Bible Strands
Mark 6:20
because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes Herod’s posture toward the imprisoned John, situated between Herodias’s thwarted murder plot in Mark 6:19 and the banquet that will provide her chance in Mark 6:21.
The words — ἐφοβεῖτο (ephobeito) translates literally as “was afraid of” or “feared,” and εἰδὼς (eidōs) means “knowing.”
The thread — This mixture of political caution and prophetic reverence recurs in Matthew 14:5, where Herod fears the crowd’s view of John, and Matthew 21:26, where religious leaders fear the people’s judgment.
Why it lands — The text records Herod’s simultaneous protection, perplexity, and glad listening, requiring the reader to confront how reverence for truth can coexist with moral hesitation and delayed obedience.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
Cross-references
- Matthew 21:26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
- Matthew 14:5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
- 2 Chronicles 24:15 When Jehoiada was old and full of years, he died at the age of 130.
- John 5:35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.
- Exodus 11:3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.
- 1 Kings 21:20 When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Kings 3:12 Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
- 2 Kings 6:21 And when the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”
- 2 Kings 13:14 When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
- 2 Chronicles 24:2 And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.