Introduction to Ezra 1:5: Awakening the Will to Rebuild
Ezra 1:5 narrates a monumental moment in the return from exile: the divine stirring of human hearts to begin rebuilding the Temple. Central to this verse is the phrase הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחֹו—“He stirred up his spirit.” This phrase is more than a poetic turn of phrase; it is a linguistic window into how the Hebrew Bible portrays inner motivation initiated by divine influence. In this article, we explore the structure and meaning of this idiom, its grammar, and how it functions as a bridge between divine sovereignty and human response.
וַיָּק֜וּמוּ רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָבֹ֗ות לִֽיהוּדָה֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם לְכֹ֨ל הֵעִ֤יר הָאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־רוּחֹ֔ו לַעֲלֹ֣ות לִבְנֹ֔ות אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
Analysis of the Phrase הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחֹו
1. הֵעִיר – “He stirred up”
- Root: ע־ו־ר – “to arouse, awaken”
- Form: Hiphil perfect 3rd masculine singular
- Voice: Causative — the subject (God) causes the action
The verb הֵעִיר in the Hiphil stem signals external causation: YHWH causes someone to awaken or become internally energized. It is often used in contexts where YHWH initiates prophetic activity (cf. Isaiah 50:4) or mobilizes people for a purpose.
2. אֶת־רוּחֹו – “his spirit”
- רוּחַ – “spirit, breath, wind”; feminine noun in construct with suffix
- Suffix: 3rd person masculine singular (“his spirit”)
In Hebrew anthropology, the רוּחַ represents the inner will, motivation, or vitality. Stirring one’s רוּחַ means awakening their deepest internal resolve or emotional inclination. The object of divine stimulation here is not merely intellect or emotion but the seat of decision-making itself.
Syntactical Function: Construct and Causative Interaction
The phrase הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחֹו combines a Hiphil verb with a definite direct object marked by אֶת, forming a standard Hebrew causative clause. The direct object רוּחֹו (his spirit) is tightly bound to the subject’s agency—YHWH is not just suggesting, He is enabling. This grammatically expresses divine causality with human consequence.
Broader Literary and Theological Role in Ezra 1:5
- Linking God and Human Agency: This idiom reflects how the biblical authors view divine providence—not in coercion, but in the awakening of human cooperation.
- Strategic Placement: This phrase sits at the hinge of the narrative—transitioning from Cyrus’s decree to the actual return of the exiles. It signals divine endorsement and initiation of the rebuilding movement.
- Echoes of Prophetic Language: The term הֵעִיר is also used for arousing the “spirit” of prophets or warriors. It thus imbues the leaders of Yehudah and Binyamin with a sense of calling and divine momentum.
The Role of Stirred Spirits in Rebuilding the House of YHWH
The phrase הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחֹו is not merely grammatical—it is theological. It embodies the biblical worldview where human obedience is empowered by divine stirring. In Ezra 1:5, YHWH is portrayed not just as the distant giver of decrees but as the personal inspirer of resolve. The syntax—Hiphil verb with definite direct object—captures the deliberate infusion of will, and signals that true restoration begins in the stirred heart.
In a verse filled with names, tribes, and liturgical classes, the idiom הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחֹו becomes the most crucial hinge. Without it, the people would not rise. With it, the house of YHWH in Yerushalayim is destined to be rebuilt.
