Mark 6:19

19 Therefore Herodias hated him and wished to take his life, but could not;

Mark 6:19 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 6:19

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him
Was angry with him, conceived wrath, and laid up hatred against him, and was an adversary to him; which is the sense of the Oriental versions. She bore him an inward grudge, and lay in wait to take the first opportunity of dispatching him:

and would have killed him, but she could not;
being hindered by Herod, who as yet would not suffer it; partly through fear of the people, and partly through the respect he had for John.

Mark 6:19 In-Context

17 For Herod himself had sent and had had John arrested and had kept him in prison in chains, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.

18 For John had repeatedly told Herod, "You have no right to be living with your brother's wife."

19 Therefore Herodias hated him and wished to take his life, but could not;

20 for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and yet he found a pleasure in listening.

21 At length Herodias found her opportunity. Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to the nobles of his court and to the tribunes and the principal people in Galilee,