Mark 6:14-29
New Living Translation
The Death of John the Baptist
14 Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying,[a] “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles.” 15 Others said, “He’s the prophet Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.”
16 When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.”
17 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. 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. 22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias,[b] came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” 23 He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”
24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”
Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”
25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”
26 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. 27 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, 28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb.
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Mark 6:14-29
International Standard Version
The Death of John the Baptist(A)
14 King Herod heard about this, because Jesus’[a] name had become well-known. He was[b] saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead! That’s why he is able to do these miracles.”
15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah.”
Still others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the other[c] prophets.”
16 But when Herod heard about it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised,” 17 because Herod himself had sent men who arrested[d] John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom Herod[e] had married.
18 John had been telling Herod, “It’s not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John[f] and wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t do it 20 because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John[g] was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John,[h] he did much of what he said.[i] In fact, he liked listening to him.
21 An opportunity came during Herod’s birthday celebration, when he gave a banquet for his top officials, military officers, and the most important people of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias[j] came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 He swore with an oath to her, “I’ll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.”
24 So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”
Her mother[k] replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
25 Immediately the girl[l] hurried back to the king with her request, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her. 27 So without delay the king sent a soldier and ordered him to bring John’s[m] head. The soldier[n] went and beheaded him in prison. 28 Then he brought John’s[o] head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s[p] disciples heard about this, they came and carried off his body and laid it in a tomb.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 6:14 Lit. his
- Mark 6:14 Other mss. read They were
- Mark 6:15 The Gk. lacks other
- Mark 6:17 Lit. sent and arrested
- Mark 6:17 Lit. he
- Mark 6:19 Lit. him
- Mark 6:20 Lit. he
- Mark 6:20 Lit. him
- Mark 6:20 Lit. did many things; other mss. read he became very disturbed
- Mark 6:22 Other mss. read his daughter by Herodias
- Mark 6:24 Lit. She
- Mark 6:25 Lit. she
- Mark 6:27 Lit. his
- Mark 6:27 Lit. He
- Mark 6:28 Lit. his
- Mark 6:29 Lit. his
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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