1At that appointed time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus [14:2] and said to his attendants: This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him. [14:3] For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. [14:4] For John had been saying to him: It is not lawful for you to have her. [14:5] And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. [14:6] But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, [14:7] so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. [14:8] She, prompted by her mother, said: Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. [14:9] The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and the guests he commanded it to be given, [14:10] and he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. [14:11] His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. [14:12] And his disciples came and took the corpse and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.
MAT 14:1-12
The Beheading of John
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Herodian court, Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, ruled as a client king under Roman authority. His marriage to Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, violated Jewish law, which forbade such unions (Leviticus 18:16). John the Baptist’s public condemnation of this marriage placed him in direct conflict with Herod’s authority and honor, a dangerous position in a culture where public shame could destabilize a ruler’s legitimacy. Herod’s fear of the crowds, who regarded John as a prophet, reflects the precarious balance of power in Roman-controlled territories, where rulers often sought to placate both Roman overlords and local populations. The term here refers to Herod’s household servants, a common feature of elite Roman and Herodian households. The mention of (miraculous powers) reflects the widespread belief in supernatural abilities attributed to prophetic figures. Herod’s superstitious fear that Jesus was John resurrected underscores the cultural weight of resurrection beliefs in Jewish thought and the political anxiety surrounding charismatic leaders.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MAT 14:1
- KJV
- At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
- BSB
- At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus
- Koinōnos
- At that appointed time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus
MAT 14:2
- KJV
- And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
- BSB
- and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
- Koinōnos
- and said to his attendants: This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.
MAT 14:3
- KJV
- For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
- BSB
- Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philipʼs wife,
- Koinōnos
- For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.
MAT 14:4
- KJV
- For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
- BSB
- because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
- Koinōnos
- For John had been saying to him: It is not lawful for you to have her.
MAT 14:5
- KJV
- And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
- BSB
- Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
- Koinōnos
- And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet.
MAT 14:6
- KJV
- But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
- BSB
- On Herodʼs birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
- Koinōnos
- But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod,
MAT 14:7
- KJV
- Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
- BSB
- so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.
- Koinōnos
- so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
MAT 14:8
- KJV
- And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
- BSB
- Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
- Koinōnos
- She, prompted by her mother, said: Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.
MAT 14:9
- KJV
- And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
- BSB
- The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted
- Koinōnos
- The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and the guests he commanded it to be given,
MAT 14:10
- KJV
- And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
- BSB
- and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.
- Koinōnos
- and he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
MAT 14:11
- KJV
- And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
- BSB
- Johnʼs head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
- Koinōnos
- His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
MAT 14:12
- KJV
- And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
- BSB
- Then Johnʼs disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- And his disciples came and took the corpse and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.8.1
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.5.2
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 19.8.3
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.8.1
“And now Archelaus's part of Judea was reduced into a province, and Coponius, one of the equestrian order among the Romans, was sent as a procurator”
Cited to ground: Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, ruled as a client king under Roman authority.
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.5.2
“Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him”
Cited to ground: His marriage to Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, violated Jewish law, which forbade such unions
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 19.8.3
“Herod the king of Chalcis, and Helcias the master of his horse, and the king's friend, sent Aristo, one of the king's most faithful servants”
Cited to ground: The term here refers to Herod’s household servants, a common feature of elite Roman and Herodian households.
Translator's notes
MAT 14:1
- time:The word translated 'time' here refers to a specific, opportune moment or season, rather than just a general passage of time. It implies a significant or appointed time.
MAT 14:2
- servants:The word translated 'servants' can also mean 'child' or 'boy.' In this context, it likely refers to young attendants or personal servants, emphasizing their subordinate status.
- miraculous powers:The term translated 'miraculous powers' literally means 'power' or 'ability.' It refers to inherent strength or capacity, often manifested in extraordinary deeds or miracles.
MAT 14:12
- body:The word translated 'body' specifically refers to a fallen body or a corpse. It emphasizes the state of death rather than just a living physical form.