Cyrus Appears In Hebrew Texts

Cyrus (Hebrew: כורש, Koresh; Persian: کوروش, Kūruš; Greek: Κῦρος, Kŷros) is a name that appears in several Hebrew texts, most notably in the Bible, where it refers to Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. In the Hebrew Bible, Cyrus is depicted as a messianic figure who is anointed by God to conquer Babylon and allow the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem (Isaiah 45:1, Ezra 1:1-3, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23). This portrayal is significant as it presents a non-Israelite ruler as an instrument of divine will, a rare occurrence in biblical literature. The name Cyrus is of Persian origin and means "the sun" or "the one who bestows care." In the context of the Hebrew Bible, Cyrus's decree to rebuild the Temple marks a pivotal moment in Jewish history, facilitating the return of the exiles and the restoration of Jewish religious practices.