King James Version

What Does Ezra 6:15 Mean?

Ezra 6:15 in the King James Version says “And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the k...” — study this verse from Ezra chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.”

Ezra 6:15 · KJV

Context

13

Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.

14

And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. commandment: Chaldee, decree

15

And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16

And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, the children of the captivity: Chaldee, the sons of the transportation

17

And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

Read Ezra 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. This precise dating—'third day of Adar' (twelfth month, roughly February/March)—demonstrates historical accuracy. The Hebrew verb shlam (שְׁלַם, 'finished') shares root with shalom, suggesting completion brings peace. The temple was finished exactly as prophesied, showing God's faithfulness to His timeline.

The 'sixth year of Darius' (515 BC) means construction took approximately four years after work resumed under Haggai and Zechariah's preaching (520 BC). Adding earlier delays, the total time from Cyrus's decree (538 BC) to completion spanned twenty-three years—a generation. Yet God's purposes prevailed despite human opposition and delay.

This completion occurred almost exactly seventy years after Solomon's temple destruction (586 BC), fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy with remarkable precision. The temple's completion marked restoration from exile, though its glory was diminished compared to Solomon's temple (Haggai 2:3). Yet God's presence mattered more than architectural grandeur.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Adar corresponded to late winter, strategically timed before Passover (celebrated in Nisan, the following month). This allowed proper dedication and the first Passover celebration in the restored temple, connecting the exodus deliverance to the exile return. The temple stood on this site until Herod's expansion, and that structure until AD 70.

Archaeological evidence from this period is limited but confirms Persian-era occupation in Jerusalem. The 'Second Temple' served as Israel's worship center for nearly 600 years, witnessing Jesus's ministry. Though lacking the Ark of the Covenant, it maintained sacrificial worship and God's ordained priesthood.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's faithfulness to complete the temple despite decades of delay encourage trust in His timing?
  2. What does the diminished glory of the Second Temple teach about the relationship between external splendor and spiritual reality?
  3. How should believers balance appreciation for sacred architecture with recognition that God's presence matters most?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וְשֵׁיצִיא֙1 of 15

“was finished”

H3319

to finish

בַּיְתָ֣ה2 of 15

“house”

H1005

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

דְנָ֔ה3 of 15

“And this”

H1836

this

עַ֛ד4 of 15

“on”

H5705

until

י֥וֹם5 of 15

“day”

H3118

a day

תְּלָתָ֖ה6 of 15

“the third”

H8532

three or third

לִירַ֣ח7 of 15

“of the month”

H3393

a month

אֲדָ֑ר8 of 15

“Adar”

H144

adar, the 12th hebrew month

דִּי9 of 15
H1768

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

הִ֣יא10 of 15

“which was”

H1932

he (she or it); self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are

שְׁנַת11 of 15

“year”

H8140

year

שֵׁ֔ת12 of 15

“in the sixth”

H8353

six

לְמַלְכ֖וּת13 of 15

“of the reign”

H4437

dominion (abstractly or concretely)

דָּֽרְיָ֥וֶשׁ14 of 15

“of Darius”

H1868

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

מַלְכָּֽא׃15 of 15

“the king”

H4430

a king

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 6:15 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 6:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Esther 3:7Esther 9:21Esther 8:12Esther 9:1Esther 9:17Esther 3:13

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