In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; with its height sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits; with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everything to its place. You shall put them in God’s house.
Parallel Translations
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In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; with its height sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits;
with three courses of great stones and a course of new timber. Let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everything to its place. You shall put them in God’s house.
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In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:
And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
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In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
with three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber, and let the expenses be given out of the king's house;
and also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought back unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place, and thou shalt put them in the house of God.'
Cross-references (29)
- 1 Kings 6:36 (v4) He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and a course of cedar beams.
- Ezra 5:14 (v5) The gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple…
- Daniel 5:2 (v5) Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded that the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the…
- 2 Kings 25:14-15 (v5) They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze with which they ministered. The captain of…
- 2 Chronicles 36:6-7 (v5) Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of…
Show all 29 cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 36:22 (v3) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the…
- Jeremiah 27:16 (v5) Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, Yahweh says, “Don’t listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you,…
- Revelation 21:16 (v3) The city is square, and its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length,…
- 2 Kings 24:13 (v5) He carried out from there all the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of…
- 2 Chronicles 36:10 (v5) At the return of the year, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of Yahweh’s house, and made…
- Psalms 68:29 (v4) Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you.
- Jeremiah 27:18-22 (v5) But if they are prophets, and if Yahweh’s word is with them, let them now make intercession to Yahweh of Armies, that the vessels which are…
- Jeremiah 52:19 (v5) The captain of the guard took away the cups, the fire pans, the basins, the pots, the lamp stands, the spoons, and the bowls; that which…
- Deuteronomy 12:5-6 (v3) But to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, you shall seek his habitation, and you…
- 1 Kings 6:2-3 (v3) The house which king Solomon built for Yahweh had a length of sixty cubits, and its width twenty, and its height thirty cubits. The porch…
- 2 Chronicles 2:6 (v3) But who is able to build him a house, since heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him a…
- 2 Chronicles 3:3-4 (v3) Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of God’s house. The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty…
- Ezra 1:7-8 (v5) Also Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of Yahweh’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house…
- Ezra 5:13-15 (v3) But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. The gold and silver vessels of…
- Ezra 7:20-23 (v4) Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house. I,…
- Psalms 72:10 (v4) The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
- Psalms 122:4 (v3) where the tribes go up, even Yah’s tribes, according to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to Yahweh’s name.
- Isaiah 49:23 (v4) Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and…
- Isaiah 60:6-10 (v4) A multitude of camels will cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense,…
- Ezekiel 41:13-15 (v3) So he measured the house, one hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with its walls, one hundred cubits long; also…
- Daniel 1:2 (v5) The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of…
- Revelation 12:16 (v4) The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth.
- Deuteronomy 12:11-14 (v3) then it shall happen that to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there you shall bring all that…
- 2 Chronicles 36:18 (v5) All the vessels of God’s house, great and small, and the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes,…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv4–5 Or, Marble.
Or, Marble.
Or, rows, or courses.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv3–5 Ezr 6:3 In the first year of Cyrus the…
Ezr 6:3 In the first year of Cyrus the king [the same] Cyrus the king made a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
Ver. 3. The height thereof threescore cubits] Yet was it less than Solomon’s temple, Hag 2:3 Ezr 3:12. Solomon’s cubits therefore were longer (likely) than these here mentioned.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv3–5 He did not command them to make it so…
He did not command them to make it so large, for he left the ordering of the proportions of the building to their skill and choice; but he restrained them that they should make it no larger, lest they should hereafter make use of it to other purposes against himself: but those proportions differ much from those of Solomon’s temple, which was but thirty cubits high, only the porch was one hundred and twenty cubits high, and but twenty cubits in breadth. Either therefore Solomon’s cubits were sacred cubits, which were larger than the other, and these were but common cubits; or the sixty cubits of height are meant only of the porch, which he would not have to be so high and magnificent as that of Solomon’s was, lest they should be puffed up with it, and by degrees arrive at their former height and insolence. And the word rendered
breadth, may be, and is by some, rendered more generally, the extension, or amplitude, or the length of it; it being improbable that the king should give orders about the breadth, and none about the length of it.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv3–5 In the first year of Cyrus the king; the…
In the first year of Cyrus the king; the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded,.... See Ezr 1:1,
the place where they offered sacrifices; to God in times past, ever since it was built by Solomon:
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and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; so as to bear and support the building erected on them, as the word signifies:
the height thereof sixty cubits; which were thirty more than the height of Solomon's temple, Kg1 6:2 though sixty less than the height of the porch, which was one hundred and twenty, Ch2 3:4 and which some take to be the height of the whole house; and hence it may be observed what Herod said (y), that the temple then in being wanted sixty cubits in height of that of Solomon's:
and the breadth thereof sixty cubits; whereas the breadth of Solomon's temple was but twenty, Kg1 6:2, but since it cannot reasonably be thought that the breadth should be equal to the height, and so very disproportionate to Solomon's temple; many learned men understand this of the extension of it as to length, which exactly agrees with the length of the former temple, Kg1 6:2.
(y) Apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 15. c. 11. sect. 1.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v3 Cubits - Those proportions differ from those of Solomon's…
Cubits - Those proportions differ from those of Solomon's temple, which was but thirty cubits high, only the porch was a hundred and twenty cubits high, and but twenty cubits in breadth. Either therefore Solomon's cubits were sacred cubits, which were larger than the other, and these but common cubits. Or, the sixty cubits of height are meant only for the porch. And the word rendered breadth, may be rendered the extension or the length of it; it being improbable that the king should give orders about the breadth, and none about the length of it.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv3–4 Verse 3. The height thereof threescore cubits] This was…
Verse 3. The height thereof threescore cubits] This was much larger than the temple of Solomon. This was sixty cubits high, and sixty cubits broad; whereas Solomon's was only twenty cubits broad, and thirty cubits high.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv3, 5 Ezr 6:3. The height thereof threescore cubits — These…
Ezr 6:3. The height thereof threescore cubits — These proportions differ from those of Solomon’s temple, which was but thirty cubits high, only the porch was a hundred and twenty cubits high, and but twenty cubits in breadth. Either therefore Solomon’s cubits were sacred cubits, which were larger than the other, and these but common cubits; or, the sixty cubits of height are meant only for the porch. And the word rendered breadth, should be rendered the extension or the length of it; it being improbable that the king should give orders about the breadth, and none about the length of it.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv3–4 It is difficult to reconcile the dimentions here with…
It is difficult to reconcile the dimentions here with expressions in Zechariah Zec 4:10, Haggai Hag 2:3, and even Ezra Ezr 3:12, which imply that the second temple was smaller than the first (compare 1Ki 6:2). Perhaps the dimensions here are those which Cyrus required the Jews not to exceed.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv3–5 And....foundations is not found in Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic,…
And....foundations is not found in Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic, but it is in Chaldean. The temple was thus of larger dimensions than that of Solomon, which was only 30 cubits high, and 20 broad inside, 3 Kings vi. 2. The Rabbins assign 100 for each, (Tr. Middot. iv. 6.) speaking perhaps of the temple rebuilt by Herod, with still greater magnificence. Josephus allows 100 in height, and 60 in breadth. But the Scripture only speaks of 54 cubits breadeth, and 99 in length including the adjoining edifices. (Calmet) --- Breadth, from the front to the end of the holy of holies, which we should call the length. (Tirinus) --- This temple was lower than Solomon’s by one half, (2 Paralipomenon iii. 4.; Menochius) unless those 120 cubits refer only to a tower. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. Be strongly laid — Gesenius and Furst render,…
3. Be strongly laid — Gesenius and Furst render, be erected, or set up.
Height… breadth… threescore cubits — These proportions differ from those of Solomon’s temple, the height of which was thirty cubits, and its breadth twenty, while only its length was threescore, or sixty cubits. See 1Ki_6:2. But we need not suppose that this record of Cyrus contained the exact measures which were followed in the rebuilding of the temple. Even had he commanded that the building be made of this size, it does not follow that the Jews were careful to observe this part of his orders. Or it may be these numbers are faulty, having been taken down from the indistinct remembrance or careless copying of some Persian scribe, for this record has the appearance of being not a copy of Cyrus’s proclamation to the Jews, but a document prepared by the royal scribe or recorder as a part of the chronicles or annals of Cyrus, to be deposited among the archives of the empire. At any rate, these numbers are not an authoritative guide to estimate the size of the second temple.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. the same Cyrus the king] R.V. Cyrus the…
3. the same Cyrus the king] R.V. Cyrus the king. See Ezr_5:13.
made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let &c.] R.V. made a decree; concerning &c., let &c. The words ‘concerning the house of God at Jerusalem’ form a kind of heading to the memorandum, of which what follows is a transcript.
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where they offered sacrifices] R.V. where they offer sacrifices.
and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid] The meaning of these words in the original is very uncertain They have been variously rendered, (1) ‘and let them set up its foundations’ (active), (2) ‘And let its foundations be set up’ (passive): but neither rendering gives any fresh idea to the preceding clause. (3) The rendering of the A.V. and R.V. ‘let the foundations thereof be strongly laid’ (whether passive, i.e. heavily weighted, or active, i.e. capable of bearing heavy weights), gives a fair sense, the emphasis resting upon the substantial character of the building. It may be doubted whether the text is correct. The transition from this clause to the description of the height and breadth of the building (the length being omitted) is abrupt and awkward.
The rendering of the versions shows the difficulty which the words occasioned and possibly the uncertainty of the text at a very early period. LXX. καὶ ἔθηκαν ἔπαρμα. Vulg. ‘ponant fundamenta supportantia’. 1Es_6:24 ‘With continual fire’ διὰ πυρὸς ἐνδελεχοῦς.
the height thereof, &c.] In view of the uncertainty of the text, it is doubtful whether we can rely upon these statements of dimensions, especially as the length is not specified. Solomon’s temple is described in 1Ki_6:2 as 60 cubits long, 20 broad, and 30 high. Here the temple is to be 60 cubits high and 60 broad. Josephus who, speaking of Zerubbabel’s temple, describes its height as 60 cubits less than that of Solomon’s temple, is clearly comparing the passage in 2Ch_3:4, where the porch of Solomon’s temple is said to be 120 cubits in height, with the statement of our verse. If the dimensions here given are correct, the second temple in breadth and height was much larger than the first. The comparison in respect of size could hardly account for the disparaging criticism of certain Jews alluded to in Zec_4:10; Hag_2:3. The view that the present verse does not give the actual dimensions but only the extreme limits to which the plan might be followed is too obviously an attempt to escape the difficulty to be at all a probable explanation.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv3, 5 (3) Strongly laid.—“Thy foundation shall be laid” (Isa_44:28). The…
(3) Strongly laid.—“Thy foundation shall be laid” (Isa_44:28). The decree adds a word that signifies “with sufficient support.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv3–5 Let the house be builded, the place where they…
Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifice. Or, "the place where they may offer sacrifice." It is the future, rather than the past, which Cyrus is contemplating. Let the foundation thereof be strongly laid. Isaiah had prophesied that Cyrus should "say to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be. (Isa_44:28) Cyrus adds an injunction that the foundations be laid "supportingly," or "strongly," that so the house may the longer continue. The height thereof threescore cubits. Half the height of the first temple, according to the existing text of Chronicles; (2Ch_3:4) but one-third more than the previous height, as estimated by the author of Kings. (1Ki_6:2) And the breadth thereof threescore cubits. This breadth is thrice that of the main building, according to both Chronicles and Kings. It is even double that of the old temple, with the side chambers, which occupied a space of five cubits, or seven and a half feet, on either wing. That such an enlargement actually took effect would seem to be most improbable; and we may perhaps conclude that Cyrus designed a building on a grander scale than Zerubbabel, with the resources at his disposal, was able to erect. It is curious that Cyrus did not in his decree specify the length of the temple.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v4 And let the expenses be given out of the…
Ezr_6:4
And let the expenses be given out of the kings house.
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A believers expenses
I. What are our expenses? The expenses referred to in the text are those connected with the return of the Jews to their own land, the rebuilding of the temple and its continual sacrifices.
1. Our release from the thraldom of sin involved enormous expenditure (1Pe_1:18-19).
2. The important steps of public profession of faith in Christ, and of union with His Church, need peculiar supplies of grace.
3. There is much new material to be built up in our habits and life.
4. Our bodies being temples of the Holy Ghost, every physical power and every mental faculty should be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Masters use.
5. Our hearts are altars whereon should be offered the sacrifices of worship and praise.
II. Where shall we find means to meet these expenses?
1. The Word of Gods truth.
2. The throne of His grace.
3. The fellowship of His people.
4. The dispensation of His providence.
5. The opposition of His foes.
The Persian monarch was naturally Israels enemy, yet God arranges that he shall pay Israels expenses. Even the lions we may meet shall supply sweet honey for our nourishment and refreshment.
6. The work of Christ (Php_4:19).
III. How shall we act in the presence of such abundance?
1. We need not be afraid of exhausting Heavens treasures.
2. We dare not be slow in availing ourselves of these supplies.
3. We cannot help wondering at the goodness of the King.
4. We will not forget to express our gratitude to the King.
5. We must not be so selfish as to hide these glad tidings. (R. S. Latimer.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v3 General Information:
General Information:
This begins the record of King Cyrus's command that the Jews rebuild God's temple in Jerusalem.
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In the first year of King Cyrus
It can be stated clearly that this is the first year of his reign. AT: "In year 1 of the reign of King Cyrus" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Numbers)
Let the house be rebuilt
This can be stated in active form. AT: "Let the Jews rebuild the house" or "The Jews must rebuild the house" (See: Active or Passive)
sixty cubits
"60 cubits." You may convert this to a modern measure. AT: "twenty-seven meters" (See: Numbers and Biblical Distance)
cubits, with three rows of large stones and a row of new timber
This can be stated as a new sentence. Possible meanings are 1) this describes how to build the foundation. AT: "cubits. Build the foundation on three layers of large stones covered with one layer of timber" or 2) this describes how to build the walls. AT: "cubits. Build the house's walls with three layers of large stones alternating with one layer of timber" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
let the cost be paid by the king's house
The phrase "the king's house" represents King Cyrus's own wealth in the royal treasury. This can be stated in active form. AT: "I will pay for it with money from the royal treasury" (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)
translationWords
king
Cyrus
decree
house of God
Jerusalem
sacrifice
gold
silver
Nebuchadnezzar
temple
Babylon
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv3–4 6:3 This decree is recorded in Ezra 1:2-4. •…
6:3 This decree is recorded in Ezra 1:2-4. • The Temple’s height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet: The emendations given in the NLT textual note would make these measurements match those of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kgs 6:2, 17, 20). But the larger measurements given here might represent the maximum size that the Persians would fund.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.