Koresh

Koresh is the Hebrew form of the name Cyrus, used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In English translations, the name is usually rendered as Cyrus. The form Kōresh appears in passages describing Cyrus’s decree allowing exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, making it a notable biblical toponym and personal name in Jewish and Christian traditions.

David Koresh was the self-chosen nom de guerre of Vernon Wayne Howell (1959–1993), the leader of the Branch Davidians, a religious group based at Mount Carmel Center near Waco, Texas. He led the group from the 1980s onward and claimed prophetic authority, teaching an interpretation of scripture that drew followers to his leadership. In February 1993, federal agents raided the compound, sparking a 51-day siege that ended with a fire at the Mount Carmel Center. Koresh and many of his followers died in the ensuing blaze; the circumstances of Koresh’s death are generally regarded as suicide by gunshot, though the details have been disputed. The incident prompted widespread debate over law enforcement tactics, religious freedom, and the practices of extremist religious movements.

Beyond these uses, Koresh is primarily recognized today as a biblical form associated with Cyrus and as the surname of the modern figure linked to the Waco siege. The name has appeared in cultural references and in various biographical and historical discussions related to these contexts.