Definition: Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD [spoken] by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 36:22. It’s a really significant passage about God’s plan for the future. Here's what it means, explained simply: The Basic Idea: This verse is talking about a very important prophecy – a promise made by Jeremiah that God was going to change things in Persia (modern-day Iran) and influence the ruler there. It’s saying God is actively working towards this change. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia…” – This tells us the verse is about a specific time, happening right now. Cyrus was the King of Persia at this point. He was a powerful ruler at the time. “…that the word of the LORD [spoken] by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished…” – “The word of the Lord” refers to God’s message and teachings. “Spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah” means that Jeremiah, a prophet who had already been given this prophecy, was going to share it with Cyrus. “…the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…” – This is the key part. “The LORD stirred up the spirit” means God was actively influencing Cyrus. He was giving him a powerful reason and a goal to pursue. “Made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom” means Cyrus was told to make this message known to everyone in his vast empire (the Persian Empire). “…and [put it] also in writing, saying…” – This is like a formal announcement. God was communicating this message clearly and officially through writing – essentially making it part of official records. In short, the verse says that God was intentionally setting Cyrus on a path to fulfill a prophecy, and he was told to make that knowledge known to everyone in his kingdom. Why is this important? This passage is often seen as a sign that God’s plan for Israel (the people of Judah) would be fulfilled. It speaks to the idea that God has a specific plan for history – sometimes it involves significant changes and influences, even across borders. Does this have to do with the Bible's story? Yes! This verse is connected to the story of Daniel in the Old Testament. Daniel was assigned by God to interpret dreams and prophecies, and the verse about Cyrus is a crucial part of the prophecy that ultimately led to the Babylonian exile. --- Do you want me to: Explain any specific part of the verse in more detail? Connect this verse to other Bible stories or themes? Give you a brief overview of what the prophecy was about?