Mark 6:26

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

Mark 6:26 in Other Translations

26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.

26 Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her.

26 That sobered the king up fast. But unwilling to lose face with his guests, he caved in and let her have her wish.

26 Though the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her.

Mark 6:26 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 6:26

And the king was exceeding sorry
(See Gill on Matthew 14:9)

yet for his oath's sake, [and] for their sakes which sat with him;
as Matthew adds, "at meat", ( Matthew 14:9 ) ; for it seems as if supper was not over, when all this was transacting.

He would not reject her;
deny her her request, or send her away without granting it which could not be without grieving her, and treating her with contempt, and defrauding her of the promise; all which ideas are expressed by some versions.

Mark 6:26 In-Context

24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,

28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.