Bible Strands
Matthew 14:5
Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Herod's internal conflict regarding John the Baptist immediately after John publicly condemned Herod's marriage to Herodias as unlawful.
The words — The Greek verb ἐφοβήθη (ephobēthē) literally means "he feared," directly explaining why Herod's desire to kill John was restrained by the crowd's reverence.
The thread — This dynamic between political authority and popular prophetic reverence appears in Matthew 11:9, where Jesus confirms John's prophetic status, and in Matthew 21:26, where religious leaders fear the crowds for the identical reason.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that human power remains constrained when a population collectively honors a figure as divinely appointed, regardless of a ruler's private intentions.
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 he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
Cross-references
- Matthew 11:9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
- Matthew 21:26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
- Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
- Mark 6:19 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,
- Mark 11:30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!”
- Mark 14:1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.
- Luke 20:6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
- Acts 4:21 After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.
- Acts 5:26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.