Mark 6:20

Mark 6:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
• New International Version (NIV)because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Context of Mark 6:20

18John had been telling Herod, “It’s not right for you to be married to your brother’s wife.” 19So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she wasn’t allowed to do it because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him. 21An opportunity finally came on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee. 22His daughter, that is, Herodias’ daughter, came in and danced. Herod and his guests were delighted with her. The king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

Mark 6:20 word by word

ὁ γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ἐφοβεῖτο τὸν Ἰωάννην εἰδὼς αὐτὸν ἄνδρα δίκαιον καὶ ἅγιον καὶ συνετήρει αὐτόν. καὶ ἀκούσας αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἠπόρει, καὶ ἡδέως αὐτοῦ ἤκουεν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• HerodἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
• fearedφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• knowingεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• that heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• was a justδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
• manἀνήρanēr · manG435
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• an holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• observedσυντηρέωsuntēreō · to preserveG4933
• when he heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• he didποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• many thingsπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• gladlyἡδέωςhēdeōs · gladlyG2234

Cross-references for Mark 6:20

• Mark 11:18When the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings heard him, they looked for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him because he amazed all the crowds with his teaching.
• Exodus 11:3The Lord made the Egyptians kind to the people. And Moses was highly respected by Pharaoh’s officials and all the Egyptians.
• 1 Kings 21:20Ahab asked Elijah, “So you’ve found me, my enemy?” Elijah answered, “I found you. Because you sold yourself to do what the Lord considers evil.
• 2 Kings 3:12Jehoshaphat said, “The Lord’s word is with him.” So King Jehoshaphat of Judah, the king of Israel, and the king of Edom went to Elisha.
• 2 Kings 6:21When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Master, should I kill them? Should I kill them?”
• 2 Kings 13:14Elisha became fatally ill. King Jehoash of Israel visited him, cried over him, and said, “Master! Master! Israel’s chariot and horses!”
• 2 Chronicles 24:2Joash did what the Lord considered right, as long as the priest Jehoiada lived.
• 2 Chronicles 26:5He dedicated his life to serving God in the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. As long as he dedicated his life to serving the Lord, the Lord gave him success.
• Ezekiel 2:5Whether these rebellious people listen or not, they will realize that a prophet has been among them.
• Daniel 4:18⌞I said,⌟ “This is the dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning because the wise advisers in my kingdom can’t tell it to me. However, you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
• Daniel 5:17Daniel told the king, “Keep your gifts. Give your gifts and awards to someone else. I’ll still read the writing for you and tell you its meaning.
• Matthew 14:5So Herod wanted to kill John. However, he was afraid of the people because they thought John was a prophet.
• Matthew 21:26But if we say, ‘from humans,’ we’re afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet.”
• Mark 4:16Other people are like seeds that were planted on rocky ground. Whenever they hear the word, they accept it at once with joy.
• Psalms 106:12Then our ancestors believed what he said. They sang his praise.
• Ezekiel 33:32To them you are nothing more than a singer with a beautiful voice who sings love songs or a musician who plays an instrument. They listen to your words, but they don’t do them.

Commentaries on Mark 6:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14-20Verses 14-20 See this account of the death of John the Baptist fully explained in the notes at Matthew 14:1-12. Mark 6:20 For Herod feared John - That is, he stood in awe of him on account of his sanctity, and his boldness and fearlessness in reproving sin. Knowing that he was a just man and an Holy - A holy, pious, upright, honest man - a man who would not be afraid of him, or afraid to speak his real sentiments. And observed him - Margin, “kept him, or…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. 2020. For Herod feared John--but, as Bengel notes, John feared not Herod. knowing that he was a just man and an holy--Compare the case of Elijah with Ahab, after the murder of Naboth (1Ki 21:20). and observed him--rather, as in the Margin, "kept" or "saved him"; that is, from the wicked designs of Herodias, who had been watching for some pretext to get Herod entangled and committed to despatch him. and when he heard him, he did many things--many good things…Read the comment

Topics related to Mark 6:20

• Herod
• John
• Martyrdom
• Minister, Christian
• Politics
• Revenge
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Herod
• Herod, Herod Antipas
• Herod, Herod the Great
• Estate
• Fifty
• Folk
• Herodias
• Machaerus
• Miracle
• Quarrel

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