Ezra 6:3 (KJV)

What does Ezra 6:3 mean?

Ezra 6:3 records that in the first year of his reign, King Cyrus of Persia issued an official decree allowing the rebuilding of the temple of God in Jerusalem, specifying that its foundations should be strong and its dimensions sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide. This decree marks a turning point, as it grants the Jewish people permission and authority to restore their central place of worship after years of exile.

In this verse, the Persian king Cyrus is the speaker, and he is addressing his officials and the people under his rule, including the Jews who had been exiled from Jerusalem. The situation is the restoration of the temple, which had been destroyed decades earlier. The verse emphasizes both the authority of the decree and the importance of the temple as a place for sacrifices, highlighting the seriousness and generosity of Cyrus’s command.

The Aramaic behind Ezra 6:3

• "Decree" (טְעֵם, te‘em): This word means an official order or command. Its use here underlines that Cyrus’s statement was not just a suggestion but a binding royal edict with legal force.
• "House" (בַּיִת, bayit): This term refers specifically to the temple as the dwelling place of God, not just any building. It stresses the religious significance of the structure being rebuilt.
• "Foundations" (אֲשָׁתּוֹהִי, ashtuhi): This word points to the base or groundwork of the temple, and the instruction to lay them "strongly" shows the intent for a lasting, stable structure.
• "Threescore cubits" (שִׁתִּין, shittin; אַמָּה, ammah): "Threescore" means sixty, and "cubits" is a unit of length. The specific dimensions show the temple was meant to be a large, impressive building.

Why Ezra 6:3 matters

• Ezra 6:3 clarifies that the rebuilding of the temple was not just a local Jewish initiative but was authorized by the highest authority in the Persian Empire, giving the project legitimacy and protection.
• The verse highlights Cyrus’s respect for the God of Israel and his willingness to support the restoration of Jewish worship, which is significant in the broader biblical narrative of return from exile.
• The detailed instructions about the temple’s size and strength show that the restoration was intended to be a full, dignified rebuilding, not a mere token gesture.