Bible Strands
Mark 6:23
And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Herod speaks to the daughter of Herodias immediately after she dances and pleases him and his guests. He declares he will give her whatever she asks, even up to half his kingdom.
The words — The text records ὤμοσεν (ōmosen) as he swore and ὅ τι (ho ti) as whatever thing. These Greek terms mark a formal oath with open-ended conditions.
The thread — The narrative parallels Esther 5:3, Esther 5:6, and Esther 7:2 where Persian kings offer up to half the kingdom. This literary echo frames Herod’s promise as a conventional royal decree.
Why it lands — The verse states a ruler’s binding vow that enables a destructive request. It requires the reader to recognize how unbounded promises remove necessary restraint.
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 he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
Cross-references
- Esther 5:3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
- Esther 7:2 and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
- Esther 5:6 And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
- Matthew 4:9 “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
- 1 Samuel 28:10 Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”
- 2 Kings 6:31 He announced, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders through this day!”
- Proverbs 6:2 if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
- Matthew 14:7 so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.
- Matthew 5:34 But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;