Bible Strands
Matthew 14:6
On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Herod presides over a birthday gathering where Herodias’s daughter performs a dance for his guests. This moment occurs after Herod’s hesitation to execute John and immediately precedes his rash oath.
The words — ὠρχήσατο (ōrchēsato) means danced, describing a formal performance, and γενεσίοις (genesiois) specifies the occasion as a birthday feast.
The thread — This birthday banquet motif echoes Mark 6:21 and Genesis 40:20, where rulers host feasts for officials and military commanders.
Why it lands — The text states that a royal daughter performed a dance that pleased Herod during his birthday gathering. This moment requires the reader to observe how public entertainment can directly trigger a leader’s rash political promises.
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
But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 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.
- Hosea 1:5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
- Esther 1:2 In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
- Matthew 22:24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.
- Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.
- 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.
- Daniel 5:1 Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.
- Mark 6:19 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,
- Luke 3:19 But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,