Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 36:23
“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. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Cyrus king of Persia issues a royal proclamation in his first regnal year, addressing the Jewish exiles within his empire. The decree follows divine stirring that compels him to authorize the return of God's people to Judah.
The words — The opening כֹּה־ (koh-) translates literally as "thus," serving as a formal marker for an official edict. The term מַמְלְכ֤וֹת (mam.le.Khot) means "kingdoms," stating Cyrus's claim that the God of heaven granted him universal political authority.
The thread — This proclamation parallels the decree in Ezra 7:13 regarding Israelite volunteers in the Persian kingdom. It also fulfills the pattern described in Isaiah 44:26, where God confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers.
Why it lands — The text directs eligible members of God's people to travel to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. It requires readers to acknowledge that historical movements and political power operate under explicit divine appointment rather than independent human ambition.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.
Cross-references
- Ezra 7:13 I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem.
- Psalms 75:5 Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak with an outstretched neck.’”
- Isaiah 44:26 who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’
- Daniel 2:21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
- Daniel 2:37 You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory.
- Daniel 4:35 All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
- Daniel 5:23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.
- Zechariah 2:6 “Get up! Get up! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD.
- Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 1 Chronicles 22:16 in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and may the LORD be with you.”