Cyrus the Great

The Persian king God used to free Israel from Babylon — even though Cyrus didn't know God

Old TestamentShows up in isaiah

Also known as Cyrus the Great

verifiedReal Person — History Confirms· The famous Cyrus Cylinder — a clay document recording his conquest of Babylon and his policy of letting displaced people go home — was found in 1879. It's at the British Museum in London.Wikipediaopen_in_new

Cyrus Cylinder (clay cylinder recording Cyrus's conquest of Babylon and policy of returning displaced peoples), discovered 1879 by Hormuzd Rassam at Babylon, housed at the British Museum, London

RoleFounder of the Persian Empire

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Events2

Connections3

Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BC and issued a decree letting the Jewish exiles return home and rebuild the Temple. Isaiah predicted this by name 150 years before it happened. God called Cyrus His 'anointed' (mashiach) — a pagan king used as an instrument of redemption. Wild example of God working through unexpected people. His policy of religious tolerance is corroborated by the Cyrus Cylinder, one of the most famous archaeological artifacts from the ancient Near East.

Key Moments

Cyrus the Great Conquers BabylonExile & Return

Cyrus the Great of Persia captures Babylon in 539 BCE, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire and launching the largest empire the world has ever seen.

The Cyrus CylinderExile & Return

The Cyrus Cylinder, discovered in 1879, confirms Cyrus's policy of returning exiled peoples to their homelands — exactly what the Bible describes for the Jews.

Places

location_onBabylon location_onPersia

Themes

Faith Identity Hope Spiritual Warfare Doubt Gratitude

Connected To

Allies

Daniel Sheshbazzar Zerubbabel

Roles

Founder of the Persian EmpireFreed Jewish exiles from Babylon

Read Their Story

1 chapter across 1 book

isaiah

The God Who Names Kings Before They're BornIsaiah 44:24-28

Cyrus the Great is the Persian emperor whose identity God announces here by name — the historical figure who would conquer Babylon and issue the decree freeing Jewish exiles to return home and rebuild.

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DanielThe guy who survived a lion's den and still didn't stop praying SheshbazzarThe prince who carried the Temple treasures back from Babylon ZerubbabelThe governor who led the first wave of exiles home and restarted the Temple rebuild

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hubKnowledge Graph boltAll Events timelineCyrus the Great's Timeline

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