Mark 6:17

15 ^aOthers said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, ^bor like one of the prophets.”

16 ^aBut when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her.

18 Because John had said to Herod, ^a“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19 Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

20 for Herod ^afeared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he¹ did many things, and heard him gladly.

21 ^aThen an opportune day came when Herod ^bon his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.

22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”

23 He also swore to her, ^a“Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”

25 Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 ^aAnd the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,

28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and ^atook away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

Feeding the Five Thousand

30 ^aThen the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.

31 ^aAnd He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For ^bthere were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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What Does Mark 6:17 Mean?

Mark 6:17-27

John's most powerful foe was Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. Herod and John had an interesting relationship because Herod respected John, yet at the same time he feared what he perceived to be John's growing political power because of the prophet's popularity.

Josephus provides a bit of background the Bible lacks. Herod was married to the daughter of Aretas, king of Petra. However, before John became a popular figure, Herod divorced her and married his sister-in-law, Herodias. This caused a problem, as Herodias was already married to Herod's brother, Philip. At this point, a convergence takes place between John's rising influence with the people and Herod and Herodias' adulterous and incestuous marriage, which clearly violates the sexual purity laws in Leviticus 18.

Josephus writes that Herod took John prisoner because he feared the prophet's prominence, believing that rebellion against his rule was growing in response to John's preaching. Apparently, during John's captivity, he warned Herod that he and Herodias were in an adulterous relationship.

Thus, when a convenient occasion presented itself, Herodias took her revenge, getting away with John's murder because of Herod's foolish timidity. Subsequently, Aretas came against Herod in war, seeking revenge for Herod divorcing his daughter. Josephus writes that Aretas soundly defeated Herod's forces. The people of Judea concluded that Herod's defeat was God's punishment for taking John's life.

John W. Ritenbaugh
Elijah and John the Baptist

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Feeding the Five Thousand

What Does Mark 6:17 Mean?

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