Mark 6:18

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

King James Version (1611)
For Iohn had said vnto Herod, It is not lawfull for thee to haue thy brothers wife.

King James Version
For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

English Standard Version
For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

New American Standard Bible
For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

New Century Version
John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to be married to your brother's wife."

Amplified Bible
For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful [under Mosaic Law] for you to have your brother's wife."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

Legacy Standard Bible
For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

Berean Standard Bible
For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife!"

Complete Jewish Bible
but Yochanan had told him, "It violates the Torah for you to marry your brother's wife."

Darby Translation
For John said to Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have the wife of thy brother.

Easy-to-Read Version
John told Herod, "It is not right for you to be married to your brother's wife."

Geneva Bible (1587)
For Iohn sayd vnto Herod, It is not lawfull for thee to haue thy brothers wife.

George Lamsa Translation
For John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to marry your brother''s wife.

Good News Translation
John the Baptist kept telling Herod, "It isn't right for you to marry your brother's wife!"

Lexham English Bible
For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not permitted for you to have your brother's wife."

Literal Translation
For John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother.

American Standard Version
For John said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

Bible in Basic English
For John said to Herod, It is wrong for you to have your brother's wife.

Hebrew Names Version
For Yochanan said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

International Standard Version
John had been telling Herod, "It's not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."Leviticus 18:16; 20:21;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For Juchanon had said to Herodes, It is not lawful to thee to take the wife of thy brother.

Murdock Translation
For John had said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to take thy brother's wife.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For Iohn sayde vnto Herode: It is not lawful for thee to haue thy brothers wyfe.

English Revised Version
For John said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

World English Bible
For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for thee, to have thy brother's wife.

Weymouth's New Testament
For John had repeatedly told Herod, "You have no right to be living with your brother's wife."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Joon seide to Eroude, It is not leueful to thee, to haue the wijf of thi brothir.

Update Bible Version
For John said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.

Webster's Bible Translation
For John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

New English Translation
For John had repeatedly told Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

New King James Version
Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

New Living Translation
John had been telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife."

New Life Bible
John the Baptist had said to Herod, "It is wrong for you to have your brother's wife."

New Revised Standard
For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For John had been saying to Herod - It is not allowed thee, to have, the wife of thy brother.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.

Revised Standard Version
For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Iohn sayd vnto Herode: It is not laufull for the to have thy brothers wyfe.

Young's Literal Translation
for John said to Herod -- `It is not lawful to thee to have the wife of thy brother;'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuertheles Ihon sayde vnto Herode It is not laufull for the to haue yi brothers wife.

Mace New Testament (1729)
upon which John told him, "it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

Simplified Cowboy Version
John had criticized Herod for marrying her in the first place. This wasn't just some gal off the street. She had been married to Herod's brother, Philip. It was against God's law to marry your brother's wife if he was still alive and Philip was still kicking around somewhere.

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: Leviticus 18:16, Leviticus 20:21, 1 Kings 22:14, Ezekiel 3:18, Ezekiel 3:19, Matthew 14:3, Matthew 14:4, Acts 20:26, Acts 20:27, Acts 24:24-26

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:8 - Abner 2 Kings 20:14 - What said 2 Chronicles 18:7 - I hate him Job 21:31 - declare Proverbs 29:10 - The bloodthirsty Jeremiah 22:1 - Go Luke 3:19 - General Luke 13:24 - for Acts 24:25 - temperance

Cross-References

Genesis 6:9
This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 7:1
Next God said to Noah, "Now board the ship, you and all your family—out of everyone in this generation, you're the righteous one.

Genesis 7:13
That's the day Noah and his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, accompanied by his wife and his sons' wives, boarded the ship. And with them every kind of wild and domestic animal, right down to all the kinds of creatures that crawl and all kinds of birds and anything that flies. They came to Noah and to the ship in pairs—everything and anything that had the breath of life in it, male and female of every creature came just as God had commanded Noah. Then God shut the door behind him.

Isaiah 26:20
Come, my people, go home and shut yourselves in. Go into seclusion for a while until the punishing wrath is past, Because God is sure to come from his place to punish the wrong of the people on earth. Earth itself will point out the bloodstains; it will show where the murdered have been hidden away.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn't see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For John had said unto Herod,.... He had been personally with him, and had plainly and freely told him of his sin, and faithfully reproved him for it; alleging what he had done was contrary to the law of God:

it is not lawful, for thee to have thy brother's wife:

:-.

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.