Definition: In the first year of Cyrus the king [the same] Cyrus the king made a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezra 6:3 together. It’s a pretty important passage in the Old Testament that speaks about rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem after it was destroyed. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: Cyrus, the king of Persia (who was also the Persian ruler at the time), issued a decree telling the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the temple – a place for worship and sacrifices – and to make it strong and solid. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “In the first year of Cyrus the king…” This tells us who is giving this decree: Cyrus, the king of Persia. This is important because he was a powerful leader at the time. “…the same Cyrus the king made a decree [concerning]…” He issued a specific instruction – a decree. It’s like a rule or guideline. “regarding the house of God at Jerusalem…” This refers to the original, sacred temple in Jerusalem, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians. We're talking about the place where people prayed and offered gifts to God. “Let the house be built…” This means Cyrus wants the temple rebuilt. “…the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid;” This is where it gets a little more detailed. He wants the temple to be completely restored – not just partially rebuilt. “The height thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits.” This tells us how big the building should be: "Threescore cubits" means "three cubits wide." Think of a cubit as a unit of measurement – about 18 inches. So, the temple should be roughly three feet wide and three feet long. "Threescore cubits" also means “three feet broad.” So it should be about three feet across. In short: Cyrus is telling the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem as a way to show God's favor and restore their faith. He wants it to be large enough for worship, and built with strong foundations. Why is this important? This verse is significant because it marks a key step in the restoration of the Temple. It shows that Cyrus was actively involved in bringing back the Jewish people and their traditions after a long period of exile. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Compare this decree to other historical events related to rebuilding the Temple? Talk about what this verse says about faith and God’s favor?