God remains faithful to His promises, and He can move even the mightiest kings to accomplish His purposes for His people.
“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia— in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah— the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,” (2 Chronicles 36:22). This verse marks a significant turning point in Israel’s history, as it details the moment in which Cyrus, the newly established ruler over the vast Persian Empire, makes a proclamation reflecting God’s faithfulness to His promises. Persia, corresponding to modern-day southwestern Iran, was a rising power in the ancient Near East, and in 539 BC Cyrus overthrew the Babylonian Empire. Cyrus’s reign opened the door for the exiled Judeans to return to their homeland, fulfilling the prophetic words given to Jeremiah that the captivity in Babylon would last seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12).
“The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia” (2 Chronicles 36:22) reminds readers that divine sovereignty guides human affairs. Although Cyrus might have felt political motives to secure loyalty from subject peoples, Scripture underscores that he was ultimately moved by God’s timing and plan. Historically, this took place around 538 BC when Cyrus issued the decree formally allowing the Judean exiles to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. This event not only confirms the reliability of Jeremiah’s prophecy but also points toward God’s habit of steering history to bring about His redemptive purposes, a pattern ultimately culminating in the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:17).
By highlighting “in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah” (2 Chronicles 36:22), this passage emphasizes the faithfulness of God’s word and the certainty that what He promises will come to pass. The mention of Jeremiah connects earlier warnings and promises about the exile to the miraculous restoration and return of God’s people to the land. This restoration sets the stage for future events leading into the New Testament era, showing that God’s plan involves both judgment for sin and the merciful repayment of hope for those who trust in Him.
Set to dark mode
2 Chronicles 36:22 meaning
“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia— in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah— the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,” (2 Chronicles 36:22). This verse marks a significant turning point in Israel’s history, as it details the moment in which Cyrus, the newly established ruler over the vast Persian Empire, makes a proclamation reflecting God’s faithfulness to His promises. Persia, corresponding to modern-day southwestern Iran, was a rising power in the ancient Near East, and in 539 BC Cyrus overthrew the Babylonian Empire. Cyrus’s reign opened the door for the exiled Judeans to return to their homeland, fulfilling the prophetic words given to Jeremiah that the captivity in Babylon would last seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12).
“The LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia” (2 Chronicles 36:22) reminds readers that divine sovereignty guides human affairs. Although Cyrus might have felt political motives to secure loyalty from subject peoples, Scripture underscores that he was ultimately moved by God’s timing and plan. Historically, this took place around 538 BC when Cyrus issued the decree formally allowing the Judean exiles to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. This event not only confirms the reliability of Jeremiah’s prophecy but also points toward God’s habit of steering history to bring about His redemptive purposes, a pattern ultimately culminating in the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:17).
By highlighting “in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah” (2 Chronicles 36:22), this passage emphasizes the faithfulness of God’s word and the certainty that what He promises will come to pass. The mention of Jeremiah connects earlier warnings and promises about the exile to the miraculous restoration and return of God’s people to the land. This restoration sets the stage for future events leading into the New Testament era, showing that God’s plan involves both judgment for sin and the merciful repayment of hope for those who trust in Him.