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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Mark 6:16

But Herod wouldn't budge: "It's John, sure enough. I cut off his head, and now he's back, alive."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Conscience;   Herod;   Jesus, the Christ;   John;   Punishment;   Superstition;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Punishments;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Herod;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Galilee;   Herod;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - John the Baptist;   Necromancy;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Machaerus;   Salome;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Herod;   John;   Mark, the Gospel of;   Marriage;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Power;   Punishment (2);   Transmigration;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Beheading;   Herod, Family of;   John the Baptist;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Herod;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When Herod heard of it, he said, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!”
King James Version (1611)
But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is Iohn, whome I beheaded, he is risen from the dead.
King James Version
But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
English Standard Version
But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."
New American Standard Bible
But when Herod heard about it, he kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen!"
New Century Version
When Herod heard this, he said, "I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has risen from the dead!"
Amplified Bible
But when Herod heard [of it], he kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen [from the dead]!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen!"
Legacy Standard Bible
But when Herod heard it, he kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen!"
Berean Standard Bible
But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"
Contemporary English Version
But when Herod heard about Jesus, he said, "This must be John! I had his head cut off, and now he has come back to life."
Complete Jewish Bible
But when Herod heard about it, he said, "Yochanan, whom I had beheaded, has been raised."
Darby Translation
But Herod when he heard [it] said, John whom *I* beheaded, he it is; *he* is risen [from among the dead].
Easy-to-Read Version
Herod heard these things about Jesus. He said, "I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has been raised from death!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
So when Herod heard it, he said, It is Iohn whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
George Lamsa Translation
But when Herod heard it, he said, John, whom I beheaded; it is he who has risen from the dead.
Good News Translation
When Herod heard it, he said, "He is John the Baptist! I had his head cut off, but he has come back to life!"
Lexham English Bible
But when Herod heard it, he said, "John whom I beheaded—this one has been raised!"
Literal Translation
But hearing, Herod said, This one is John whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.
American Standard Version
But Herod, when he heard thereof, said, John, whom I beheaded, he is risen.
Bible in Basic English
But Herod, when he had news of it, said, John, whom I put to death, has come back from the dead.
Hebrew Names Version
But Herod, when he heard this, said, "This is Yochanan, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead."
International Standard Version
But when Herod heard about it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!"Matthew 14:2; Luke 3:19;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But when Herodes heard, he said, It is Juchanon whom I beheaded; he hath risen from [fn] among the dead.
Murdock Translation
But when Herod heard [fn] , he said: He is that John whose head I struck off: he is risen from the dead.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But when Herode hearde of hym, he saide: It is Iohn, whom I beheaded, he is rysen from death agayne.
English Revised Version
But Herod, when he heard thereof, said, John, whom I beheaded, he is risen.
World English Bible
But Herod, when he heard this, said, "This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But Herod hearing thereof, said, This is that John whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
Weymouth's New Testament
But when Herod heard of Him, he said, "The John, whom I beheaded, has come back to life."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne this thing was herd, Eroude seide, This Joon, whom Y haue biheedide, is risun ayen fro deeth.
Update Bible Version
But Herod, when he heard [thereof], said, John, whom I beheaded, he is risen.
Webster's Bible Translation
But when Herod heard [of him], he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he hath risen from the dead.
New English Translation
But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!"
New King James Version
But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"
New Living Translation
When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead."
New Life Bible
When Herod heard this, he said, "It is John the Baptist, whose head I cut off. He has been raised from the dead."
New Revised Standard
But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, when Herod heard, he was saying - He whom I beheaded - John, the same, hath been raised.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which Herod hearing, said: John whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the dead.
Revised Standard Version
But when Herod heard of it he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But when Herode hearde of him he sayd: it is Iohn whom I beheded he is rysen from deeth agayne.
Young's Literal Translation
And Herod having heard, said -- `He whom I did behead -- John -- this is he; he was raised out of the dead.'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But when Herode herde it, he sayde: It is Ihon whom I beheeded, he is rysen againe from the deed.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but Herod, from what he had heard, said, 'tis John himself, whom I caused to be beheaded, who is risen from the dead.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But when Herod heard all the rumors he said, "I cut off John the Baptist's head and now he has come back!"

Contextual Overview

14 King Herod heard of all this, for by this time the name of Jesus was on everyone's lips. He said, "This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the dead—that's why he's able to work miracles!" 15 Others said, "No, it's Elijah." Others said, "He's a prophet, just like one of the old-time prophets." 16 But Herod wouldn't budge: "It's John, sure enough. I cut off his head, and now he's back, alive." 17Herod was the one who had ordered the arrest of John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison at the nagging of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias "adultery." Herodias, smoldering with hate, wanted to kill him, but didn't dare because Herod was in awe of John. Convinced that he was a holy man, he gave him special treatment. Whenever he listened to him he was miserable with guilt—and yet he couldn't stay away. Something in John kept pulling him back. 21But a portentous day arrived when Herod threw a birthday party, inviting all the brass and bluebloods in Galilee. Herodias's daughter entered the banquet hall and danced for the guests. She dazzled Herod and the guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me anything. I'll give you anything you want." Carried away, he kept on, "I swear, I'll split my kingdom with you if you say so!" She went back to her mother and said, "What should I ask for?" "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer." Excited, she ran back to the king and said, "I want the head of John the Baptizer served up on a platter. And I want it now!" That sobered the king up fast. But unwilling to lose face with his guests, he caved in and let her have her wish. The king sent the executioner off to the prison with orders to bring back John's head. He went, cut off John's head, brought it back on a platter, and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard about this, they came and got the body and gave it a decent burial. The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going. They didn't even have time to eat. So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them. When his disciples thought this had gone on long enough—it was now quite late in the day—they interrupted: "We are a long way out in the country, and it's very late. Pronounce a benediction and send these folks off so they can get some supper." Jesus said, "You do it. Fix supper for them." They replied, "Are you serious? You want us to go spend a fortune on food for their supper?" But he was quite serious. "How many loaves of bread do you have? Take an inventory." That didn't take long. "Five," they said, "plus two fish." Jesus got them all to sit down in groups of fifty or a hundred—they looked like a patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass! He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples in turn gave it to the people. He did the same with the fish. They all ate their fill. The disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. More than five thousand were at the supper. As soon as the meal was finished, Jesus insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead across to Bethsaida while he dismissed the congregation. After sending them off, he climbed a mountain to pray. Late at night, the boat was far out at sea; Jesus was still by himself on land. He could see his men struggling with the oars, the wind having come up against them. At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea. He intended to go right by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and screamed, scared out of their wits. Jesus was quick to comfort them: "Courage! It's me. Don't be afraid." As soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind died down. They were stunned, shaking their heads, wondering what was going on. They didn't understand what he had done at the supper. None of this had yet penetrated their hearts. They beached the boat at Gennesaret and tied up at the landing. As soon as they got out of the boat, word got around fast. People ran this way and that, bringing their sick on stretchers to where they heard he was. Wherever he went, village or town or country crossroads, they brought their sick to the marketplace and begged him to let them touch the edge of his coat—that's all. And whoever touched him became well. 23Just a Carpenter He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. "We had no idea he was this good!" they said. "How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?" But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter—Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further. Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child." Jesus wasn't able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that's all. He couldn't get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching. Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions: "Don't think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple. "And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave. "If you're not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way." Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits. King Herod heard of all this, for by this time the name of Jesus was on everyone's lips. He said, "This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the dead—that's why he's able to work miracles!" Others said, "No, it's Elijah." Others said, "He's a prophet, just like one of the old-time prophets." But Herod wouldn't budge: "It's John, sure enough. I cut off his head, and now he's back, alive." Herod was the one who had ordered the arrest of John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison at the nagging of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias "adultery." Herodias, smoldering with hate, wanted to kill him, but didn't dare because Herod was in awe of John. Convinced that he was a holy man, he gave him special treatment. Whenever he listened to him he was miserable with guilt—and yet he couldn't stay away. Something in John kept pulling him back. But a portentous day arrived when Herod threw a birthday party, inviting all the brass and bluebloods in Galilee. Herodias's daughter entered the banquet hall and danced for the guests. She dazzled Herod and the guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me anything. I'll give you anything you want." Carried away, he kept on, "I swear, I'll split my kingdom with you if you say so!" 24 She went back to her mother and said, "What should I ask for?" "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer." 25 Excited, she ran back to the king and said, "I want the head of John the Baptizer served up on a platter. And I want it now!" 26That sobered the king up fast. But unwilling to lose face with his guests, he caved in and let her have her wish. The king sent the executioner off to the prison with orders to bring back John's head. He went, cut off John's head, brought it back on a platter, and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard about this, they came and got the body and gave it a decent burial.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

It is: Genesis 40:10, Genesis 40:11, Psalms 53:5, Matthew 14:2, Matthew 27:4, Luke 9:9, Revelation 11:10-13

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:18 - the men 1 Kings 17:18 - art thou come Matthew 3:1 - John John 19:12 - from Acts 13:25 - fulfilled Revelation 20:4 - beheaded

Cross-References

2 Kings 9:30
When Jezebel heard that Jehu had arrived in Jezreel, she made herself up—put on eyeshadow and arranged her hair—and posed seductively at the window. When Jehu came through the city gate, she called down, "So, how are things, ‘Zimri,' you dashing king-killer?"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But when Herod heard thereof,.... Either of Christ, or rather of the different opinions about him,

he said, it is John, whom I have beheaded: the thought stuck close to him, and continued with him; he could not get rid of it, nor persuade himself to the contrary; nor could any of his servants get him off of it, but he affirmed it with the greatest assurance imaginable. These different sentiments of the people concerning Jesus, greatly perplexed the mind of Herod, as appears from Luke 9:7, for it was first given out by others, and not by Herod, that John the Baptist was

risen from the dead; which he hearing of, gave him great uneasiness: he thoroughly considered the matter; he called to mind how he had used him, imprisoned him, and put him to death. At first he could not receive it, that since he was beheaded by him, he should be restored to life; but hearing of the miracles that were done by him, his conscience accused him, his fancy worked, and at length he firmly believed it, that he must be risen: and this sentiment, which he himself gave into at last, distressed him above all the rest, because of his concern in his death, fearing he was come to life to take vengeance on him: it might not sit very easy upon his mind, to bear that Elias had appeared the forerunner of the Messiah, the king of the Jews; who himself might be quickly expected, and who, he might fear, would seize upon, and take away that part of the kingdom which he was possessed of: and even to be told, that one of the prophets was risen from the dead, might be shocking to him; imagining that something of considerable moment was to be done, some revolution to be made; that the people would be stirred up by him, to attempt a change of government: but the first of these made the greatest impression on him, and what he could not get off, but fully gave into, as a thing unquestionable. He owns he beheaded John; he was conscious to himself of the sin, and confesses it; he does not lay it to the charge of Herodias and her daughter, though they requested it; the guilt of it lay upon his conscience, and he dreaded this appearance of John, as he fancied. And if he was a Sadducee before, as he has been thought to be, he now changed his mind, and believed a resurrection from the dead. So men may be convinced of sin, and entertain other and better notions of religion, and yet not be converted persons.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this account of the death of John the Baptist fully explained in the notes at Matthew 14:1-12.

Mark 6:20

For Herod feared John - That is, he stood in awe of him on account of his sanctity, and his boldness and fearlessness in reproving sin.

Knowing that he was a just man and an Holy - A holy, pious, upright, honest man - a man who would not be afraid of him, or afraid to speak his real sentiments.

And observed him - Margin, “kept him, or saved him.” This does not mean that he “observed” or obeyed his teachings, but that he kept him in safe custody in order to preserve him from the machinations of Herodias. He was willing to show his respect for John, and to secure him from danger, and even to do “many things” which might indicate respect for him - at least, to do so much as to guard him from his enemies.

And did many things - But he did not do the thing which was demanded of him - to break off from his sins. He attempted to make a compromise with his conscience. He still loved his sins, and did “other” things which he supposed might be accepted in the place of putting away, as he ought, the wife of his brother - the polluted and adulterous woman with whom he lived. Perhaps he treated John kindly, or spoke well of him, or aided him in his wants, and attempted in this way to silence his rebukes and destroy his faithfulness. This was probably before John was imprisoned. So sinners often treat ministers kindly, and do much to make them comfortable, and hear them gladly, while they are still unwilling to do the thing which is demanded of them - to repent and believe the gospel. They expect that their kind attentions will be accepted in the place of what God demands - repentance and the forsaking of their sins.


 
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