John the Baptist Beheaded(A)(B)

14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying,[a] “John the Baptist(C) has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

15 Others said, “He is Elijah.”(D)

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet,(E) like one of the prophets of long ago.”(F)

16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison.(G) He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”(H) 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.(I) When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[b]; yet he liked to listen to him.

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet(J) for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.(K) 22 When the daughter of[c] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”(L)

24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 6:14 Some early manuscripts He was saying
  2. Mark 6:20 Some early manuscripts he did many things
  3. Mark 6:22 Some early manuscripts When his daughter

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.

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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