Ezra 5:13
What does Ezra 5:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezra 5:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezra 5:13 means
They state the pivotal fact: in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, a royal decree authorized rebuilding God’s house. This moves the discussion from theology to law. The empire is not being asked to accept a mere religious claim but to honor a binding edict issued by a recognized king. The mention of Cyrus’s first year indicates that the rebuild was intended from the beginning of the return. This appeal to a written decree provides the legal backbone for their work and invites verification in the royal archives.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But in the first year of Cyrus, king of Babylon, Cyrus the king gave an order for the building of this house of God;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, king Cyrus set forth a decree, that this house of God should be built.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, king Cyrus gave orders to build this house ofGod.
Context
After acknowledging God’s judgment (verse 12), the elders now turn to legal authority. Verse 13 introduces Cyrus’s decree, which the following verses will substantiate with details about the temple vessels and the appointment of Sheshbazzar (verses 14–15). The narrative builds a careful case that the current efforts are a continuation of an authorized imperial policy.
v.12But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
v.13This passage
v.14And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought 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;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezra 6:3
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;
- Isaiah 44:28
That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
- Ezra 1:1
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, andput italso in writing, saying,