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

18For 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 because 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. 21But a suitable day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will 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 11:18The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and they considered how they could assassinate him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching.
• Exodus 11:3(Now the Lord granted the people favor with the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s servants and by the Egyptian people.)
• 1 Kings 21:20When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So, you have found me, my enemy!” Elijah replied, “I have found you, because you are committed to doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
• 2 Kings 3:12Jehoshaphat said, “The Lord speaks through him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to visit him.
• 2 Kings 6:21When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Should I strike them down, my master?”
• 2 Kings 13:14Now Elisha had a terminal illness. King Joash of Israel went down to visit him. He wept before him and said, “My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!”
• 2 Chronicles 24:2Joash did what the Lord approved throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.
• 2 Chronicles 26:5He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed.
• Ezekiel 2:5And as for them, whether they listen or not – for they are a rebellious house – they will know that a prophet has been among them.
• Daniel 4:18“This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, for none of the wise men in my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
• Daniel 5:17But Daniel replied to the king, “Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its interpretation.
• Matthew 14:5Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet.
• Matthew 21:26But if we say, ‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.”
• Mark 4:16These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy.
• Psalms 106:12They believed his promises; they sang praises to him.
• Ezekiel 33:32Realize that to them you are like a sensual song, a beautiful voice and skilled musician. They hear your words, but they do not obey 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