Mark 6:26

THE MESSAGE

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.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her.

King James Version (1611)
And the king was exceeding sory, yet for his othes sake, and for their sakes which sate with him, hee would not reiect her.

King James Version
And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

English Standard Version
And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.

New American Standard Bible
And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.

New Century Version
Although the king was very sad, he had made a promise, and his dinner guests had heard it. So he did not want to refuse what she asked.

Amplified Bible
The king was deeply grieved, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests [who might have regarded him as weak], he was unwilling to [break his word and] refuse her.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.

Legacy Standard Bible
And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

Berean Standard Bible
The king was overwhelmed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.

Contemporary English Version
The king was very sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of his guests.

Complete Jewish Bible
Herod was appalled; but out of regard for the oaths he had sworn before his dinner guests, he did not want to break his word to her.

Darby Translation
And the king, [while] made very sorry, on account of the oaths and those lying at table with [him] would not break his word with her.

Easy-to-Read Version
King Herod was very sad, but he didn't want to break the promise he had made to her in front of his guests.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the King was very sory: yet for his othes sake, and for their sakes which sate at table with him, he would not refuse her.

George Lamsa Translation
And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of the oaths, and because of the guests, he did not wish to refuse her.

Good News Translation
This made the king very sad, but he could not refuse her because of the vows he had made in front of all his guests.

Lexham English Bible
And although he was deeply grieved, the king, because of his oaths and dinner guests, did not want to refuse her.

Literal Translation
And having become deeply grieved, but because of the oaths and those reclining together, the king did not wish to reject her.

American Standard Version
And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her.

Bible in Basic English
And the king was very sad; but because of his oaths, and those who were with him at table, he would not say 'No' to her.

Hebrew Names Version
The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn't wish to refuse her.

International Standard Version
The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her.Matthew 14:9;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And greatly grieved was the king; but, for the sake of the oath, and the sake of the guests, [fn] he could not deprive [fn] her.

Murdock Translation
And it pained the king greatly; yet, on account of the oath, and on account of the guests, he would not deny her:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the kyng was sory, howebeit, for his othes sake, & for their sakes whiche sate at supper also, he woulde not caste her of.

English Revised Version
And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her.

World English Bible
The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn't wish to refuse her.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And the king was exceeding sorry: yet for his oath's sake, and for the sake of his guests, he would not reject her.

Weymouth's New Testament
Then the King, though intensely sorry, yet for the sake of his oaths, and of his guests, would not break faith with her.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the kyng was sori for the ooth, and for men that saten togidere at the meete he wolde not make hir sori;

Update Bible Version
And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of those that sat to eat, he would not reject her.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king was exceeding sorry: [yet] for his oath's sake, and for their sakes who sat with him, he would not reject her.

New English Translation
Although it grieved the king deeply, he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests.

New King James Version
And 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.

New Living Translation
Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn't refuse her.

New Life Bible
Herod was very sorry. He had to do it because of his promise and because of those who ate with him.

New Revised Standard
The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, though the king was, very grieved, yet, by reason of the oaths, and of them who were reclining, he would not refuse her.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her:

Revised Standard Version
And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And ye kynge was sory: howbe it for his othes sake and for their sakes which sate at supper also he wolde not put her besyde her purpose.

Young's Literal Translation
And the king -- made very sorrowful -- because of the oaths and of those reclining (at meat) with him, would not put her away,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then the kynge was sory: Yet for the oothes sake and the that sat at the table, he wolde not saye her nay.

Mace New Testament (1729)
at this the king was exceedingly concern'd; however, in regard to his oath, and to those who were at table with him, he would not refuse her;

Simplified Cowboy Version
This shook the king up something fierce, but he'd made a promise in front of a lot of people so he kept it.

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

Matthew 14:9, Matthew 27:3-5, Matthew 27:24, Matthew 27:25

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 14:21 - I have done Jeremiah 44:17 - whatsoever Daniel 6:14 - was sore Matthew 19:22 - he went Mark 6:14 - king Herod Mark 10:22 - sad Luke 12:24 - the ravens Luke 13:32 - that fox Luke 18:24 - he was

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the king was exceeding sorry,....

:-

yet for his oath's sake, [and] for their sakes which sat with him; as Matthew adds, "at meat", Matthew 14:9; for it seems as if supper was not over, when all this was transacting.

He would not reject her; deny her her request, or send her away without granting it which could not be without grieving her, and treating her with contempt, and defrauding her of the promise; all which ideas are expressed by some versions.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. For their sakes which sat with him — Probably these persons joined in with the request, and were glad of this opportunity to get this light of Israel extinguished; he being a public reprover of all their vices.