# The book of Ezra

> Ezra tells how the exiles came home from Babylon. The first group rebuilds the temple against opposition. Decades later, Ezra the scribe arrives to teach God’s law and lead the people in repentance.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/about
Section: History · 10 chapters

## Who wrote Ezra?

Tradition credits Ezra himself, and parts are written in his own voice. Ezra and Nehemiah were one book in the Hebrew Bible. Many scholars think an editor put them together from memoirs and records.

## When was it written?

Covers 538–about 457 BC. Written around 440–400 BC.

## Main themes

- **God moves kings.** He stirs the heart of Cyrus to send the people home.
- **Rebuilding worship first.** The altar and temple come before the walls.
- **The word in the center.** Ezra set his heart to study the law, do it, and teach it.

## Outline

- Chapters 1–2: [The first return under Cyrus](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/1)
- Chapters 3–6: [The temple rebuilt](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/3)
- Chapters 7–8: [Ezra comes to Jerusalem](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/7)
- Chapters 9–10: [Ezra’s prayer and the people’s repentance](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/9)

## Key verses

Quoted from the Lumin Translation.

> They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to Yahweh: “For he is good; his steadfast love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout as they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of the house of Yahweh had been laid.
> — [Ezra 3:11](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/3#11)

> For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of Yahweh, to do it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.
> — [Ezra 7:10](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/7#10)

> For we are slaves, yet our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended his steadfast love to us before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to rebuild the house of our God and restore its ruins, and to give us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.
> — [Ezra 9:9](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/9#9)

## Where to start

Chapter 1 opens with Cyrus’s decree. Read through the temple’s completion in chapter 6. [Read Ezra 1](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/1.md)

Read the whole book: https://www.lumin.faith/read/ezra/1.md
Ask about it: https://www.lumin.faith/ask.md