Ecbatana standard

Where is Ecbatana in the Bible?

Ecbatana was an ancient city located in Media, a region in what is now northwestern Iran. In the Book of Ezra, Ecbatana appears as the place where an important scroll was discovered containing King Cyrus's decree permitting the Jewish people to return from exile and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 6:2). This discovery of the royal decree at Ecbatana served as crucial documentation that validated the Jews' right to reconstruct their religious center, making it significant in the biblical narrative of restoration and God's faithfulness to His covenant people. The city functioned as one of the major administrative centers of the Persian Empire during this period.