Mark 6:16-26

16 But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen!"

17 For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of ¹Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.

18 For John had been saying to Herod, "²It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

19 ³Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so;

20 for ⁴Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.

21 A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday ⁵gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men ⁶of Galilee;

22 and when the daughter of ⁷Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever * you want and I will give it to you."

23 And he swore to her, "Whatever * you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to ⁸half of my kingdom."

24 And she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

25 Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

26 And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling * to refuse her.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 14:3; Luke 3:19
• 2. Matthew 14:4
• 3. Matthew 14:3
• 4. Matthew 21:26
• 5. Esther 1:3; Esther 2:18
• 6. Luke 3:1
• 7. Matthew 14:3
• 8. Esther 5:3, 6; Esther 7:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "and"
• [b]. Lit "was hearing him gladly"
• [c]. I.e. chiliarchs, in command of a thousand troops
• [d]. Lit "those who reclined at the table with him"
• [e]. Lit "those reclining at the table"