Bible Strands
Matthew 14:4
because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The text records John’s prior warning to Herod regarding his marriage to Herodias, delivered before or during the arrest, not while John was already confined. Herod had bound John and placed him in prison precisely because of this confrontation.
The words — ἔλεγεν (elegen) translates to "was saying" or "had been telling," indicating ongoing or repeated speech, while ἔξεστὸν (exestin) means "it is lawful," framing the issue as one of legal or moral permission rather than personal preference.
The thread — This declaration echoes the prohibitions against marrying a brother’s wife found in Leviticus 18:16 and Leviticus 20:21, and is explicitly paralleled in Mark 6:18.
Why it lands — The verse establishes a clear boundary of divine law that confronts human authority, requiring the reader to recognize that moral accountability precedes political power.
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 John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 20:21 If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.
- Leviticus 18:16 You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.
- Mark 6:18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”
- Deuteronomy 25:5 When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her.
- 2 Samuel 12:7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
- 1 Kings 21:19 Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”
- 2 Chronicles 26:18 They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.”
- Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
- Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
- Acts 24:24 After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.