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,
2 CHRONICLES 36:22KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 36:22 mean?
2 Chronicles 36:22 describes how, in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, God moved Cyrus to make a proclamation allowing the Jewish people to return to their land, fulfilling a promise spoken earlier by the prophet Jeremiah. This verse shows that God influenced a foreign king to accomplish His word.
The verse is set at the end of the Babylonian exile, after Jerusalem had been destroyed and many Jews had lived in captivity for decades. The writer explains that God "stirred up the spirit" of Cyrus, meaning God prompted or motivated Cyrus to act. This action fulfilled what Jeremiah had prophesied about the end of the exile and the return of the people to rebuild Jerusalem.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 36:22
- "Stirred up" (עָרָה,
ʿarah): This word means to awaken or rouse. Here, it shows that Cyrus’s decision was not just political but was prompted by God’s direct influence on his inner thoughts or spirit. - "Spirit" (רוּחַ, ruach): This word can mean wind, breath, or spirit. In this context, it refers to Cyrus’s inner being or motivation, highlighting that God can move even the hearts of powerful rulers.
- "Proclamation" (עָבַר,
avar; קוֹל, qol): The text uses two words for proclamation—one meaning to pass through or circulate (suggesting the message spread widely), and the other meaning voice or sound (indicating a public announcement). This emphasizes that Cyrus’s decree was both widespread and official. - "Accomplished" (כָּלָה, kalah): This word means to complete or fulfill. The verse stresses that God’s promise through Jeremiah was not forgotten but brought to completion through these events.
Why 2 Chronicles 36:22 matters
- This verse clarifies that the return from exile was not just a political event but was seen as a direct fulfillment of God’s promise, showing God’s control over history and rulers.
- It highlights the connection between prophecy and its fulfillment, linking Jeremiah’s earlier words to real historical events.
- The verse sets the stage for the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, which describe the actual return and rebuilding, making it a key transition point in the story of Israel.