Keraia
Matthew 14

Matthew 14:8

The Beheading of John · Matthew 14:1–12
Read Matthew 14

Translations

Modern
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
Traditional
And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
Literal
And having been urged on by her mother, she says, “Give to me here upon a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
Latin
At illa præmonita a matre sua: Da mihi, inquit, hic in disco caput Joannis Baptistæ.

Original

Greek
English
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

Notes

Matthew 14:8

In ancient times, presenting a head on a tray was a known practice (see Josephus, Antiquities 13.4.8; 14.15.13; 18.5.1; 20.5.1).

Matthew 14:3–12

John the Baptist’s message drew large crowds, which leaders saw as a political threat (see Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2). Years after John was executed, many Jews believed that Herod’s military defeat by King Aretas in AD 36 was God’s judgment for killing an innocent man.

Events

Parallels

Mark 6:14–29 Luke 9:7–9

People

John: The Baptist, a prophet who prepared the way for Jesus

Glossary

Gospel of Matthew Head Herod, Herodian Family Herodias John the Baptist Machaerus Miracle Philip

Topics

Amusements and Worldly Pleasures: Lead to Greater Evil Charger: John Baptist's Head Carried On Complicity: The Daughter of Herodias, in Asking for the Head of John the Baptist Hatred: Herodias 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 Malice: Herodias Toward John Murder: Herodias and Her Daughter Oath: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Oaths: Rash: Herod Persecution of John the Baptist Politics: Women in Herodias, in Influencing the Administration of Herod Prisoners: John the Baptist Rulers: Wicked: Herod Antipas, in Beheading John the Baptist 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 Worldly Amusements and Pleasures are Likely to Lead to Greater Evil