Mark 6:27

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison,

King James Version (1611)
And immediatly the king sent an executioner, and commaunded his head to be brought, and he went, and beheaded him in the prison,

King James Version
And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

English Standard Version
And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison

New American Standard Bible
Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison,

New Century Version
Immediately the king sent a soldier to bring John's head. The soldier went and cut off John's head in the prison

Amplified Bible
So the king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring back John's head. And he went and had John beheaded in the prison,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison,

Legacy Standard Bible
And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison,

Berean Standard Bible
So without delay, the king commanded that John's head be brought in. He sent an executioner who went and beheaded him in the prison.

Contemporary English Version
At once he ordered a guard to cut off John's head there in prison.

Complete Jewish Bible
So the king immediately sent a soldier from his personal guard with orders to bring Yochanan's head. The soldier went and beheaded Yochanan in the prison,

Darby Translation
And immediately the king, having sent one of the guard, ordered his head to be brought. And he went out and beheaded him in the prison,

Easy-to-Read Version
So he sent a soldier to cut off John's head and bring it to him. The soldier went and cut off John's head in the prison.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And immediatly the King sent the hangman, and gaue charge that his head shoulde be brought in. So he went and beheaded him in the prison,

George Lamsa Translation
So the king immediately sent the executioner, and commanded to bring the head of John. And he went and beheaded John in the prison,

Good News Translation
So he sent off a guard at once with orders to bring John's head. The guard left, went to the prison, and cut John's head off;

Lexham English Bible
And immediately the king sent an executioner and ordered him to bring his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison.

Literal Translation
And the king sending a guardsman at once, he ordered his head to be brought. And going, he beheaded him in the prison,

American Standard Version
And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

Bible in Basic English
And straight away the king sent out one of his armed men, and gave him an order to come back with the head: and he went and took off John's head in prison,

Hebrew Names Version
Immediately the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring Yochanan's head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

International Standard Version
So without delay the king sent a soldier and ordered him to bring John'shis">[fn] head. The soldierHe">[fn] went and beheaded him in prison.

Etheridge Translation
But the king despatched at once a sentinel, and commanded that he should bring the head of Juchanon. And he went and cut off the head of Juchanon in the house of the bound,

Murdock Translation
and the king sent immediately an executioner, and commanded [fn] to bring the head of John. And he went, and struck off the head of John in the prison;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And immediatlye the kyng sent the hangman, and commaunded his head to be brought in: And he went, and beheaded hym in the pryson,

English Revised Version
And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

World English Bible
Immediately the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And immediately the king sent one of his guard, and commanded his head to be brought.

Weymouth's New Testament
He at once sent a soldier of his guard with orders to bring John's head. So he went and beheaded him in the prison,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but sente a manqueller and comaundide, that Joones heed were brouyt in a dissche. And he bihedide hym in the prisoun,

Update Bible Version
And right away the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

Webster's Bible Translation
And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

New English Translation
So the king sent an executioner at once to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded John in prison.

New King James Version
Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,

New Living Translation
So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John's head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison,

New Life Bible
At once he sent one of his soldiers and told him to bring the head of John the Baptist. The soldier went to the prison and cut off John's head.

New Revised Standard
Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the king, straightway, sending off a guard, gave orders to bring his head.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish.

Revised Standard Version
And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And immediatly ye kynge sent ye hangma and comaunded his heed to be brought in. And he went and beheeded him in the preson

Young's Literal Translation
and immediately the king having sent a guardsman, did command his head to be brought,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And immediatly he sent the hangman, and commaunded his heade to be brought in. So he wete, and heeded him in the preson,

Mace New Testament (1729)
but immediately dispatch'd the proper officer with orders to bring the head of John the Baptist.

Simplified Cowboy Version
He sent the executioner to the dungeon in which John was being held and the fellow

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

the king: Matthew 14:10, Matthew 14:11

an executioner: or, one of his guard, נוךןץכבפשס [Strong's G4688], in Latin, speculator, from speculor, to look about, spy, properly denotes a sentinel; and as these sentinels kept guard at the palaces of kings, and the residences of Roman governors, so they were employed in other offices besides guarding, and usually performed that of executioners. As, however, we learn from Josephus, that Herod was at this very time engaged in war with Aretas, king of Arabia, in consequence of Herod's having divorced his daughter in order to marry Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; and as this event occurred at an entertainment given at the castle of Machaerus, while his army was on its march against his father-in-law; we are furnished with an additional reason why a speculator, or sentinel, should have been employed as an executioner; and are thus enabled to discover such a latent and undesigned coincidence as clearly evinces the truth of the evangelical narrative.

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 18:7 - I hate him Proverbs 16:14 - messengers Daniel 3:6 - the same Mark 6:14 - king Herod Revelation 20:4 - beheaded

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And immediately the king sent an executioner,....

:-

and commanded his head to be brought; ordered him to cut off his head in prison, and bring it away forthwith in a charger to him:

and he went and beheaded him in the prison; according to his orders.