King James Version

What Does Ezra 6:1 Mean?

Ezra 6:1 in the King James Version says “Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in B...” — study this verse from Ezra chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. rolls: Chaldee, books laid up: Chaldee, made to descend”

Ezra 6:1 · KJV

Context

1

Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. rolls: Chaldee, books laid up: Chaldee, made to descend

2

And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: Achmetha: or, Ecbatana, or, in a coffer

3

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;

Read Ezra 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. King Darius I (522-486 BC) ordered archival research to verify Cyrus's original decree, demonstrating Persian administrative sophistication. The phrase 'house of the rolls' (bêth siphraya', בֵּית סִפְרַיָּא, Aramaic) refers to the imperial archives where official documents were stored on scrolls or clay tablets.

The location 'where the treasures were laid up' indicates archives were housed with royal treasuries, emphasizing their value and security. This detail reveals bureaucratic organization—important decrees weren't casually discarded but systematically preserved. The verb 'search was made' (bāqar, investigative searching) shows Darius took the inquiry seriously rather than dismissing it politically.

Theologically, this demonstrates God's providence in preserving documentary evidence of His purposes. The seemingly mundane details of Persian record-keeping served divine plans for temple restoration. Darius's integrity in honoring predecessor's decrees shows God can work through legitimate governmental processes and just administration.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Darius I faced significant challenges early in his reign, quelling revolts throughout the empire (recorded in the Behistun Inscription). His establishment of administrative order, including systematic record-keeping, helped stabilize Persian rule. The Persian Empire maintained multiple archive centers at Babylon, Ecbatana, Persepolis, and Susa.

The 'house of the rolls' likely contained thousands of documents on clay tablets and parchment scrolls, requiring trained scribes to locate specific records. Discovery that Cyrus's decree was actually found at Ecbatana (Ezra 6:2), not Babylon, demonstrates the thoroughness of the search across multiple archive sites.

Babylonian opposition to the temple (Ezra 5:3-17) had forced this investigation. Samaritan officials Tattenai and Shethar-boznai appealed to Darius, expecting him to halt construction. Instead, Darius's research vindicated the Jews and intensified royal support.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's use of Persian bureaucracy challenge dichotomies between sacred and secular spheres?
  2. What does Darius's integrity in honoring a predecessor's decree teach about governmental justice and continuity?
  3. How should believers advocate for their rights within legal-political systems while trusting divine providence?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
בֵּאדַ֛יִן1 of 13

“Then”

H116

then (of time)

דָּֽרְיָ֥וֶשׁ2 of 13

“Darius”

H1868

darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several persian kings

מַלְכָּ֖א3 of 13

“the king”

H4430

a king

שָׂ֣ם4 of 13

“made”

H7761

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

טְעֵ֑ם5 of 13

“a decree”

H2942

properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account (both subjectively and objectively)

וּבַקַּ֣רוּ׀6 of 13

“and search”

H1240

properly, to plough, or (generally) break forth, i.e., (figuratively) to inspect, admire, care for, consider

בְּבֵ֣ית7 of 13

“was made in the house”

H1005

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

סִפְרַיָּ֗א8 of 13

“of the rolls”

H5609

a book

דִּ֧י9 of 13
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

גִנְזַיָּ֛א10 of 13

“the treasures”

H1596

treasure

מְהַֽחֲתִ֥ין11 of 13

“were laid up”

H5182

to descend; causatively, to bring away, deposit, depose

תַּמָּ֖ה12 of 13

“where”

H8536

there

בְּבָבֶֽל׃13 of 13

“in Babylon”

H895

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezra. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezra 6:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezra 6:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezra 5:17Ezra 4:15Proverbs 25:2Ezra 4:19Jeremiah 36:20-23Jeremiah 36:32

Places in This Verse

BabyloniaRegion · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E15 verses across 2 books
View all places in Ezra 6 →

Test Your Knowledge

Ezra 6 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzra Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Ezra 6 with CommentaryAll Ezra ChaptersComplete Ezra QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes