John the Baptist Beheaded

14 King(A) Herod(B) heard of this, because Jesus’ name(C) had become well known. Some[a] said, “John the Baptist(D) has been raised from the dead,(E) and that’s why supernatural powers(F) are at work(G) in him.” 15 But others said, “He’s Elijah.”(H) Still others said, “He’s a prophet[b]—like one of the prophets.”(I)

16 When Herod(J) heard of it, he said, “John,(K) the one I beheaded, has been raised!”(L) 17 For(M) Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain(N) him in prison on account of Herodias,(O) his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.(P) 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful(Q) for you to have your brother’s wife!”(R) 19 So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill(S) him. But she could not, 20 because Herod was in awe(T) of[c] John and was protecting him, knowing he was a righteous(U) and holy(V) man. When Herod heard him he would be very disturbed,[d](W) yet would hear him gladly.(X)

21 Now an opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet(Y) for his nobles,(Z) military commanders,(AA) and the leading men of Galilee.(AB) 22 When Herodias’s own daughter[e] came in and danced,(AC) she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 So he swore(AD) oaths(AE) to her: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”(AF)

24 Then she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

“John the Baptist’s(AG) head!” she said.

25 Immediately she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s(AH) head on a platter(AI)—right now!”

26 Though the king was deeply distressed,(AJ) because of his oaths(AK) and the guests[f] he did not want to refuse(AL) her. 27 The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples[g](AM) heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.(AN)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 6:14 Other mss read He
  2. Mark 6:15 Lit Others said, “A prophet
  3. Mark 6:20 Or Herod feared
  4. Mark 6:20 Other mss read When he heard him, he did many things
  5. Mark 6:22 Other mss read When his daughter Herodias
  6. Mark 6:26 Lit and those reclining at the table
  7. Mark 6:29 = John’s disciples

Herod Kills John the Baptist

14 And King Herod heard it,[a] because his name had become known. And they were saying, “John, the one who baptizes, has been raised from the dead, and because of this these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the prophets.” 16 But when[b] Herod heard it,[c] he said, “John whom I beheaded—this one has been raised!” 17 For Herod himself had sent and[d] arrested John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not permitted for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias held a grudge against him and was wanting to kill him, and was not able to do so. 20 For Herod was afraid of John, because he[e] knew him to be a righteous and holy man and protected him. And when he[f] listened to him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he listened to him gladly. 21 And a suitable day came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers and military tribunes and the most prominent men of Galilee. 22 And when[g] the daughter of Herodias herself[h] came in and danced and pleased[i] Herod and his dinner guests,[j] the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it[k] to you.” 23 And he swore to her,[l] “Anything whatever you ask me for I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” 24 And she went out and[m] said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the baptizer.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and[n] asked, saying, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 26 And although he[o] was deeply grieved, the king, because of his[p] oaths and dinner guests,[q] did not want to refuse her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner and[r] ordered him[s] to bring his head. And he went and[t] beheaded him in the prison. 28 And he brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 And when[u] his disciples heard this,[v] they came and took away his corpse and placed it in a tomb.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 6:14 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  2. Mark 6:16 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  3. Mark 6:16 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  4. Mark 6:17 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“had sent”) has been translated as a finite verb
  5. Mark 6:20 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“knew”) which is understood as causal
  6. Mark 6:20 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participles (“came in” and “danced”) which are understood as temporal
  7. Mark 6:22 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“came in”)
  8. Mark 6:22 In place of “the daughter of Herodias herself” some manuscripts have “his daughter Herodias”
  9. Mark 6:22 Some manuscripts have “danced, she pleased”
  10. Mark 6:22 Literally “those reclining at table with him
  11. Mark 6:22 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  12. Mark 6:23 Some manuscripts add “at length”
  13. Mark 6:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went out”) has been translated as a finite verb
  14. Mark 6:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came in”) has been translated as a finite verb
  15. Mark 6:26 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was”) which is understood as concessive
  16. Mark 6:26 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  17. Mark 6:26 Literally “those who were reclining at table”
  18. Mark 6:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent”) has been translated as a finite verb
  19. Mark 6:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  20. Mark 6:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went”) has been translated as a finite verb
  21. Mark 6:29 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  22. Mark 6:29 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation