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Mark 6:19

in Mark 6

So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him; and she could not;

KJV

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

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This verse in Mark 6

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 735.

(ubi sup.) For Herodias was afraid, lest Herod should repent at some time, or be reconciled to his brother Philip, and so the unlawful marriage be divorced. It goes on, For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man, and an holy.

This site's exposition

Herodias had a quarrel against him

on Mark 6:19-20

Herodias wants John dead and cannot get her way while Herod himself both fears John as a just and holy man and, strangely, hears him gladly, protecting the very prisoner whose word convicts him. The bench reads Herod's divided state as a study in a conscience that enjoys hearing truth without ever intending to obey it, observed him carrying the sense of a man watching a threat he cannot bring himself to release. Herodias supplies the will Herod lacks; the birthday feast will supply her the occasion.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Josephus

Antiquities 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 …

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Gregory the Dialogist

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 604.

proposed

(Mor. 3, 7) I cannot, without the greatest wonder, reflect that he, who was filled even in his mother's womb with the spirit of prophecy, and who was the greatest that had arisen amongst those born of women, is sent into prison by wicked men, is beheaded for the dancing of a girl, and though a man of so great austerity, meets death through such a foul instrument. Are we to suppose that there was something evil in his life, to be wiped away by so ignominious a death? When, however, could he commit a sin even in his eating, whose food was only locusts and wild honey? How could he offend in his conversation, who never quitted the wilderness? How is it that Almighty God so despises in this life those whom He has so sublimely chosen before all ages, if it be not for the reason, which is plain to the piety of the faithful, that He thus sinks them into the lowest place, because He sees how He is rewarding them in the highest, and outwardly He throws them down amongst things despised, because inwardly He draws them up even to incomprehensible things. Let each then infer from this what they shall suffer, whom He rejects, if He so grieves those whom he loves.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Mark · Written before 1107.

proposed

See how powerful the passion of carnal love is! Here is Herod, who had so much respect and fear for John, yet disregarded this in order only to satisfy his passion.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 1107.

proposed

But see how great is the fury of lust, for though Herod had such an awe and fear of John, he forgets it all, that he may minister to his fornication.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him,.... Was angry with him, conceived wrath, and laid up hatred against him, and was an adversary to him; which is the sense of the Oriental versions. She bore him an inward grudge, and lay in wait to take the first opportunity of dispatching him: and would have killed him, but she could not; being hindered by Herod, who as yet would not suffer it; partly through fear of the people, and partly through the respect he had for John.
5 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Christ's retirement into a desert place with his disciples; the crowds that followed him thither to receive instruction from him; and his feeding five thousand of them with five loaves and two fishes,

The Nineteenth Century4 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him--rather, as in the Margin, "had a grudge against him." Probably she was too proud to speak to him; still less would she quarrel with him. and would have killed him; but she could not.
These verses describe the death of one of the most eminent saints of God. They relate the murder of John the Baptist. Of all the evangelists none tells this melancholy story so fully as Mark. Let us see what practical lessons the passage contains for our own souls. We see, in the first place, the amazing power of truth over the conscience . Herod "fears" John the Baptist while he lives, and is troubled about him after he dies. A friendless, solitary preacher, with no other weapon than God's truth, disturbs and terrifies a king. Everybody has a conscience.
These verses describe the death of one of the most eminent saints of God. They relate the murder of John the Baptist. Of all the evangelists none tells this melancholy story so fully as Mark. Let us see what practical lessons the passage contains for our own souls. We see, in the first place, the amazing power of truth over the conscience . Herod "fears" John the Baptist while he lives, and is troubled about him after he dies. A friendless, solitary preacher, with no other weapon than God's truth, disturbs and terrifies a king. Everybody has a conscience. Here lies the secret of a faithful minister's power. This is the reason why Felix "trembled," and Agrippa was "almost persuaded," when Paul the prisoner spoke before them. God has not left Himself without witness in the hearts of unconverted people. Fallen and corrupt as man is, there are thoughts within him accusing or excusing, according as he lives — thoughts that will not be shut out — thoughts that can make even kings, like Herod, restless and afraid. None ought to remember this so much as ministers and teachers. If they preach and teach Christ's truth, they may rest assured that their work is not in vain. Children may seem inattentive in schools. Hearers may seem careless in congregations. But in both cases there is often far more going on in the conscience than our eyes see. Seeds often spring up and bear fruit, when the sower, like John the Baptist, is dead or gone. We see, in the second place, how far people may go in religion, and yet miss salvation by yielding to one master-sin. King Herod went further than many. He "feared John." He "knew that he was a just man and holy." He "observed" him. He "heard him, and did many things" in consequence. He even "heard him gladly." But there was one thing Herod would not do. He would not cease from adultery. He would not give up Herodias.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Would have killed - Εζητει, Sought to kill him. C and five of the Itala. See the whole of this account, from Mar 6:17-29, explained on Mat 14:2-12 (note).

The words behind it

12 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

10 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Ecclesiastes 7:9Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.5 worksEphesians 4:26–27“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,5 worksJames 5:9Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!4 works1 Kings 21:20When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.3 worksGenesis 39:17–20Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me,3 worksMatthew 14:3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,3 works
The other 4 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 John 3:15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.3 worksJeremiah 26:21King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt.2 worksMatthew 14:6On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod2 worksNumbers 35:20Likewise, if anyone maliciously pushes another or intentionally throws an object at him and kills him,2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Ecclesiastes 7:9

    Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.

    it leads to

    • James 1:19

      My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

    • Proverbs 14:17

      A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.

    • Proverbs 16:32

      He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

    • Ephesians 4:26–27

      “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,

    • Proverbs 26:23–26

      Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.

  • Through

    1 Kings 21:20

    When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of…

    it leads to

    • 2 Kings 17:17

      They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

    • Romans 7:14

      We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

    • 1 Kings 18:17

      When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”

Where this verse is studied

About Mark

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt, 1633. Public domain.
Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt, 1633. Public domain.
Mark: the study guide →Read Mark 6 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews - Book XVIII, Chapter 5, Section 2; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.

Read on in Mark 6 →