Mark 6:21

Translations

Modern

On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

Traditional

And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

Literal

And an opportune day having come, when Herod on his birthday made a banquet to his great men, and to the commanders, and to the first men of Galilee,

Latin

Et cum dies opportunus accidisset, Herodes natalis sui cœnam fecit principibus, et tribunis, et primis Galilææ:

Interlinear

Greek

English

On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

Notes

Mark 6:19–28

Herodias's role in John the Baptist's murder is similar to the story of Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1–2). Like Jezebel, she pushed for the death of a prophet.

Herod gave in to pressure (Mark 6:26–28). This points ahead to what Pontius Pilate later did. Pilate ordered that Jesus be put to death even though he believed Jesus was innocent (compare 6:20, 25–28 with 15:6–15).

Mark 6:14–29

The story of John the Baptist's death, placed between the disciples' mission and return, emphasizes the authority and power of Jesus (see 6:7, 14). John's end and the warning to the disciples during their mission also point ahead to the death of Jesus (6:11). The one greater even than John (1:8) would soon be handed over to religious and political leaders and put to death (8:31; 9:31; 10:33).

Theme notes and profiles

Herod Antipas John the Baptist

Events

John Beheadedc. AD 29

Related verses

Esther 2:18
Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.
Genesis 40:20
On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
Esther 3:7
In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.
Daniel 5:1–4
Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.
Luke 3:1
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
Revelation 11:10
And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.
2 Samuel 13:23–29
Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king.
Esther 1:3–7
In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
Hosea 7:5
The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.
Genesis 27:41
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Acts 12:2–4
He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

Parallels

Matthew 14:1–12 Luke 9:7–9

People

Herod: Tetrarch of Galilee during Jesus' ministry

Places

Galilee: Region in northern Israel; key location in Jesus' ministry

Glossary

Apostle, Apostleship Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Herod, Herodian Family Herodias John the Baptist Machaerus Mark, Gospel of Miracle Philip Teacher

Topics

Christian Minister: Faithful: John the Baptist Entertainments: Given on Occasions of Birthdays Entertainments: Men and Women did not Usually Meet At Feasts: Ancient Customs At: Men Alone Present At Feasts: Celebrations by Birthdays Galilee: The Northern District of Palestine: Herod (Antipas), Tetrarch of Herod: Tetrarch of Galilee (Herod Antipas): Beheads John the Baptist Jesus, the Christ: Herod (Antipas) Falsely Supposes Him to be John, Whom he had Beheaded John: Reproves Herod Antipas on Account of his Incest; Herod Imprisons Him, and Beheads Him Martyrdom: John the Baptist Politics: Women in Herodias, in Influencing the Administration of Herod Revenge by Herodias Revenge: Herodias Women: The Daughter of Herodias, in Her Complicity with Her Mother in Securing the Death of John the Baptist

Mark 6:21

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