Definition: Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah. Who [is there] among you of all his people? The LORD his God [be] with him, and let him go up.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse together. It’s a really important passage from the Old Testament and it speaks about a powerful and significant task given to King Cyrus of Persia. Here's a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is essentially saying that God has entrusted King Cyrus with a huge, incredibly important mission: to build a temple in Jerusalem. It’s not just any temple; it’s a special temple dedicated to God. And he’s giving this task to Cyrus, who's ruling over a vast empire (Persia). Let’s unpack the details: “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia…” : This tells us we’re hearing what Cyrus is saying – he’s speaking as someone with a powerful position and authority. “…All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me…” : This is a really striking statement. It means that God has every kingdom on Earth, including all the nations and empires – everything from Egypt to Rome – and He’s giving Cyrus control over this entire world. “…and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah.” : This is where it gets really important. Cyrus isn't just building a temple for himself; he’s directing the construction of a specific temple in Jerusalem – called “the house of God” – located within the region known as Judah (a specific area in Israel). “Who [is there] among you of all his people? The LORD his God…” : This is a crucial question. Cyrus is asking, "Is anyone among everyone who belongs to all the kingdoms of the earth – everyone from Egypt to Rome – who is willing to help build this temple?" “The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.” : This means that God will actively support and guide Cyrus in completing the task. It’s a command for him to actively participate in building the temple, and to move it upwards – meaning he wants to build it high up in Jerusalem. What does this verse mean? The Bible suggests this verse is part of a larger story about God's plan to establish a nation in Israel and bring about a time of peace and justice for all people. It speaks to the idea that God is working through powerful leaders like Cyrus, and that His purpose involves building something lasting – a temple dedicated to Him. In short: Cyrus was given the responsibility of leading the construction of a monumental temple in Jerusalem, which is meant to be a symbol of God’s presence and a place for worship throughout all the kingdoms of the world. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse further with an analogy? Discuss its significance within the Old Testament story? Talk about what it might mean in terms of Jewish history?