Mark 6:26

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];

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 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];

27 but he sent a man-queller and commanded, that John's head were brought in a dish [but a man-queller sent, he commanded the head of John Baptist to be brought]. And he beheaded him in the prison,

28 and brought his head in a dish, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.