Keraia
Ezra 6

Ezra 6:3

The Decree of Darius · Ezra 6:1–12
Read Ezra 6

Translations

Modern
In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide,
Traditional
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;
Literal
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree about the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid—its height sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits,
Latin
Anno primo Cyri regis, Cyrus rex decrevit ut domus Dei ædificaretur, quæ est in Jerusalem, in loco ubi immolent hostias, et ut ponant fundamenta supportantia altitudinem cubitorum sexaginta, et latitudinem cubitorum sexaginta,

Original

Hebrew
English
In the first year of King Cyrus, he issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem: Let the house be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices, and let its foundations be firmly laid. It is to be sixty cubits high and sixty cubits wide,

Notes

Ezra 6:3

  • This decree is recorded in Ezra 1:2–4.

  • The temple will be ninety feet high and ninety feet wide. The changes suggested in the New Living Translation note would align these measurements with Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:2, 17, 20). However, the larger measurements here might show the maximum size the Persians would finance.

Theme notes and profiles

The Medes and Persians Zerubbabel

Measurements

  • sixty cubits wide: About 90 ft (27.4 m)

People

Cyrus: Persian Emperor who decreed the rebuilding of the Temple

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Aramaic Book of Ezra Book of Jeremiah Cyrus the Great Darius Ecbatana First Book of Esdras Haggai, Book of Postexilic Period Sheshbazzar Temple

Topics

Church and State: State Favorable to Religion: Darius, in his Edict Furthering the Restoration of the Temple Cities: Built: On Solid Foundations Cyrus: Issues a Decree for the Emancipation of the Jews and Rebuilding the Temple Foundation: Strongly Laid House: Architecture of Foundations of Stone Kings: should Promote the Interests of the Church Liberality: Cyrus Persia: Cyrus Prophecies Concerning Israel: Captivity of Proclamation Renewed by Darius and Artaxerxes Rulers: Righteous: Darius, in Advancing the Rebuilding of the Temple Temple: The Second: Restored by Zerubbabel the Second Temple: Built on the Site of the First Temple the Second Temple: Cyrus: Gave a Decree for Building, in the First Year of his Reign the Second Temple: Its Dimensions