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Cyrus


Si´ruhs

II, a Persian emperor and founder of the Achaemenid dynasty (ruled Babylonia 539–530 BCE). His name occurs twenty-two times in the Bible, in the books of Daniel, Ezra, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah. Cyrus’s military victories put him in possession of the largest empire the world at that time had yet seen. His policy toward the peoples of his empire was one of tolerance and understanding, as indicated by his authorization of the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple by returning Judeans (end of 2 Chronicles). (Isa 45:1-3) speaks with enthusiasm of Cyrus as the anointed one (messiah) of the Lord.

  • Powell, Mark Allan, ed. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Abridged Edition. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009.