When did Israel return from Babylon?
Cyrus of Persia decrees that the Jews may return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
Return from Exile took place 538 BC at From Babylon to Jerusalem, during the Exile & Return period of Bible history. The account is recorded in Ezra 1:2 (KJV). Cyrus of Persia decrees that the Jews may return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah." — Ezra 1:2 (KJV)
In the first year of Cyrus, the LORD stirred up his spirit to make a proclamation: any of the people of God might go up to Jerusalem and rebuild the house of the LORD. Zerubbabel led the first return; the altar was set up and the foundation of the second Temple laid.
538 BC
Key KJV Scriptures
"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah."
"For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."
Why It Matters
The return shows that God keeps His word — both in judgment and in mercy — and prepares the stage for the coming of Messiah in the second temple period.
Key People
Frequently Asked Questions
Who let the Jews return to Jerusalem?
Cyrus, king of Persia, in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1, written long before he was born.
When did return from exile happen?
Return from Exile is dated 538 BC, placing it in the Exile & Return era of biblical history. See Ezra 1:2 (KJV).
Where did return from exile take place?
Scripture places return from exile at From Babylon to Jerusalem.
Who was involved in return from exile?
The key figures are Cyrus, Zerubbabel, Joshua the high priest.
Where is return from exile in the Bible?
You can read about it in Ezra 1:2, Jeremiah 29:10 (King James Version).
Why does return from exile matter?
The return shows that God keeps His word — both in judgment and in mercy — and prepares the stage for the coming of Messiah in the second temple period.
Related Events
Fall of Jerusalem
586 BC
Nebuchadnezzar burns the city and the Temple; Judah is carried captive to Babylon.
Second Temple Completed
516 BC
Under Zerubbabel, with the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the rebuilt Temple is finished.
Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls
445 BC
Nehemiah, cupbearer to Artaxerxes, rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem in fifty-two days.
Related Reading
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Aaron in the Bible
The First High Priest
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The Scheming High Priest
The Walls of Jericho Fall
Israel marched around Jericho for seven days and the walls fell flat at a shout.
Zerubbabel Bible Quiz
The governor who led the first return and laid the temple's foundation.
Genesis 14:19 Commentary
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