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Sunday, September 7th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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New Life Version

Mark 6:17

For Herod had sent men to take John and put him into prison. He did this because of his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of his brother Philip.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Adultery;   Herod;   Herodias;   Incest;   John;   Marriage;   Philip;   Politics;   Prisoners;   Reproof;   Women;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bondage, Physical;   Fetters;   Herodias;   Imprisonment;   Philip;   Suffering for Righteousness' S;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prisons;   Wives;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Herod;   Herodias;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Courage;   Galilee;   Herod;   John the baptist;   Prison;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Incest;   John the Baptist;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Aretas;   Herodias;   Herod Philip I.;   Machaerus;   Philip;   Salome;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Aretas;   Herod;   Herodias;   John;   Mark, the Gospel of;   Marriage;   Prison, Prisoners;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gospels;   Herod;   Salome;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Aretas ;   Herod ;   Herodias ;   John the Baptist;   Luke, Gospel According to;   Machaerus;   Mark, Gospel According to;   Marriage;   Nation (2);   Prisoner;   Punishment (2);   Transmigration;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Herod, Family of;   John the Baptist;   New Testament;   Philip ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Herod;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Herod;   Philip;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Her'od;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Anitipas;   Divorce;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Aretas;   Bethsaida;   Herodias;   Jesus Christ (Part 1 of 2);   John the Baptist;   Prison;   Salome;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Herodias;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.
King James Version (1611)
For Herod himselfe had sent forth and laid hold vpon Iohn, and bound him in prison for Herodias sake, his brother Philips wife, for hee had maried her.
King James Version
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
English Standard Version
For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her.
New American Standard Bible
For Herod himself had sent men and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.
New Century Version
Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John and put him in prison in order to please his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of Philip, Herod's brother, but then Herod had married her.
Amplified Bible
For Herod himself had sent [guards] and had John arrested and shackled in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his [half-] brother Philip, because he (Herod) had married her.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.
Legacy Standard Bible
For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.
Berean Standard Bible
For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip's wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.
Contemporary English Version
Herod had earlier married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. But John had told him, "It isn't right for you to take your brother's wife!" So, in order to please Herodias, Herod arrested John and put him in prison.
Complete Jewish Bible
For Herod had sent and had Yochanan arrested and chained in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her,
Darby Translation
For the same Herod had sent and seized John, and had bound him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.
Easy-to-Read Version
Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John and put him in prison. Herod did this to please his wife Herodias. She had been married to Herod's brother Philip, but then Herod married her.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For Herod him selfe had sent forth, & had taken Iohn, and bound him in prison for Herodias sake, which was his brother Philippes wife, because he had maried her.
George Lamsa Translation
For this same Herod had sent out and arrested John, and cast him in prison, because of Herodias, wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
Good News Translation
Herod himself had ordered John's arrest, and he had him tied up and put in prison. Herod did this because of Herodias, whom he had married, even though she was the wife of his brother Philip.
Lexham English Bible
For Herod himself had sent and arrested John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.
Literal Translation
For having sent, Herod himself had seized John and bound him in the prison, because of Herodias the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.
American Standard Version
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.
Bible in Basic English
For Herod himself had sent men out to take John and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had taken for himself.
Hebrew Names Version
For Herod himself had sent out and arrested Yochanan, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Pilipos's wife, for he had married her.
International Standard Version
For Herod himself had sent men who arrestedsent and arrested
">[fn] John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For Herodhe">[fn] had married her.
Etheridge Translation
For Herodes had sent and had taken Juchanon, and had cast him into the house of the bound, on account of Herodia, wife of Philipos his brother, whom he had taken.
Murdock Translation
For Herod had sent and seized John and bound him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philips wife, whom he had taken.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For Herode himselfe had sent foorth, and layde handes vpon Iohn, & bounde hym in pryson, for Herodias sake, his brother Philippes wyfe, because he had maryed her.
English Revised Version
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
World English Bible
For Herod himself had sent out and laid hold on John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him in prison, for Herodias sake, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her.
Weymouth's New Testament
For Herod himself had sent and had had John arrested and had kept him in prison in chains, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For thilke Eroude sente, and helde Joon, and boond hym in to prisoun, for Erodias, the wijf of Filip, his brothir; for he hadde weddid hir.
Update Bible Version
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold on John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.
Webster's Bible Translation
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
New English Translation
For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her.
New King James Version
For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.
New Living Translation
For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip's wife, but Herod had married her.
New Revised Standard
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, Herod himself, had sent and secured John and bound him in prison, for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, - for, her, had he married,
Douay-Rheims Bible
For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.
Revised Standard Version
For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For Herode him sylfe had sent forth and had taken Iohn and bounde him and cast him into preson for Herodias sake which was his brother Philippes wyfe. For he had maried her.
Young's Literal Translation
For Herod himself, having sent forth, did lay hold on John, and bound him in the prison, because of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he married her,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
This Herode had sent forth, and taken Ihon, and put him in preson, because of Herodias his brother Philippes wife, for he had maried her.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for Herod had given orders to seize John, and had confin'd him in prison, to gratify Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married;
THE MESSAGE
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.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Herod was quite a fright because he had had John arrested and killed because he'd made a promise to his wife. That old gal was a burr under his saddle blanket because she made him kill John.

Contextual Overview

14 King Herod heard about Jesus because everyone was talking about Him. Some people said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why he is doing such powerful works." 15 Other people said, "He is Elijah." Others said, "He is one who speaks for God like one of the early preachers." 16 When Herod heard this, he said, "It is John the Baptist, whose head I cut off. He has been raised from the dead." 17 For Herod had sent men to take John and put him into prison. He did this because of his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of his brother Philip. 18 John the Baptist had said to Herod, "It is wrong for you to have your brother's wife." 19 Herodias became angry with him. She wanted to have John the Baptist killed but she could not. 20 Herod was afraid of John. He knew he was a good man and right with God, and he kept John from being hurt or killed. He liked to listen to John preach. But when he did, he became troubled. 21 Then Herodias found a way to have John killed. Herod gave a big supper on his birthday. He asked the leaders of the country and army captains and the leaders of Galilee to come. 22 The daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them. This made Herod and his friends happy. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you." 23 Then he made a promise to her, "Whatever you ask for, I will give it to you. I will give you even half of my nation."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 4032, ad 28

Herod: Matthew 4:12, Matthew 11:2, Matthew 14:3-12, Luke 3:19, Luke 3:20

Philip's: Luke 3:1

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:16 - General 1 Kings 21:25 - whom Jezebel 1 Kings 22:27 - Put this fellow Proverbs 14:16 - the fool John 3:24 - General Galatians 2:6 - it maketh

Cross-References

Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God made man from the dust of the ground. And He breathed into his nose the breath of life. Man became a living being.
Genesis 6:3
Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not stay in man forever, for he is flesh. But yet he will live for 120 years."
Genesis 6:4
Very large men were on the earth in those days, and later also, when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, who gave birth to their children. These were the powerful men of long ago, men of much strength.
Genesis 6:7
So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have made from the land, man and animals, things that move upon the earth and birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them."
Genesis 6:12
God looked at the earth and saw how sinful it was. For all who lived on the earth had become sinful in their ways.
Genesis 6:13
Then God said to Noah, "I have decided to make an end to all the people on the earth. They are the cause of very much trouble. See, I will destroy them as I destroy the earth.
Genesis 6:14
Make a large boat of gopher wood for yourself. Build rooms in the boat. And cover it inside and out with tar.
Genesis 6:20
Two of all the kinds of birds, and animals, and every thing that moves on the ground are to be with you to keep them alive.
Genesis 6:21
And take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it. It will be food for you and for them."
Genesis 6:22
Noah did just what God told him to do.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For Herod himself had sent forth,.... Some of his guard, a detachment of soldiers,

and laid hold upon John; who seized upon him, and took him up:

and bound him in prison; in the castle of Machaerus:

for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her; whilst his brother was living, and who had had children by her; :-.

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.


 
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