New English Translation
Mark 6:18
18For John had repeatedly told Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Mark 6:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
- New International Version (NIV)For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Context of Mark 6:18
16But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!” 17For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had repeatedly told Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not 20because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John.
Read all of Mark 6Mark 6:18 word by word
ἔλεγεν γὰρ ὁ Ἰωάννης τῷ Ἡρῴδῃ ὅτι οὐκ ἔξεστίν σοι ἔχειν τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- Johnὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
- had saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto HerodἩρώδηςHērōdēs · HerodG2264
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- It isἔξεστι, ἐξόνexesti · be permittedG1832
- notοὐou · noG3756
- for theeσύsu · youG4771
- to haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- brother’sἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
Cross-references for Mark 6:18
- Leviticus 18:16You must not have sexual intercourse with your brother’s wife; she is your brother’s nakedness.
- Leviticus 20:21If a man has sexual intercourse with his brother’s wife, it is indecency. He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; they will be childless.
- 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the Lord lives, I will say what the Lord tells me to say.”
- Ezekiel 3:18When I say to the wicked, “You will certainly die,” and you do not warn him – you do not speak out to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked deed and wicked lifestyle so that he may live – that wicked person will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death.
- Matthew 14:3For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
- Acts 20:26Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all.
- Acts 24:24Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
Commentaries on Mark 6:18
- 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. 18Mark explains the moral and religious reason for the arrest and execution of John the Baptist. The Jewish historian Josephus gives a political reason instead. He says Herod feared that John’s popularity might lead to a rebellion (Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2). In a similar way, the charges against Jesus began as religious concerns (Mark 14:63–64). But when he was brought before Pontius Pilate, the charges became political (15:2; Luke 23:2–3). It is not…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife--Noble fidelity! It was not lawful because Herod's wife and Herodias' husband were both living; and further, because the parties were within the forbidden degrees of consanguinity (see Le 20:21); Herodias being the daughter of Aristobulus, the brother of both Herod and Philip [Josephus, Antiquities, 18.5,4].Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 6:18
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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