World Model · podcast knowledge graph

Why the Bible Loves Cyrus the Great

2025-05-19 · 57 min · episode 112 · 8 entities

episode page audio

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  • → hosted by Helen Bond & Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones person
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  • → discusses History website
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  • → discusses Religion & Spirituality concept
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  • → discusses Christianity concept
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Entities found in this episode

concepts 4

  • mentioned Religion & Spirituality concept
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    Feed category: Religion & Spirituality
  • mentioned Christianity concept
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Christianity
  • discusses Religion & Spirituality concept
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Religion & Spirituality
  • discusses Christianity concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Christianity

persons 2

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  • mentioned History website
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History
  • discusses History website
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History
Episode description as stored
Cyrus II was the founder of the Persian Empire, arguably the greatest empire of the Ancient Near East. Cyrus wasn't only a hero to the Persians. In the Hebrew Bible, Cyrus is the only non-Jew that God calls His "anointed one" or "messiah." But does Cyrus really deserve his reputation as the "liberator" of the Jews from Babylon or is it all a piece of ancient propaganda?  The incomparable Lloyd Llewelyn-Jones joins Helen and Dave to discuss the glory of the Persian Empire and how Cyrus was interpreted by biblical authors. For more great stuff from Lloyd, check out his latest books: Persians: The Age of the Great Kings The Cleopatras: The Forgotten Queens of Egypt Ancient Persia and The Book of Esther: Achaemenid Court Culture in the Hebrew Bible SUPPORT BIBLICAL TIME MACHINE If you enjoy the podcast, please (pretty please!) consider supporting the show through the Time Travelers Club , our Patreon. We are an independent, listener-supported show (no ads!), so please help us continue to showcase high-quality biblical scholarship with a monthly subscription . DOWNLOAD OUR STUDY GUIDE: MARK AS ANCIENT BIOGRAPHY Check out our 4-part audio study guide called " The Gospel of Mark as an Ancient Biography ." While you're there, get yourself a Biblical Time Machine mug or a cool sticker for your water bottle. Support the show Theme music written and performed by Dave Roos, creator of Biblical Time Machine. Season 4 + 5 produced by John Nelson.