Ezra 1:2

Authorized King James Version

Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
כֹּ֣ה
H3541
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
#2
אָמַ֗ר
H559
Thus saith
to say (used with great latitude)
#3
כֹּ֚רֶשׁ
H3566
Cyrus
koresh (or cyrus), the persian king
#4
מֶ֣לֶךְ
H4428
king
a king
#5
פָּרַ֔ס
H6539
of Persia
paras (i.e., persia), an eastern country, including its inhabitants
#6
כֹּ֚ל
H3605
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#7
מַמְלְכ֣וֹת
H4467
me all the kingdoms
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
#8
הָאָ֔רֶץ
H776
of the earth
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#9
נָ֣תַן
H5414
hath given
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
#10
לִ֔י
H0
#11
יְהוָ֖ה
H3068
The LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#12
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
H430
God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#13
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם
H8064
of heaven
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
#14
וְהֽוּא
H1931
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
#15
פָקַ֤ד
H6485
and he hath charged
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
#16
עָלַי֙
H5921
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#17
לִבְנֽוֹת
H1129
me to build
to build (literally and figuratively)
#18
ל֣וֹ
H0
#19
בַ֔יִת
H1004
him an house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#20
בִּירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
H3389
at Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
#21
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#22
בִּֽיהוּדָֽה׃
H3063
which is in Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

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

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of kingdom of God within the theological tradition of Ezra Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes kingdom in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection