Ezra 5:13But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~520 BC. Jewish leaders telling Persian officials that their current king's predecessor actually ordered this reconstruction. It's their legal justification.
The emotion here: grateful relief mixed with legal urgency
The original word
te'em (טְעֵם) — official royal decree, carrying the full weight of imperial law
Why it matters
Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC and immediately reversed their deportation policies for all conquered peoples
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ezra 5:13
This isn't just good news — it's legal evidence that could save their lives if the current officials try to stop the work
Common misconceptionMost people see this as a nice story about second chances, but it's actually a legal document being presented to government officials who could execute them for illegal construction.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ezra 5:13
Bible Genome reading
Ezra 5:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ezra 5:13 comes from the book of Ezra, written during the Post-Exile period. These words are attributed to Jewish elders. The dominant emotion in this verse is grateful, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is celebratory. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include restoration, divine providence, authority. Notable phrases: Cyrus the king made a decree; build this house of God.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grateful
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.”
— 2 Timothy 4:7
“It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
— Acts 2:21
“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”
— Ephesians 2:8
“So now it wasn't you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land o…”
— Genesis 45:8
Your reflection
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