Mark 6:24

THE MESSAGE

She went back to her mother and said, "What should I ask for?" "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

King James Version (1611)
And she went forth, and said vnto her mother, What shall I aske? And she said, The head of Iohn ye Baptist.

King James Version
And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

English Standard Version
And she went out and said to her mother, "For what should I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

New American Standard Bible
And she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

New Century Version
The girl went to her mother and asked, "What should I ask for?" Her mother answered, "Ask for the head of John the Baptist."

Amplified Bible
She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" And Herodias replied, "The head of John the Baptist!"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

Legacy Standard Bible
And she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

Berean Standard Bible
Then she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" And Herodias answered, "The head of John the Baptist."

Contemporary English Version
The girl left and asked her mother, "What do you think I should ask for?" Her mother answered, "The head of John the Baptist!"

Complete Jewish Bible
So she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She said, "The head of Yochanan the Immerser."

Darby Translation
And she went out, and said to her mother, What should I ask? And she said, The head of John the baptist.

Easy-to-Read Version
The girl went to her mother and asked, "What should I ask King Herod to give me?" Her mother answered, "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer."

Geneva Bible (1587)
So she went forth, & said to her mother, What shal I aske? And she said, Iohn Baptists head.

George Lamsa Translation
She went out and said to her mother, What shall I ask him? She said to her, The head of John the Baptist.

Good News Translation
So the girl went out and asked her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered.

Lexham English Bible
And she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer."

Literal Translation
And going out, she said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

American Standard Version
And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptizer.

Bible in Basic English
And she went out and said to her mother, What is my request to be? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

Hebrew Names Version
She went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" She said, "The head of Yochanan the immerser."

International Standard Version
So she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her motherShe">[fn] replied, "The head of John the Baptist."

Etheridge Translation
Then went she out and said to her mother, What shall I ask of him ? She saith to her, The head of Juchanon the Baptizer.

Murdock Translation
And she went out, and said to her mother: What shall I ask of him? She said to her: The head of John the Baptizer.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And she went foorth, & sayde vnto her mother: What shall I aske? She saide, Iohn Baptistes head.

English Revised Version
And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

World English Bible
She went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" She said, "The head of John the Baptizer."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And she went out and said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

Weymouth's New Testament
She at once went out and said to her mother: "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptizer," she replied.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne sche hadde goon out, sche seide to hir modir, What schal Y axe? And sche seide, The heed of Joon Baptist.

Update Bible Version
And she went out, and said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

Webster's Bible Translation
And she went forth, and said to her mother, What shall I ask? and she said, The head of John the Baptist.

New English Translation
So she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother said, "The head of John the baptizer."

New King James Version
So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!"

New Living Translation
She went out and asked her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother told her, "Ask for the head of John the Baptist!"

New Life Bible
She went to her mother and asked, "What should I ask for?" The mother answered, "I want the head of John the Baptist."

New Revised Standard
She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, going out, she said unto her mother - What shall I ask? and she said - The head of John the Immerser;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But her mother said: The head of John the Baptist.

Revised Standard Version
And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And she wet forth and sayde to her mother: what shall I axe? And she sayde: Iohn Baptistes heed.

Young's Literal Translation
And she, having gone forth, said to her mother, `What shall I ask for myself?' and she said, `The head of John the Baptist;'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
She wente forth, and sayde vnto hir mother: what shal I axe? She sayde: Ihon baptistes heade.

Mace New Testament (1729)
then she withdrew, and said to her mother, what shall I ask? the head of John the Baptist, said she.

Simplified Cowboy Version
She went to her mother and asked her what she should request and her mother said, "The head of John the Baptist on a big ol' plate."

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

said: Genesis 27:8-11, 2 Chronicles 22:3, 2 Chronicles 22:4, Ezekiel 19:2, Ezekiel 19:3, Matthew 14:8

The head: Job 31:31, Psalms 27:2, Psalms 37:12, Psalms 37:14, Proverbs 27:3, Proverbs 27:4, Acts 23:12, Acts 23:13

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:20 - by laying 2 Samuel 13:5 - Lay thee 1 Kings 22:52 - in the way 2 Kings 10:29 - made Israel Job 30:8 - children Proverbs 14:16 - the fool Proverbs 29:10 - The bloodthirsty Ecclesiastes 7:9 - anger

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And she went forth and said unto her mother,.... The king having made such a promise to her, and annexed his oath to it, she thought proper before she asked any thing of him, to withdraw from the hall and company, and consider with herself, and consult with her mother, who was not at the entertainment; it being not usual in those eastern countries, for women to sit at table, at any grand festival: to whom she reported the offer the king had made, and desired she would be pleased to direct her, what request to make saying,

what shall I ask? To which her mother made answer, without taking any further time to think of it, being prepared for it, and determined in her mind, whenever she had an opportunity of asking a favour of the king, what it should be:

and she said, the head of John the Baptist. So sweet is revenge, that to have her will on that great and good man, was more to her, than to have half the king's dominions.