified with Gubaru (Gobryas), governor of Babylon under Cyrus.
  • Another name or title for Cyrus himself, with Dan 6:28 read as "Darius, that is Cyrus".
  • Identified with Ugbaru, Cyrus's general who took Babylon.
  • Some critical scholars treat him as a literary conflation; no contemporary record names him.

Sources: Dan 5:31 · Dan 6:1-3 · Dan 6:16-23 · Dan 9:1

Daniel and Cyrus

RoleStated in the text

Daniel's career is said to have continued to the third year of Cyrus, when he received his last vision. The decree allowing the exiles to return (Ezra 1) fell in Cyrus's first year, and Daniel 9 shows him praying about the seventy years just before.

DanielA prophetCyrusPersian Emperor
Where the text shows it: Dan 1:21 — Daniel continued to the first year of CyrusDan 6:28 — Daniel prospered under Darius and CyrusDan 10:1 — Vision in Cyrus's third yearDan 9:2 — Daniel reads Jeremiah's seventy years

Sources: Dan 1:21 · Dan 6:28 · Dan 10:1 · Dan 9:2

Isaiah names Cyrus

RoleDebated

Isaiah 44-45 names Cyrus as the LORD's "shepherd" and "anointed" who will release the exiles. Whether the prophecy was written before Cyrus (about 150 years after Isaiah) or by a later prophet in the exile is a major dispute.

IsaiahA prophetCyrusPersian Emperor
Where the text shows it: Isa 44:28 — "Who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd"Isa 45:1 — Cyrus called "anointed"Ezra 1:1-2 — Cyrus's decree recalls the LORD's stirring
Ways people read this (3)
  • Traditional view: one Isaiah wrote all sixty-six chapters, including a predictive naming of Cyrus.
  • Critical view: chapters 40-55 come from an anonymous sixth-century prophet (often called Second Isaiah) writing in Cyrus's time.
  • Josephus (Antiquities 11.1) says Cyrus read this prophecy; this is a tradition, not independent proof.

Sources: Isa 44:28 · Isa 45:1 · Ezra 1:1-2

Cyrus's decree and the first return

RoleStated in the text

Cyrus issued a decree in his first year permitting exiles to return and rebuild the temple, and returned the temple vessels. Zerubbabel, a Davidic descendant, and the priest Joshua led the first group.

CyrusPersian EmperorZerubbabelGovernor
Where the text shows it: Ezra 1:1-4 — DecreeEzra 1:7-8 — Vessels returnedEzra 2:2 — Zerubbabel and Jeshua lead the returnees

Sources: Ezra 1:1-4 · Ezra 1:7-8 · Ezra 2:2

More background: search Wikipedia ↗

Bible dictionary

Cyrus Easton Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897)

(Heb. Ko’resh), the celebrated “King of Persia” (Elam) who was conqueror of Babylon, and issued the decree of liberation to the Jews (Ezra 1:1, 2). He was the son of Cambyses, the prince of Persia, and was born about B.C. 599. In the year B.C. 559 he became king of Persia, the kingdom of Media being added to it partly by conquest. Cyrus was a great military leader, bent on universal conquest. Babylon fell before his army (B.C. 538) on the night of Belshazzar’s feast (Dan. 5:30), and then the ancient dominion of Assyria was also added to his empire (cf., “Go up, O Elam”, Isa. 21:2). Hitherto the great kings of the earth had only oppressed the Jews. Cyrus was to them as a “shepherd” (Isa. 44:28; 45:1). God employed him in doing service to his ancient people. He may posibly have gained, through contact with the Jews, some knowledge of their religion. The “first year of Cyrus” (Ezra 1:1) is not the year of his elevation to power over the Medes, nor over the Persians, nor the year of the fall of Babylon, but the year succeeding the two years during which “Darius the Mede” was viceroy in Babylon after its fall. At this time only (B.C. 536) Cyrus became actual king over Palestine, which became a part of his Babylonian empire. The edict of Cyrus for the rebuilding of Jerusalem marked a great epoch in the history of the Jewish people (2 Chr. 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1-4; 4:3; 5:13-17; 6:3-5). This decree was discovered “at Achmetha [R.V. marg., “Ecbatana”], in the palace that is in the province of the Medes” (Ezra 6:2). A chronicle drawn up just after the conquest of Babylonia by Cyrus, gives the history of the reign of Nabonidus (Nabunahid), the last king of Babylon, and of the fall of the Babylonian empire. In B.C. 538 there was a revolt in Southern Babylonia, while the army of…

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Cyrus Smith Smith’s Bible Dictionary (1863)

(the sun), the founder of the Persian empire—see (2 Chronicles 36:22,23; Daniel 6:28; 10:1,13)—was, according to the common legend, the son of Cambyses, a Persian of the royal family of the Achaemenidae. When he grew up to manhood his courage and genius placed him at the head of the Persians. His conquests were numerous and brilliant. He defeated and captured the Median king B.C. 559. In B.C. 546 (?) he defeated Croesus, and the kingdom of lydia was the prize of his success. Babylon fell before his army, and the ancient dominions of Assyria were added to his empire B.C. 538. The prophet Daniel’s home for a time was at his court. (Daniel 6:28) The edict of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the temple, (2 Chronicles 36:22,23; Ezra 1:1-4; 3:7; 4:3; 5:13,17; 6:3) was in fact the beginning of Judaism; and the great changes by which the nation was transformed into a church are clearly marked. His tomb is still shown at Pasargadae, the scene of his first decisive victory.

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Cyrus Hitchcock Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary (1869)

as miserable; as heir

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Cyrus Hastings Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible (1898)

CY'RUS(the sun; in Hebrew, Koresh), founder of the Persian empire, a prince, statesman, and conqueror of great renown, and an instrument employed by Jehovah in the execution of his designs of mercy toward the Jews, as foretold by Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1-7; comp. 2 Chr 36:22-23; Ezr 1:1-4; Dan 6:28. He was the son of Cambyses, king of Persia, and a nephew of Darius the Mede (Cyaxares), and united the crowns of Persia and Media. His chief biographers (Xenophon and Herodotus) present his history and exploits in very different aspects. His conquests extended over all western Reputed Tomb of Cyrus. Asia, but the most brilliant of them was that of Babylon, b.c. 538. After this event he ordered a return of the Jews, who had been 70 years in captivity, to their own land, and furnished them very liberally with the means of rebuilding their temple. Daniel lived at his court, and was his favorite minister and adviser. Dan 6:28. His edict for the rebuilding of the temple may be said to mark the beginning of strict Judaism, for the Jews from that time became consolidated ecclesiastically under the government of the Sanhedrin. Cyrus died from a wound received in battle, b.c. 529. His reputed tomb still exists, near Murgab, the ancient Pasargadae.-Rawlinson: Ancient Monarchies, vol. iii. p. 318. The captivity of the Jews, which was ended by the decease of Cyrus, ended also the sin of idolatry in the nation.

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Cyrus Schaff Schaff’s Dictionary of the Bible

CY'RUS(the sun; in Hebrew, Koresh), founder of the Persian empire, a prince, statesman, and conqueror of great renown, and an instrument employed by Jehovah in the execution of his designs of mercy toward the Jews, as foretold by Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1-7; comp. 2 Chr 36:22-23; Ezr 1:1-4; Dan 6:28. He was the son of Cambyses, king of Persia, and a nephew of Darius the Mede (Cyaxares), and united the crowns of Persia and Media. His chief biographers (Xenophon and Herodotus) present his history and exploits in very different aspects. His conquests extended over all western Reputed Tomb of Cyrus. Asia, but the most brilliant of them was that of Babylon, b.c. 538. After this event he ordered a return of the Jews, who had been 70 years in captivity, to their own land, and furnished them very liberally with the means of rebuilding their temple. Daniel lived at his court, and was his favorite minister and adviser. Dan 6:28. His edict for the rebuilding of the temple may be said to mark the beginning of strict Judaism, for the Jews from that time became consolidated ecclesiastically under the government of the Sanhedrin. Cyrus died from a wound received in battle, b.c. 529. His reputed tomb still exists, near Murgab, the ancient Pasargadae.-Rawlinson: Ancient Monarchies, vol. iii. p. 318. The captivity of the Jews, which was ended by the decease of Cyrus, ended also the sin of idolatry in the nation.

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Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.

Where Cyrus appears

19 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H3566

2 Chronicles2
Ezra12
Isaiah2
Daniel3

Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.