Mark 6:24

24 And when she had gone out, she said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John Baptist [And she said, The head of John the Baptist].

Mark 6:24 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 6:24

And she went forth and said unto her mother
The king having made such a promise to her, and annexed his oath to it, she thought proper before she asked any thing of him, to withdraw from the hall and company, and consider with herself, and consult with her mother, who was not at the entertainment; it being not usual in those eastern countries, for women to sit at table, at any grand festival: to whom she reported the offer the king had made, and desired she would be pleased to direct her, what request to make saying,

what shall I ask?
To which her mother made answer, without taking any further time to think of it, being prepared for it, and determined in her mind, whenever she had an opportunity of asking a favour of the king, what it should be:

and she said, the head of John the Baptist.
So sweet is revenge, that to have her will on that great and good man, was more to her, than to have half the king's dominions.

Mark 6:24 In-Context

22 And when the daughter of that Herodias was come in, and danced, and pleased to Herod, and also to men that sat at the meat [and pleased Herod, and also men sitting at the meat], the king said to the damsel, Ask thou of me what thou wilt, and I shall give to thee.

23 And he swore to her, That whatever thou [shalt] ask, I shall give to thee, though it be the half of my kingdom.

24 And when she had gone out, she said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John Baptist [And she said, The head of John the Baptist].

25 And when she was come in at once with haste to the king, she asked, and said, I will that at once thou give to me in a dish the head of John Baptist. [And when she had entered anon with haste to the king, she asked, saying, I will that anon thou give to me in a dish the head of John Baptist.]

26 And the king was sorry for the oath, and for men that sat together at the meat he would not make her sorry [and for men sitting together at the meat he would not make her heavy, or sorry];