English Standard Version
Mark 6:21
21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
Mark 6:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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;
- New International Version (NIV)Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee.
Context of Mark 6:21
19And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you." 23And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."
Read all of Mark 6Mark 6:21 word by word
Καὶ γενομένης ἡμέρας εὐκαίρου ὅτε Ἡρῴδης τοῖς γενεσίοις αὐτοῦ δεῖπνον ἐποίησεν τοῖς μεγιστᾶσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῖς χιλιάρχοις καὶ τοῖς πρώτοις τῆς ΓαλιλαίαςRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
- a convenientεὔκαιροςeukairos · opportuneG2121
- dayἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- was comeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- that HerodἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
- on hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- birthdayὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- birthdayγενέσια, γενέθλιοςgenesia · birthdayG1077
- madeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- a supperδεῖπνονdeipnon · dinnerG1173
- lordsμεγιστάνmegistanes · great manG3175
- high captainsχιλίαρχοςchiliarchos · military officerG5506
- chiefπρῶτοςprōtos · first: chiefG4413
- of GalileeΓαλιλαίαGalilaia · GalileeG1056
Cross-references for Mark 6:21
- Genesis 27:41Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob."
- 2 Samuel 13:23After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
- Esther 3:7In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
- Psalms 37:12The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
- Acts 12:2He killed James the brother of John with the sword,
- Genesis 40:20On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
- Esther 1:3in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,
- Esther 2:18Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.
- Proverbs 31:4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink,
- Daniel 5:1King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
- Hosea 7:5On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with mockers.
- 1 Peter 4:3For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
- Revelation 11:10and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.
Commentaries on Mark 6:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Lords - , probably governors of particular districts. High captains - ; literally, chiefs or captains over a thousand men, military chiefs. Chief estates - ; probably such as might be called nobles by title only, having no office civil or military; probably magistrates. See Kypke an the place.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-29Verses 14-29 Herod feared John while he lived, and feared him still more when he was dead. Herod did many of those things which John in his preaching taught him; but it is not enough to do many things, we must have respect to all the commandments. Herod respected John, till he touched him in his Herodias. Thus many love good preaching, if it keep far away from their beloved sin. But it is better that sinners persecute ministers now for faithfulness, than…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-28Herodias'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).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. And when a convenient day--for the purposes of Herodias. was come, that Herod--rather, "A convenient day being come, when Herod." on his birthday, made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee--This graphic minuteness of detail adds much to the interest of the tragic narrative.Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 6:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 6
- 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
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