2 Chronicles 36:22

Authorized King James Version

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּבִשְׁנַ֣ת
H8141
year
a year (as a revolution of time)
#2
אַחַ֗ת
H259
Now in the first
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
#3
כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ
H3566
of Cyrus
koresh (or cyrus), the persian king
#4
מֶֽלֶךְ
H4428
king
a king
#5
פָּרַ֔ס
H6539
of Persia
paras (i.e., persia), an eastern country, including its inhabitants
#6
לִכְל֥וֹת
H3615
might be accomplished
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
#7
דְּבַר
H1697
that the word
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
#8
יְהוָ֗ה
H3068
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#9
בְּפִ֣י
H6310
spoken by the mouth
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
#10
יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ
H3414
of Jeremiah
jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites
#11
הֵעִ֣יר
H5782
stirred up
to wake (literally or figuratively)
#12
יְהוָ֗ה
H3068
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#13
אֶת
H853
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#14
ר֙וּחַ֙
H7307
the spirit
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
#15
כּ֣וֹרֶשׁ
H3566
of Cyrus
koresh (or cyrus), the persian king
#16
מֶֽלֶךְ
H4428
king
a king
#17
פָּרַ֔ס
H6539
of Persia
paras (i.e., persia), an eastern country, including its inhabitants
#18
וַיַּֽעֲבֶר
H5674
that he made a proclamation
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
#19
קוֹל֙
H6963
a voice or sound
#20
בְּכָל
H3605
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#21
מַלְכוּת֔וֹ
H4438
throughout all his kingdom
a rule; concretely, a dominion
#22
וְגַם
H1571
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
#23
בְּמִכְתָּ֖ב
H4385
and put it also in writing
a thing written, the characters, or a document (letter, copy, edict, poem)
#24
לֵאמֹֽר׃
H559
saying
to say (used with great latitude)

Analysis

The kingdom of God theme here intersects with the progressive revelation of God's rule from creation to consummation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of development from creation mandate through Davidic kingdom to eschatological fulfillment. The phrase emphasizing kingdom relates to eschatology and the ultimate purpose of God's redemptive plan and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's reign from creation through the millennial kingdom.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on kingdom of God particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show imperial and royal imagery familiar to subjects of ancient monarchies, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection