Bible Commentary

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 24. The head of John the Baptist ] Herodias saw that her hour was come. No jewelled trinket, no royal palace, no splendid robe, should be the reward of her daughter’s feat “Ask,” … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:24”

And he swore unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give [it] thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 23. unto the half of my kingdom ] Compare the words of Ahasuerus (i. e. Xerxes) to Esther: “What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:23”

And the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give [it] thee. 22. the daughter of Herodias ] Her name was Salome, and she afterwards married (1) Philip the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:22”

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; 21. a convenient day ] i. e. a suitable day for her fell designs. on his birthday ] In imitation of the Roman emperors, the Herodian princes kept their birthdays … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:21”

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 20. observed him ] Rather, as in the margin, kept him, i. e. kept him safe from her machinations. The original word occurs in Mat … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:20”

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: 19. had a quarrel ] or as it is rendered in the margin, “ had an inward grudge ” against him. The word here translated “had a quarrel” occurs in Luk 11:53, where we have rendered it, “and the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:19”

For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. 18. For John had said ] Herod was probably on his way to meet his father-in-law, when he first encountered the Baptist, who, in the presence of the Galilean king, proved himself no “reed shaken by the wind” … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:18”

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her. 17. For Herod ] St Mark now proceeds more fully than the first Evangelist to relate the circumstances of the murder of the Baptist. for Herodias’ sake … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:17”

But when Herod heard [thereof,] he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. 16. It is John ] The words in the original, according to the best MSS., are very striking. John whom I (= I myself; the pronoun “has the emphasis of a guilty conscience”) beheaded this is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:16”

Others said, That it is Elijah. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. Verse 15. OR, as one of the prophets.] , or, is omitted by ABCEGHKLMS-BHV, and one hundred others, Syriac, all the Arabic, all the Persic, Coptic, AEthiopic, Gothic, Slavonic, Vulgate, two Itala, Origen, Victor, and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:15”