Matthew 14:1-11

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2 and said to his servants, This is John the baptist: *he* is risen from the dead, and because of this these works of power display their force in him.

3 For Herod had seized John, and had bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother.

4 For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

5 And [while] desiring to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they held him for a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod;

7 whereupon he promised with oath to give her whatsoever she should ask.

8 But she, being set on by her mother, says, Give me here upon a dish the head of John the baptist.

9 And the king was grieved; but on account of the oaths, and those lying at table with [him], he commanded [it] to be given.

10 And he sent and beheaded John in the prison;

11 and his head was brought upon a dish, and was given to the damsel, and she carried [it] to her mother.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit. 'the:' see ch. 15.12.
• [b]. As nearly as possible 'operate in him.' The passage has a certain reflexive force as in French, s'operent par lui. I have sought to preserve this by adding 'their force:' the difficulty partly arises from the word which is used for the effects of power, being the plural of power itself, because the power which wrought is more seen than the effects. 'Powers' and 'miracles' are the same in Greek. Hence it may be translated, 'these powers operate in him;' but its reflexive force is, I doubt not, the true one. For the sense, however, I should not object to 'display themselves in him.'
• [c]. Imperfect tense. Lit. 'kept on saying.' See Mark 6.18, and cf. Mark 1.45.
• [d]. Or 'instructed.'