Bible Strands
Mark 6:21
On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Herod hosting a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and leading men of Galilee on his birthday. This event occurs after Herod’s documented fear and protection of John the Baptist and immediately precedes the appearance of Herodias’s daughter.
The words — The Greek phrase εὐκαιρίας γενομένης (eukairias genomenēs) literally translates to "when an opportune time was coming." It functions as a narrative pivot marking the transition from Herod’s internal hesitation to external political action.
The thread — Royal birthday banquets for officials appear in Genesis 40:20 and Esther 2:18, establishing a recurring biblical pattern where celebratory feasts trigger consequential decisions. These parallels frame the gathering as a structural catalyst rather than a mere historical detail.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe how institutional celebration creates openings for moral compromise. It demands recognition that political loyalty and festive pressure can override personal conviction without moral justification.
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
And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
Cross-references
- Esther 2:18 Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.
- Genesis 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
- Genesis 27:41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
- 2 Samuel 13:23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king.
- Esther 1:3 In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
- Esther 3:7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
- Psalms 37:12 The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
- Proverbs 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
- Daniel 5:1 Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.
- Hosea 7:5 The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.