Ezra 1:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Cyrus invites any of God's people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel.
What Does Ezra 1:3 Mean?
The decree now turns into an open invitation. Cyrus calls out to all the LORD's people scattered through his empire, releasing them to go up to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. He pauses to confess, in a brief aside, that this is the true God, the LORD of Israel who dwells in Jerusalem.
Notice the gentle blessing tucked into the command: his God be with him. The journey home would be long and the work daunting, but the invitation carries a promise of God's presence. The call is personal: Who is there among you? Each one must answer for himself whether to rise and go. So it is with every summons God gives. The door stands open, the blessing is spoken, and the heart is left free to respond.
Ezra 1:3 in the Original Language
go up ('alah, עָלָה) -- to ascend; the regular word for pilgrimage to Jerusalem, set high among the hills.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezra 1:3
What does Ezra 1:3 mean?
Cyrus invites any of God's people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel.