King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Koresh king of Persia had Mitr'dat the treasurer bring them out and make an inventory of them for Sheshbatzar the prince of Y'hudah.
Berean Standard Bible:
Cyrus king of Persia had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
American Standard Version:
even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Even those did Cyrus{H3566} king{H4428} of Persia{H6539} bring forth{H3318} by the hand{H3027} of Mithredath{H4990} the treasurer{H1489}, and numbered{H5608} them unto Sheshbazzar{H8339}, the prince{H5387} of Judah{H3063}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezra 5:14
- And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto [one], whose name [was] Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
Ezra 5:16
- Then came the same Sheshbazzar, [and] laid the foundation of the house of God which [is] in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and [yet] it is not finished.
Haggai 2:2
- Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
Haggai 2:4
- Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I [am] with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
Ezra 1:11
- All the vessels of gold and of silver [were] five thousand and four hundred. All [these] did Sheshbazzar bring up with [them of] the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.
Haggai 1:1
- ¶ In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
Zechariah 4:6
- Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
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Commentary for Ezra 1:8
Ezra 1:8 is a verse that captures a pivotal moment in the history of the Jewish people, reflecting the broader themes of restoration and divine providence. This verse is set shortly after the fall of the Babylonian Empire, which had destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, leading to the exile of many Jews to Babylon. The Persian king, Cyrus the Great, conquered Babylon in 539 BCE and subsequently issued a decree allowing the exiled Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, as mentioned earlier in Ezra 1:1-4.
In Ezra 1:8, the verse specifically mentions Cyrus king of Persia and his role in the return of the Temple vessels that had been taken by the Babylonians when they looted the Temple in Jerusalem. These sacred items are being brought out by the hand of Mithredath, who is identified as the treasurer, and are entrusted to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. Sheshbazzar is likely another name for Zerubbabel, who was a leader of the returning exiles and played a significant role in the rebuilding of the Temple.
The historical context of this verse is the beginning of the Persian period, a time when the policies of Cyrus allowed for the repatriation and religious freedom of subject peoples, which was a remarkable shift from the oppressive policies of previous empires. The verse underscores the fulfillment of prophecy (as foretold by Jeremiah and Isaiah) and the role of foreign kings in God's plan for His people. It also highlights the administrative precision of the Persian Empire, with its meticulous accounting of the returned items, and the careful orchestration of the return under the oversight of Persian officials.
The themes present in Ezra 1:8 include God's sovereignty over nations and history, the restoration of His people to their land and religious practices, and the beginning of the process of rebuilding what had been lost. The verse reflects the hope and promise of renewal for a people who had experienced devastating loss and exile, and it sets the stage for the narrative of rebuilding and return that continues throughout the book of Ezra.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3566
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כּוֹרֶשׁ
Transliteration: Kôwresh
Pronunciation: ko'-resh
Description: or (Ezra 1:1 (last time),2) כֹּרֶשׁ; from the Persians; Koresh (or Cyrus), the Persian king; Cyrus. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H6539
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּרַס
Transliteration: Pâraç
Pronunciation: paw-ras'
Description: of foreign origin; Paras (i.e. Persia), an Eastern country, including its inhabitants; Persia, Persians. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. - Strong's Number: H4990
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִתְרְדָת
Transliteration: Mithrᵉdâth
Pronunciation: mith-red-awth'
Description: of Persian origin; Mithredath, the name of two Persians; Mithredath. - Strong's Number: H1489
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גִּזְבָּר
Transliteration: gizbâr
Pronunciation: ghiz-bawr'
Description: of foreign derivation; treasurer; treasurer. - Strong's Number: H5608
There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָפַר
Transliteration: çâphar
Pronunciation: saw-far'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate; commune, (ac-) count; declare, number, [phrase] penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer. - Strong's Number: H8339
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּר
Transliteration: Shêshᵉbatstsar
Pronunciation: shaysh-bats-tsar'
Description: of foreign derivation; Sheshbatstsar, Zerubbabel's Persian name; Sheshbazzar. - Strong's Number: H5387
There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשִׂיא
Transliteration: nâsîyʼ
Pronunciation: naw-see'
Description: or נָשִׂא; from נָשָׂא; properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist; captain, chief, cloud, governor, prince, ruler, vapour. - Strong's Number: H3063
There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוּדָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah.