Mark 6:20 Meaning: Listening Gladly Without Repenting
for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly.
for Herod was fearing John, knowing him a man righteous and holy, and was keeping watch over him, and having heard him, was doing many things, and hearing him gladly.
for Herod feared John knowing that he was a just and holy man, and kept him safe; and having heard him, did many things, and heard him gladly.
Meaning in one sentence
Herod feared John, listened gladly, and kept him safe. But he still failed to repent and let John die. What went wrong?
Context
This verse comes in the middle of a flashback. King Herod Antipas has just heard about Jesus’ miracles, and his guilty conscience jumps to John the Baptist, whom he beheaded. Mark stops the story to show us how the trouble started. John had publicly told Herod that marrying his brother’s wife, Herodias, was not lawful. That angered Herodias, but it did not push Herod away. In fact, Herod was drawn to John. He protected him from Herodias, he listened to him repeatedly, and he felt the weight of his words. Yet by the end of the chapter, Herod will let his own pride and a reckless oath lead to John’s execution. The verse holds up a mirror to a divided heart.
Key Words
Two Greek words stand out. First, ephobeito is the verb behind “feared.” It can mean terror, but here it carries a sense of reverence and awe, the way a person might feel in the presence of someone whose life is truly holy. Herod did not simply dread John; he respected him, even had a kind of awe for him.
Second, sunetērei is translated “kept him safe” or “observed him.” It means to preserve, to guard carefully, as you would hold on to something fragile. Herod actively shielded John from Herodias’s schemes. He was not passive, he intervened to protect the man whose words unsettled him.
A third word worth noting appears in some ancient manuscripts: ēporei, meaning “he was perplexed.” Instead of “he did many things,” some of the oldest copies say Herod could not find his way through John’s message. He was stuck between admiration and sin, listening gladly but never resolving the knot in his conscience.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across Christian traditions, commentators see in Herod a picture of the stalled heart. Many Protestant interpreters, like Matthew Henry, emphasize that Herod did many things but not the one thing required, he would not put away his unlawful wife. Anglican scholars in the Cambridge Bible note that he sent for John again and again, much like Felix sent for Paul, drawn to truth but unwilling to break with sin.
Catholic and Orthodox readers have focused on the role of Herodias as a force of temptation that overwhelmed Herod’s better impulses, showing how even a receptive conscience can be crushed by persistent evil. All traditions agree that this verse exposes the gap between hearing truth gladly and living it out.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume that Herod’s fear of John and glad hearing meant he was close to repentance, perhaps even partly saved. In fact, the verse shows the opposite: Herod’s respect for John never crossed into surrender. He did everything except the one hard thing. You can honor a godly person, enjoy their teaching, and still remain trapped in sin. Herod is proof that admiration is not the same as obedience.
Living This Out
You might have a person in your life whose faith you respect deeply. You listen to them. You protect them. You even feel moved when they speak. But there is one area they keep pointing to, a pattern you refuse to change. Maybe it is a relationship you know is wrong, a habit you keep hidden, a forgiveness you will not offer. This verse asks: what is the one thing you are doing everything around but not doing itself? Herod’s story warns us that hearing gladly can become a substitute for obeying truly. The issue is not how much truth you hear, but what you do with the truth you already have.
Main takeaway: You can respect a godly person, hear truth gladly, and still refuse to do the one thing God requires of you.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Herod liked listening to John, but he didn’t do what John said. It’s like hearing your mom tell you to clean your room and saying “That’s a good idea”, but never picking up your toys.
For ages 9, 12
Herod is a warning for anyone who knows the right thing but won’t do it. He heard John’s words, he even enjoyed them, and he kept John safe from harm. But when it came to actually changing his life, especially leaving his wrong marriage, Herod said no. You can go to church, like the lessons, and respect your pastor, and still ignore what God is asking you to do. Real faith isn’t just listening; it’s doing.
Questions People Ask
Why did Herod protect John if he was the one who arrested him?
Herod arrested John because of pressure from Herodias. But once John was in custody, Herod showed him unusual favor. The Greek word for 'kept him safe' means he actively guarded him. He wanted to keep John alive, at least for a time, because he respected him and feared the people who saw John as a prophet.
What does 'observed him' mean in the King James Version?
The King James Version says Herod 'observed him,' but the margin notes the original word means 'kept him' or 'saved him.' It’s the same Greek verb used in Mark 2:22 for wine being 'preserved.' So Herod was preserving John’s life, not just watching him.
What is the textual variant in Mark 6:20?
Some early Greek manuscripts say Herod 'was much perplexed' (ēporei) when he heard John, while others say he 'did many things.' Both readings show Herod’s inner conflict. The 'perplexed' version emphasizes he didn’t know what to do. The 'did many things' version shows he made partial efforts but avoided the main issue. Most modern translations choose one or include both in a footnote.
Why did John say Herod's marriage was unlawful?
Herod Antipas had divorced his first wife and married Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, while Philip was still alive. This violated the Old Testament law in Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21, which forbid marrying your brother’s wife. John risked his life to speak the truth to power about this sin.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study