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Cyrus named before his birth

Cyrus the Great took Babylon in 539 BC and, in 538 BC, issued the decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. The Cyrus Cylinder independently documents his general policy of restoring displaced peoples and their sanctuaries.

Fulfillment Notes

- Cyrus Cylinder, British Museum - Ezra 1:1-4 (corroborated by Persian policy) Scholarly note: Critical scholarship argues Isaiah 40-66 was written during or after the exile, which would make the naming retrospective. Traditional scholarship holds unified authorship. Both views noted.

Key Hebrew Terms

כּוֹרֶשׁ (koresh, H3566); קָרָא (qara, H7121); שֵׁם (shem, H8034); מָשִׁיחַ (mashiach, H4899)

Linked Verses (5)

Isaiah 44:28 source
KJV

That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Isaiah 45:1 source
KJV

Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

Isaiah 45:2 source
KJV

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

Isaiah 45:3 source
KJV

And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

Isaiah 45:4 source
KJV

For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.