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.
• 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

16When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.” 17For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her. John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, 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, for this would violate your brother.
• Leviticus 20:21“If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has violated his brother, and the guilty couple will remain childless.
• 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what the Lord tells me to say.”
• Ezekiel 3:18If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
• Matthew 14:3For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).
• Acts 20:26I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault,
• Acts 24:24A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them 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