Mark 6:18

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.
• 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.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.”

Context of Mark 6:18

16But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” 17For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20because 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.

Mark 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 18:16“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.
• Leviticus 20:21“ ‘If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonored his brother. They will be childless.
• 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”
• Ezekiel 3:18When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
• Matthew 14:3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
• Acts 20:26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.
• Acts 24:24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke 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

• Adultery
• Herod
• Incest
• John
• Marriage
• Martyrdom
• Minister, Christian
• Politics
• Reproof
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Herod
• Herod, Herod Antipas
• Herod, Herod the Great
• Brother's Wife
• Estate
• Fifty
• Folk
• Herodias
• Machaerus
• Miracle

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