Matthew 14:6

Matthew 14:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
• New International Version (NIV)On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much
• English Standard Version (ESV)But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod,
• New King James Version (NKJV)But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.

Context of Matthew 14:6

4John had said to Herod, ‘Herodias was your brother's wife. So it is not right for you to have her as your wife.’ 5Herod wanted to tell his soldiers that they must kill John. But the people thought that John was a prophet from God. So Herod was afraid to kill him. One day, when it was Herod's birthday, he asked people to come to a special meal. The daughter of Herodias danced in front of him and his visitors. Her dance caused Herod to become very happy. 7He said to the girl, ‘Ask me for anything that you want. I make a strong promise that I will give it to you.’ 8Herodias suggested to her daughter, ‘Ask Herod to give you John's head.’ So the girl said to Herod, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate.’

Matthew 14:6 word by word

Γενεσίοις δὲ γενομένοις τοῦ Ἡρῴδου ὠρχήσατο ἡ θυγάτηρ τῆς Ἡρῳδιάδος ἐν τῷ μέσῳ καὶ ἤρεσεν τῷ Ἡρῴδῃ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But whenδέde · thenG1161
• Herod’sὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Herod’sἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
• birthdayγενέσια, γενέθλιοςgenesia · birthdayG1077
• was keptἄγωagō · to bringG71
• the daughterθυγάτηρthugatēr · daughterG2364
• of HerodiasἩρωδιάςHērōdias · HerodiasG2266
• dancedὀρχέομαιorcheomai · to danceG3738
• beforeἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• themμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• pleasedἀρέσκωareskō · to pleaseG700

Cross-references for Matthew 14:6

• Genesis 40:20Three days later, it was Pharaoh's birthday. He gave a feast for all his officers. He lifted up the head of the cupbearer and he lifted off the head of the baker! He brought them both out of the prison so that all his officers could see.
• Esther 1:2King Xerxes lived in the capital, the city of Susa.
• Esther 2:18The king gave a great feast for all the leaders and officers of his kingdom. He did it to give honour to Esther. He said that there would be a holiday for people in all the regions. He also gave expensive gifts to people.
• Daniel 5:1King Belshazzar gave a big party for 1,000 important people in his country. He drank wine with all of them.
• Hosea 1:5At that time, I will completely destroy the power of Israel's army in Jezreel valley.’
• Mark 6:21One day, Herodias had her chance. It was Herod's birthday and he asked many people to come to a special meal. Important men and officers came. The rulers from Galilee were also there.
• Matthew 22:24‘Teacher,’ they said to him, ‘Moses said in the Bible: A man may die and leave behind a wife but no children. Then that man's brother must marry the woman. Then their children will be called the children of the brother who died.
• Esther 1:10On the seventh day of the feast, King Xerxes was feeling happy, because he had drunk so much wine. He had seven eunuchs who served him in the palace. Their names were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas.

Commentaries on Matthew 14:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Herod's birth-day - Either the day in which he was born, or the day on which he began to reign; for both were termed birth-days. See 1 Samuel 13:1, and Hosea 7:5. The kings of Persia were accustomed to reject no petition that was preferred to them during the entertainment. See Herodotus in Calliope, and Esther 5:3. The daughter - danced - This was Salome, mentioned before. Danced: by a literal rendering of the saltavit of the Vulgate, in my old MS. of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6-12Verses 6-12 See also Mark 6:21-29. But when Herod‘s birthday was come Kings were accustomed to observe the day of their birth with much pomp, and commonly, also, by giving a feast to their principal nobility. See Genesis 40:20. Mark adds that this birthday was kept by making a supper to his “lords, high captains, and chief estates in Galilee;” that is to the chief men in office. “High captains” means, in the original, commanders of thousands, or of a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Herodias's daughter was probably Salome. She would have come from Herodias' earlier marriage to Philip. Such sexually suggestive dances were common among corrupt royalty.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-12The time of this alarm of Herod Antipas appears to have been during the mission of the Twelve, and shortly after the Baptist--who had been in prison for probably more than a year--had been cruelly put to death. Herod's Theory of the Works of Christ (Mt 14:1, 2). 1. At that time Herod the tetrarch--Herod Antipas, one of the three sons of Herod the Great, and own brother of Archelaus (Mt 2:22), who ruled as ethnarch over Galilee and Perea. heard of the fame…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 14:6

• Amusements and Worldly Pleasures
• Birthday
• Dancing
• Feasts
• Herod
• Herodias
• Jesus, the Christ
• John
• Malice
• Oath
• Persecution
• Politics
• Prisoners
• Rulers
• Women
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Herodias
• Herod
• Herod, Herod Antipas
• Herod, Herod the Great
• Antipas
• Banquet
• Bid
• Birthday
• Dance
• Dead

Commentaries on Matthew 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings