Mark 6:19

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not,

King James Version (1611)
Therfore Herodias had a quarrel against him, & would haue killed him, but she could not.

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

English Standard Version
And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,

New American Standard Bible
And Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death, and could not do so;

New Century Version
So Herodias hated John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn't,

Amplified Bible
Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so;

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Herodias was holding a grudge against him and was wanting to put him to death and was not able;

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

Contemporary English Version
Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she could not do it

Complete Jewish Bible
So Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted him put to death. But this she could not accomplish,

Darby Translation
But Herodias kept it [in her mind] against him, and wished to kill him, and could not:

Easy-to-Read Version
So Herodias hated John. She wanted him dead, but she was not able to persuade Herod to kill him.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore Herodias layd waite against him, & would haue killed him, but she could not:

George Lamsa Translation
But Herodias was bitter towards him, and wanted to kill him; but she could not.

Good News Translation
So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not because of Herod.

Lexham English Bible
So Herodias held a grudge against him and was wanting to kill him, and was not able to do so.

Literal Translation
And Herodias held it against him, and desired to kill him, but was not able.

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

Bible in Basic English
And Herodias was bitter against him, desiring to put him to death; but she was not able;

Hebrew Names Version
Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn't,

International Standard Version
So Herodias bore a grudge against Johnhim">[fn] and wanted to kill him. But she couldn't do it

Etheridge Translation
But Herodia herself was adverse to him, and wished to kill him, but she could not.

Murdock Translation
And Herodias herself was an enemy to him, and wished to kill him, but was not able.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therefore Herodias layde wayte for hym, and woulde haue kylled hym: but she coulde not.

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

World English Bible
Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn't,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore Herodias was incensed against him, and was desirous to have killed him; but she could not.

Weymouth's New Testament
Therefore Herodias hated him and wished to take his life, but could not;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Erodias leide aspies to hym, and wolde sle hym, and myyte not.

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

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

New English Translation
So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not

New King James Version
Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

New Living Translation
So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod's approval she was powerless,

New Life Bible
Herodias became angry with him. She wanted to have John the Baptist killed but she could not.

New Revised Standard
And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, Herodias, was cherishing a grudge against him, and wishing, to slay him, - and could not;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to death and could not.

Revised Standard Version
And Hero'di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Herodias layd wayte for him and wolde have killed him but she coulde not.

Young's Literal Translation
and Herodias was having a quarrel with him, and was willing to kill him, and was not able,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But Herodias layed wayte for him, and wolde haue slayne him, and coude not.

Mace New Testament (1729)
which Herodias resented, and form'd a design against his life, but could not execute it;

Simplified Cowboy Version
So Herodias (Herod's no-account wife) held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him,

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

Herodias: Genesis 39:17-20, 1 Kings 21:20

a quarrel: or, an inward grudge, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Ephesians 4:26, Ephesians 4:27

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:20 - by laying 2 Samuel 3:8 - Abner 2 Kings 20:14 - What said 2 Chronicles 18:7 - I hate him Esther 5:14 - said Zeresh Proverbs 29:10 - The bloodthirsty Isaiah 42:20 - opening Jeremiah 20:10 - we shall Jeremiah 26:21 - the king sought Jeremiah 44:19 - without Matthew 14:5 - when James 5:9 - Grudge not 1 John 3:15 - hateth

Cross-References

Genesis 6:3
Then God said, "I'm not going to breathe life into men and women endlessly. Eventually they're going to die; from now on they can expect a life span of 120 years."

Genesis 6:8
But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah.

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.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Would have killed — εζητει, SOUGHT to kill him. C and five of the Itala.

See the whole of this account, from Mark 6:17-29, explained on Matthew 14:2-12.