Cyrus Named as Jerusalem’s Restorer
Isaiah names Cyrus as the ruler who will authorize Jerusalem and its temple to be rebuilt.
Isaiah 44:24–28
24Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things;] that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
26That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
27That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
28That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
The prophetic word and its fulfillment
Sources & further reading
Historical facts and interpretive background are kept as structured citations so links can be checked and maintained over time.
The Great Isaiah Scroll
Israel Antiquities AuthorityInstitutional manuscript resource supporting the ancient transmission context of the biblical book; it does not by itself prove the proposed fulfillment.
The Cyrus Cylinder
British MuseumThe Babylonian royal inscription records Cyrus’s 539 BC conquest and restoration policy toward displaced peoples and cults.
The sources establish the historical record and provide background on the biblical passage. The conclusion that these events fulfill prophecy is the stated interpretation of Watchman 33.