Home/Topics/Cyrus

What the Bible Says About Cyrus

Overview

The Bible addresses cyrus across 27 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Ezra, Isaiah and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Temple, the Second, Medo-Persian Kingdom, Babylon and Proclamation. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Cyrus, Jeremiah and Nebuchadnezzar.

Key Bible verses about cyrus

Old Testament

Ezra

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, made: Heb. caused a voice to pass

Ezra 1:2

Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

Ezra 1:3

Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 1:4

And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. help: Heb. lift him up

Ezra 1:5

Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 1:6

And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. strengthened: that is, helped them

Ezra 1:7

Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;

Ezra 1:8

Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.

Ezra 1:9

And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,

Ezra 1:10

Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.

Ezra 1:11

All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem. the captivity: Heb. the transportation

Ezra 5:13

But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

Ezra 5:14

And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; governor: or, deputy

Isaiah

Isaiah 13:17

Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.

Isaiah 13:18

Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

Isaiah 13:19

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. as: Heb. as the overthrowing

Isaiah 13:20

It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

Isaiah 13:21

But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. wild: Heb. Ziim doleful: Heb. Ochim owls: or, ostriches: Heb. daughters of the owl

Isaiah 13:22

And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. the wild: Heb. Iim desolate: or, palaces

Isaiah 45:1

Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, 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; have: or, strengthened

Isaiah 45:2

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

Isaiah 45:3

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

Isaiah 45:4

For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 48:14

All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

Isaiah 48:15

I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

People in the Bible and cyrus

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying cyrus for yourself

  • Begin with 2 Chronicles 36:22, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Ezra, Isaiah and 2 Chronicles each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Cyrus, Jeremiah and Nebuchadnezzar and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Temple, the Second, Medo-Persian Kingdom, Babylon and Proclamation.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about cyrus?

The Bible addresses cyrus across 27 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Ezra, Isaiah and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Temple, the Second, Medo-Persian Kingdom, Babylon and Proclamation. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Cyrus, Jeremiah and Nebuchadnezzar.

How many Bible verses are about cyrus?

The Bible references cyrus in 27 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention cyrus?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is 2 Chronicles 36:22: “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,”

Which people in the Bible are associated with cyrus?

Cyrus, Jeremiah and Nebuchadnezzar.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on cyrus.

Preach a series on Cyrus