Matthew 14:5
in Matthew 14Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
KJV
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
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This verse in Matthew 14
Commentary
12 notes on this verse(Verse 5.) And wanting to kill him, he feared the people: for they held him as a prophet. Indeed, he feared the sedition of the people because of John, from whom he knew that many crowds had been baptized in the Jordan; but he was overcome by the love of his wife, because of whose ardor he had even neglected the commandments of God (Genesis 40).
This site's exposition
for Herodias' sake
on Matthew 14:3-5
Herod had laid hold on John for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife, and Matthew names the marriage that John had publicly condemned as unlawful under Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21, since Philip was still living. The bench notes a genuine identification question here, since Josephus names Herodias's first husband Herod, not Philip, likely a half-brother distinct from Philip the tetrarch of 16:13; the family carried multiple sons named similarly, and the confusion belongs to the historical record rather than to any error in the Gospel's own account of the marriage's unlawfulness. He feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet explains why Herod held John rather than killing him outright despite wanting to.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people." That person readily turns away from justice who, in matters at issue, fears not God but people. Such fear can restrain the power to sin but is unable to remove the will …
A commentator
JosephusAntiquities of the Jews - Book XVIII, Chapter 5, Section 2 · Written before 100.
proposed
Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the …
He feared a disturbance among the people for John's sake, for he knew that multitudes had been baptized by him in Jordan; but he was overcome by love of his wife, which had already made him neglect the commands of. God.
The Medieval Church2 voices
He postponed the murder because he feared the multitude, not because he feared God; yet the devil found the opportune moment for him.
(ord.) And desiring to kill him, he feared the people. (ord.) The fear of God amends us, the fear of man torments us, but alters not our will; it rather renders us more impatient to sin as it has held us back for a time from our indulgence.
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
And having a mind to put him to death, he feared the people. Sometimes it happens that when a man does not wish to avoid one sin, he falls into a greater. Hosea 4:2: murder, and theft, and adultery have overflowed, and blood has touched …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
He would have put him to death - ln his fit of passion; but he was then restrained by fear of the multitude; and afterward by the reverence he bore him.
Note, The way of sin, especially the sin of persecution, is down-hill; and when once a respect to Christ's ministers is cast off and broken through in one instance, that is at length done, which the man would sooner have thought himself a dog than to have been guilty of, 2 Kings viii.
And when he would have put him to death,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
He feared the multitude - Miserable prince! who fears more to offend his people, than to sin against his God, by shedding innocent blood. When a man resists sin only by the help of human motives, he cannot long defend himself.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | Although | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| θέλων | thelon | wishing | G2309 → | 208 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀποκτεῖναι | apokteinai | to kill | G615 → | 74 times |
| ἐφοβήθη | ephobethe | he feared | G5399 → | 95 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄχλον | ochlon | multitude | G3793 → | 175 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | because | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| προφήτην | propheten | a prophet | G4396 → | 144 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| εἶχον.¶ | eichon | they were holding. | G2192 → | 707 times |
καὶAlthough
kaiG2532 →9120 times
θέλωνwishing
thelonG2309 →208 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
ἀποκτεῖναιto kill
apokteinaiG615 →74 times
ἐφοβήθηhe feared
ephobetheG5399 →95 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ὄχλονmultitude
ochlonG3793 →175 times
ὅτιbecause
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
προφήτηνa prophet
prophetenG4396 →144 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
εἶχον.¶they were holding.
eichonG2192 →707 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 11:9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
it leads to
- Luke 1:76
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 1:76
Through
Matthew 21:26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
it leads to
- Matthew 11:9
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 21:46
Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 6:20
because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
- Matthew 11:9
Through
Matthew 21:32For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe…
it leads to
- Luke 7:37–50
When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
- Luke 7:29–30
All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.
- Luke 7:37–50
Through
Acts 5:26At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
it leads to
- Acts 5:13
Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.
- Acts 5:13
Through
Luke 20:6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
it leads to
- Matthew 21:26
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
- Matthew 21:26
Where this verse is studied
About Matthew
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII; Glossa Ordinaria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews - Book XVIII, Chapter 5, Section 2; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Peter Chrysologus, SERMONS 127.7; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.