Mattityahu 14:7

7 Herod, therefore, with a shevuah, promised to give to her whatever she might ask.

Mattityahu 14:7 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 14:7

Whereupon he promised with an oath
On account of her fine dancing, and being extremely pleased with it himself; and the more, that it gave such pleasure to the whole court: he first promised her,

to give her whatsoever she would ask;
and then repeating it, he confirmed it with an oath; adding, as Mark says, that he would give it her, even "to the half of his kingdom": a way of speaking used by princes, when they give full power to persons to ask what they will of them; and to express their great munificence and liberality; signifying, let it be ever so great, or cost what it will, though as much as half a kingdom comes to, it shall be granted; see ( Esther 5:3 Esther 5:6 ) . A very foolish promise, and a rash oath these, which were made upon such a consideration, as only a fine dance. If she, as Theophylact observes, had asked for his head, would he have given it her? And if he swore by his head, which was a common form of swearing with the Jews ^F21, she very appropriately, though unjustly, as Dr. Lightfoot observes, answers to him; as you have swore by your head, give me John Baptist's head.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Misn. Sanhedrim, c. 3. sect 2. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 3. 1. Derech Eretz, c. 6. fol. 18. 2.

Mattityahu 14:7 In-Context

5 And [although] Herod was desiring to kill Yochanan, he feared the crowd, because they considered Yochanan a Navi.

6 Now at the yom huledet celebration of Herod, it came about that the daughter of Herodias danced before them and Herod was pleased.

7 Herod, therefore, with a shevuah, promised to give to her whatever she might ask.

8 So she, prompted by her mother, said, Give to me here upon a serving tray the rosh (head) Yochanan of the tevilah of teshuva.

9 And, although grieving, the king commanded [it] to be given, on account of the shevuot (oaths) and the fellow muzmanim (guests)