Keraia
Mark 6

Mark 6:27

The Beheading of John · Mark 6:14–29
Read Mark 6

Translations

Modern
So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.
Traditional
And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Literal
And immediately the king, having sent an executioner, commanded to be brought his head. And having gone away, he beheaded him in the prison
Latin
…sed misso spiculatore præcepit afferri caput ejus in disco. Et decollavit eum in carcere,

Interlinear

Greek
English
So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.

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

Parallels

Matthew 14:1–12 Luke 9:7–9

Glossary

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

Topics

Beheading of John Christian Minister: Faithful: John the Baptist Government: Monarchical by Herod Herod: Tetrarch of Galilee (Herod Antipas): Beheads John the Baptist Homicide: Felonious: Herod Antipas 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 Malice: Herodias Toward John Martyrdom: John the Baptist Politics: Women in Herodias, in Influencing the Administration of Herod Punishment: Death Penalty: Beheading Punishments: Capital Kinds of Beheading Women: Herodius, by Indirectly Causing John the Baptist to be Decapitated Women: The Daughter of Herodias, in Her Complicity with Her Mother in Securing the Death of John the Baptist