What does Ezra 6:3 mean?

"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;" - Ezra 6:3

Ezra 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;"

Ezra 6:3 (KJV) states, "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."

This verse is part of a decree issued by King Cyrus of Persia, allowing the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The historical context of this verse is crucial in understanding its significance. The Jewish people had been exiled in Babylon for 70 years, as a punishment for their disobedience to God. However, God moved the heart of King Cyrus to issue a decree allowing the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple. This act of mercy and kindness by the Persian ruler is a testament to God's sovereignty and his ability to work through even the most powerful and unlikely of leaders.

The theme of restoration is central to this verse. The Jewish people were given the opportunity to restore their place of worship and rebuild their spiritual life. This act of rebuilding the temple was not just a physical reconstruction, but also a spiritual one. It symbolized a fresh start, a turning point in the relationship between God and his people. The temple was the heart of Jewish worship and culture, and its restoration signaled a new beginning for the nation of Israel.

Furthermore, the mention of the dimensions of the temple in this verse holds symbolic significance. The height and breadth of the temple, being threescore cubits each (which is 60 in modern measurements), represent completeness and perfection. In biblical numerology, the number 60 is often associated with the concept of time and completion. The use of this specific measurement underscores the divine nature of the temple and emphasizes its significance as a place of worship and communion with God.

Moreover, the act of laying strong foundations for the temple is a powerful symbol of the importance of a solid spiritual foundation in the lives of believers. Just as the physical temple required strong and sturdy foundations, our spiritual lives also require a solid grounding in the principles of faith and obedience to God's word. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of building our lives upon the rock of God's truth and promises, rather than on the shifting sands of worldly wisdom and desires.

In a broader theological context, the decree of King Cyrus and the subsequent rebuilding of the temple can be seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate restoration and redemption that would come through the work of Jesus Christ. The temple, as the place of sacrifice and atonement, points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, which served as the foundation for the restoration of humanity's relationship with God. The reinstating of the temple as a place of worship and sacrifice prefigures the ultimate restoration brought about by Christ's death and resurrection.

In conclusion, Ezra 6:3 is a verse that carries great significance in terms of biblical history, theological symbolism, and spiritual themes. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness in restoring and redeeming his people and points to the ultimate restoration and redemption that comes through Jesus Christ. The rebuilding of the temple symbolizes the restoration of the spiritual life of the Jewish nation and holds lessons for believers today about the importance of a solid foundation in their relationship with God.

Ezra 6:3 Artwork

Ezra 10:3

Ezra 6:1-12

Ezra 10:3

Ezra 3:6 - "From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid."

Pagan women leave with their children ezra 10:3

Ezra 7:3 - "The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,"

Ezra 6:19 - "And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month."

Ezra 8:6 - "Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males."

Ezra 2:3 - "The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two."

Ezra 6:6 - "Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:"

Ezra 2:6 - "The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve."

Ezra 6:2 - "And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:"

Ezra 8:3 - "Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty."

Ezra 6:10 - "That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons."

Ezra 3:11 – "With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: 'He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.'"

Ezra 7:6 - "This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him."

Ezra 6:1 - "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."

Ezra 6:15 - "And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king."

Ezra 6:16 - "¶ And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,"

Ezra 6:18 - "And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses."

Ezra 4:6 - "And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem."

Ezra 6:4 - "With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:"

Ezra 3:1 - "And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem."

Ezra 3:11 – "With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: 'He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.'"

Ezra 6:7 - "Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place."

Ezra 10:6 - "¶ Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away."

Ezra 6:13 - "¶ Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily."