This decree isn't just about rebuilding; it highlights the crucial role of the place where sacrifices were offered, emphasizing that its purpose is tied to future worship, not just past glory. The specific dimensions given, a striking 60x60 cubits, suggest a grandeur that may have been aspirational, perhaps even exceeding the original temple's main structure, pointing towards a renewed and expanded significance for God's dwelling place.
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This decree from Cyrus, which is actually found in Ezra 6:3-5, marks a pivotal moment after the initial decree in Ezra 1. The initial decree allowed the exiled Jews to return and rebuild the Temple, but the work was stalled by opposition from neighboring peoples and bureaucratic hurdles. This specific passage details revised instructions, potentially from later investigation or a more formal order, that seem to expand upon or clarify the original plan for the Temple's construction.
How can the decree of a pagan king fulfill ancient prophecy? Ezra 6:3 reveals a powerful truth about God's sovereignty.
It’s easy to see Cyrus as just another king, but his decree here is monumental.
A Prophetic Echo
Isaiah, centuries before, spoke of a king named Cyrus who would command the rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple (Isaiah 44:28). This wasn't a guess; it was God orchestrating events long before they happened. Cyrus, likely unaware of Isaiah's prophecy, was simply acting according to his own political and administrative reasoning, yet his actions perfectly aligned with God's plan.
God's Purpose in Human Action
This shows us that God's purposes are not dependent on human understanding or devotion. He can use anyone, even those who don't know Him, to accomplish His will. Cyrus's decree wasn't born out of religious fervor, but it still served the sacred purpose of restoring God's house, including specifying strong foundations and impressive dimensions.
The decree mentions 'strong foundations' and impressive dimensions. What does this tell us about the vision for God's house?
The instructions in Ezra 6:3 go beyond just a simple rebuilding. They speak to the nature and scale of God's restored dwelling place.
Laying a Solid Base
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The command to 'let its foundations be strongly laid' is critical. This isn't just about physical support; it symbolizes the need for a secure and robust spiritual foundation for worship and community. A building intended for God’s glory needs to be built on truth and integrity.
Ambitious Proportions
The specified dimensions—sixty cubits high and sixty cubits broad—are noteworthy. While scholars debate the exact cubit measurement and how it compares to Solomon's temple, the intent is clear: this was to be a substantial and impressive structure. It reflects a vision for a restored and even grander house of God, signaling a significant new phase in God's relationship with His people after the exile.
Understand the original words
bayit · Aramaic Noun
A dwelling place for the Divine presence. It represents the focal point of God's covenantal relationship with His people and the place where His holiness resides among them.
debakh · Aramaic Noun
Religious acts of devotion or propitiation, typically involving the killing of an animal, meant to maintain communion with God or provide atonement for sin. In the Old Testament, these were central to the worship prescribed by the Mosaic Law.
’ushshayya’ · Aramaic Noun
The foundational structure or bedrock upon which a building is constructed. Metaphorically and literally, it signifies stability, endurance, and the necessary basis for the spiritual life or community of faith.
The decree by Cyrus to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, mentioned in this verse, comes after decades of exile and destruction, offering a powerful message of restoration and hope for the Jewish people. The specified dimensions suggest a grander vision for the Second Temple than was ultimately realized with the available resources.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquer Jerusalem, destroy the city and the First Temple, and deport many Judeans. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, overthrows the Babylonian Empire, bringing a new era of rule to the region.
538 BC— this verse
Cyrus's Edict Allowing Return and Rebuilding
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the exiled Judeans to return to their homeland and rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem. This decree is a turning point for the Jewish people.
c. 537 BC
First Return of Exiles to Jerusalem
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, a significant number of Judeans return to Jerusalem, beginning the process of rebuilding their community and the Temple.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
After considerable delays and opposition, the Second Temple is finally completed and dedicated, marking a significant milestone in the restoration of Jewish worship.
This passage directly links Cyrus to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the laying of the temple's foundation, echoing Ezra's decree and emphasizing God's sovereign use of him.
2 Chronicles 3:4This verse describes the dimensions of Solomon's temple porch, providing a significant contrast to the dimensions mentioned for the rebuilt temple in Ezra, highlighting the ambitious scale of the new project or differing interpretations of the text.
Zechariah 4:10This verse speaks to the 'day of small things' and the joy of seeing the foundation stone laid, offering a powerful spiritual parallel to the physical laying of the foundations described in Ezra, even when the new structure's scale is debated.
Ezra 1:1-4This passage details the initial decree by Cyrus, setting the stage for Ezra 6 and showing the overarching divine plan that initiated the rebuilding process, underscoring God's faithfulness to His people.
clarkeEzra 6:3: "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;"
The height thereof threescore cubits - This was much larger than the temple of Solomon. This was sixty cubits high, and sixty cubits broad; whereas Solomon's was only twenty…
henryEzra 6:1-12: "Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon."
6:1-12 When God's time is come for fulfilling his gracious purposes concerning his church, he will raise up instruments to do it, from whom such good service was not expected. While our thoughts are directed to this event, we are led by Zechariah to fix our regard on a nobler, a spiritual building. The Lord Jesus Christ continues to lay one stone upon an…
This decree isn't just about rebuilding; it highlights the crucial role of the place where sacrifices were offered, emphasizing that its purpose is tied to future worship, not just past glory. The specific dimensions given, a striking 60x60 cubits, suggest a grandeur that may have been aspirational, perhaps even exceeding the original temple's main structure, pointing towards a renewed and expanded significance for God's dwelling place.
This decree from Cyrus, which is actually found in Ezra 6:3-5, marks a pivotal moment after the initial decree in Ezra 1. The initial decree allowed the exiled Jews to return and rebuild the Temple, but the work was stalled by opposition from neighboring peoples and bureaucratic hurdles. This specific passage details revised instructions, potentially from later investigation or a more formal order, that seem to expand upon or clarify the original plan for the Temple's construction.
This decree from Cyrus, which is actually found in Ezra 6:3-5, marks a pivotal moment after the initial decree in Ezra 1. The initial decree allowed the exiled Jews to return and rebuild the Temple, but the work was stalled by opposition from neighboring peoples and bureaucratic hurdles. This specific passage details revised instructions, potentially from later investigation or a more formal order, that seem to expand upon or clarify the original plan for the Temple's construction.
"In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixt…" — This decree isn't just about rebuilding; it highlights the crucial role of the place where sacrifices were offered, emphasizing that its purpose is tied to future worship, not just past glory. The…
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Last reviewed October 2026
