New King James Version
Mark 6:21
21Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading 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
19Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20for 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. 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. 22And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half 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 27:41So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
- 2 Samuel 13:23And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so 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, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
- Psalms 37:12The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.
- Acts 12:2Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
- Genesis 40:20Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
- Esther 1:3that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him—
- Esther 2:18Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king.
- Proverbs 31:4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
- Daniel 5:1Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.
- Hosea 7:5In the day of our king Princes have made him sick, inflamed with wine; He stretched out his hand with scoffers.
- 1 Peter 4:3For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
- Revelation 11:10And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries