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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

CYRUS THE GREAT*

Persian king (559–530 BC) who founded the Achaemenid dynasty and the Persian Empire. Cyrus (II) was the son of Cambyses I (600–599 BC), who ruled the unified territories of Parshumash-anshan and Parsa. Cyrus’s mother was Mandane, daughter of the Median king Astyages (585?–550 BC). The ancestor of the dynasty was Achaemenes. Cyrus succeeded his father and established himself in Pasargadae about 559 BC. Ambitious and daring, he aligned his kingdom with neighboring peoples and tribes into a solid block of Persian power, then revolted against Astyages of Media. When it became evident that Cyrus would win in the struggle to control Media, the troops of Astyages mutinied and deserted to Cyrus. When Cyrus conquered the Median kingdom, however, he came into conflict with Babylon, since the two kingdoms claimed much of the same territory.

Cyrus consolidated his power before fighting with Babylon. First, he conquered Asia Minor. Wealthy King Croesus of Lydia and the Lydians submitted to him. Then he overran the northern mountainous region between the Caspian Sea and the northwest corner of India.

By 539 BC, Cyrus was ready to move against Babylon. The Babylonian governor of Elam defected to Cyrus and joined his army. With a minimum of opposition, the armies of Cyrus entered the Babylonian capital in 539 BC. Nabonidus was taken prisoner but was treated with respect and mercy. Sixteen days later Cyrus himself entered the city, to the acclaim of many of its inhabitants.

Isaiah’s prophecy spoke of Cyrus as the Lord’s anointed (Is 45:1 (RV · LV · Read together)). Israel regarded him as called and empowered by their God to free them. Under Cyrus, the Jews were allowed to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple (44:28 (RV · LV · Read together)). Documents preserved in the OT state that in his first year in Babylon, Cyrus issued a decree permitting the reconstruction of the house of God at Jerusalem (2 Chr 36:22-23 (RV · LV · Read together); Ezr 1:1-3 (RV · LV · Read together); 6:2-5 (RV · LV · Read together)). He also returned sacred vessels taken from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar. Biblical descriptions of the decree say nothing about rebuilding the city, but that would be in harmony with the king’s policy.

ISA 45:1: RV ISA 45:1 · LV ISA 45:1 · Read together ISA 45:1

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OET-RV ISA 45:1

45 Yahweh has appointed Koresh (Cyrus) and given him power
⇔ to subdue other nations and defeat kings—
⇔ to open doors ahead of him,
⇔ ≈ and no gates will shut him out.
⇔ Now Yahweh says this:

OET-LV ISA 45:1

45 Thus YHWH he _says to_his _of_anointed to/for_Kōresh whom I _have _taken _hold on_his _right _of_hand to_subdue before_him nations and_the_loins _of kings I _will _loosen to_open before_him doors and_gates not they _will _be _shut.

ISA 44:28: RV ISA 44:28 · LV ISA 44:28 · Read together ISA 44:28

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OET-RV ISA 44:28

28 Who else calls King Koresh (Cyrus) ‘my shepherd’,
⇔ and says that he’ll do everything I want?
⇔ Who else says that Yerushalem will be rebuilt,
⇔ and that the temple foundations will be restored.

OET-LV ISA 44:28

28 Who_says to/for_Kōresh/(Coresh/Cyrus) shepherd _of_my and_all desire _of_my he _will _perform and_to_say of_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) let _it _be _rebuilt and_the_temple let _it _be _refounded.

CH2 36:22–23: RV CH2 36:22–23 · LV CH2 36:22–23 · Read together CH2 36:22–23

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OET-RV CH2 36:22

22 During the first year that King Koresh (Cyrus) reigned over Paras (Persia), in order to further fulfil what Yahweh had said via the prophet Yirmiyah (Jeremiah), Yahweh worked on the spirit of King Koresh who then wrote this ruling and sent messengers to announce it throughout his kingdom:

OET-RV CH2 36:23

23 “I, Paras’s King Koresh, declare that Yahweh, the god of the heavens, has given me all these earthly kingdoms, and he’s given me the job of building a house for him in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), which is in Yehudah (Judah). To help with that, anyone who’s from there is allowed to return, and may their god Yahweh be with them and help them.

OET-LV CH2 36:22

22 And_in_year _of one to/for_Kōresh/(Coresh/Cyrus) the _king _of Pāraş to_fulfill the _message _of YHWH by_the _mouth _of Yirmə^yāh YHWH he _stirred _up DOM the _spirit _of Kōresh/(Cyrus/Kōresh) the _king _of Pāraş and_he _caused _to _pass a _proclamation in_all his/its_kingdom and_also in_writing to_say.

OET-LV CH2 36:23

23 Thus he _says Kōresh the _king _of Pāraş all _of the _kingdoms _of the_earth/land he _has _given to_me YHWH the _god _of the_heavens and_he he _has _appointed (on)_me to_build to_him/it a _house in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) which is_in_Yəhūdāh/(Judah) who is_among_you(pl) from_all people _of_his YHWH his/its_god with_him/it and_let _him _go _up.

EZR 1:1–3: RV EZR 1:1–3 · LV EZR 1:1–3 · Read together EZR 1:1–3

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OET-RV EZR 1:1

1 In the first year that Koresh (Cyrus) was king of Paras (Persia), Yahweh stirred up his spirit in order to fulfil what he’d spoken through the prophet Yirmiyah (Jeremiah). So the king distributed an official written notice throughout his kingdom, saying,

OET-RV EZR 1:2

2 “Koresh, king of Paras, declares this: Yahweh, the god of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms in the world, and he’s appointed me to build a residence for him in Yerushalem (Jerusalem) in Yehudah (Judah).

OET-RV EZR 1:3

3 Anyone among you who’s one of his followers is free to go to Yerushalem (in Yehudah) to help build a temple there for Yisrael’s (Israel) god Yahweh—the god of Yerushalem. May God go with you.

OET-LV EZR 1:1

1 And_in_year _of one to/for_Kōresh/(Coresh/Cyrus) the _king _of Pāraş to_fulfill the _message _of YHWH from_the _mouth _of Yirmə^yāh/(Jeremiah) YHWH he _stirred _up DOM the _spirit _of Kōresh/(Cyrus/Kōresh) the _king _of Pāraş and_he _caused _to _pass a _proclamation in_all his/its_kingdom and_also in_writing to_say.

OET-LV EZR 1:2

2 Thus Kōresh the _king _of Pāraş he _says all _of the _kingdoms _of the_earth/land he _has _given to_me YHWH the _god _of the_heavens and_he he _has _appointed (on)_me to_build to_him/it a _house in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) which is_in_Yəhūdāh/(Judah).

OET-LV EZR 1:3

3 Who is_among_you(pl) from_all people _of_his may _he _be his/its_god with_him/it and_let _him _go _up to_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) which is_in_Yəhūdāh and_let _him _build DOM the _house _of YHWH the _god _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he the_ʼElohīm who is_in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem).

EZR 6:2–5: RV EZR 6:2–5 · LV EZR 6:2–5 · Read together EZR 6:2–5

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OET-RV EZR 6:2

2 and one scroll was found in the fortress at Ahmeta in the province of Maday (Media), and this record had been made:

OET-RV EZR 6:3

3 “In year one of Koresh (Cyrus) the king, he made a decree about the house of God in Yerushalem (Jerusalem):
§ ‘Let the house be built in the same place where sacrifices were made. Establish its foundations and build it 27m high and 27m wide

OET-RV EZR 6:4

4 with three layers of large stones and a layer of new timber. That should all be paid for from the royal treasury.

OET-RV EZR 6:5

5 Also, the gold and silver containers from the house of God that Nevukadnetsar (Nebuchadnezzar) had taken out from the Yerushalem temple and had brought to Bavel, must be returned to their places in the temple in Yerushalem. So you must put them in the house of God.’ ”

OET-LV EZR 6:2

2 And_it _was _found in_ʼAḩmətāʼ in_the_citadel which is_in_Māday the_province a _scroll one and_thus/so/as _follows it _was _written in_midst _of_its (the)_memorandum.

OET-LV EZR 6:3

3 In_year one to/for_Kōresh/(Coresh/Cyrus) Oh/the_king Kōresh/(Cyrus/Kōresh) Oh/the_king he _made a _decree the _house _of the_god in_Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) the_house let _it _be _built a _place which they_were_sacrificing sacrifices and_foundations _of_its be_retained height _of_its cubits sixty width _of_its cubits sixty.

OET-LV EZR 6:4

4 Rows of stone _of rolling three and_a _row of timber new and_the_expense from the _house _of Oh/the_king let _it _be _given.

OET-LV EZR 6:5

5 And_also the _vessels _of the _house _of the_god of (the)_gold and_(the)_silver which Nəⱱūkadneʦʦar he _brought _out from the_temple which was_in_Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) and_he _carried to_Bāⱱel let _them _send _back and_let _it _go to_the_temple which is_in_Yərūshelēm/(Jerusalem) to_place _of_its and_you _will _deposit_them in_house _of the_god.

During excavations (1879–82) at Babylon, archaeologist Hormuzd Rassam discovered a clay barrel inscription on which Cyrus told of taking the city and of his resulting policies. Isaiah and Chronicles reflect the content of the inscription, which says that captured peoples were allowed to return home and build sanctuaries to their own gods.

Nothing is known about the death of Cyrus. Accounts that have been preserved make it clear that he was killed in battle, but the statements are conflicting. Probably the Greek historian Herodotus is right in indicating that Cyrus died in a terrible disaster that destroyed the Persian army fighting the Massagetae. The tomb of Cyrus can still be seen at Pasargadae in Iran.