Cyrus the Great

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

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

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 walked into Babylon like he owned the place — because he literally did now.

Cyrus CylinderThe Prophets

Cyrus the Great wrote a clay press release about letting conquered peoples go home — and it lines up perfectly with what the Bible says he did for the Jews.