Mark 6:20 · Bible study
Mark 6:20 Commentary: The Divided Heart of a King
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Herod feared John, listened gladly, yet failed to repent, a study of grace resisted.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Herod respected and protected John, listened gladly, but never truly repented, a portrait of a conscience divided between admiration and sin.
- Key words: ephobeito (feared, imperfect), sunetērei (kept safe), ēporei (was perplexed) / epoiei (did); ēkouen (was hearing).
- Main debate: Whether the correct text reads “he did many things” (traditional) or “he was much perplexed” (better-attested). The meaning shifts from partial obedience to baffled inaction.
- Theological theme: The tragedy of near-belief, grace rejected not by anger but by evasion.
- Best use: A caution for those who admire Christian leaders and teachings but avoid costly obedience.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
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.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
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.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him willingly.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque Herodes temía á Juan, sabiendo que era varón justo y santo, y le tenía respeto: y oyéndole|strong="G0191, G0846", hacía muchas cosas; y le oía de buena gana.
pois Herodes temia João, sabendo que era um homem justo e santo, e o estimava. E quando o ouvia, ficava muito perplexo, o ouvia de boa vontade.
Mais elle ne le pouvait; car Hérode craignait Jean, le connaissant pour un homme juste et saint; il le protégeait, et, après l’ avoir entendu, il était souvent perplexe, et l’ écoutait avec plaisir.
Herodes aber fürchtete Johannes; denn er wußte, daß er ein frommer und heiliger Mann war; und verwahrte ihn und gehorchte ihm in vielen Sachen und hörte ihn gern.
Want Herodes vreesde Johannes, wetende, dat hij een rechtvaardig en heilig man was, en hield hem in waarde; en als hij hem hoorde, deed hij vele dingen, en hoorde hem gaarne.
perché Erode avea soggezione di Giovanni, sapendolo uomo giusto e santo, e lo proteggeva; dopo averlo udito era molto perplesso, e l’ascoltava volentieri.
Albowiem Herod obawiał się Jana, wiedząc, iż był mężem sprawiedliwym i świętym; i oglądał się nań, i słuchając go, wiele czynił i rad go słuchał.
Ибо Ирод боялся Иоанна, зная, что он муж праведный и святой, и берег его; многое делал, слушаясь его, и с удовольствием слушал его.
因為 希律 知道 約翰 是義 人， 是聖人，所以敬畏 他， 保護 他， 聽 他講論，就多照著行（有古卷：游移不定），並且 樂意 聽 他。
For Herod was in fear of John, being conscious that he was an upright and holy man, and kept him safe. And hearing him, he was much troubled; and he gave ear to him gladly.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 6:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse exposes the painful paradox of Herod Antipas. He feared John, the Greek imperfect ephobeito suggests a continuing, uneasy respect mixed with dread. He also protected John (συνετήρει, sunetērei: he kept him safe from Herodias’s schemes). He listened gladly, and according to some manuscripts, he “did many things” in response. Yet he never did the one thing demanded: he never put away his unlawful wife. Barnes calls this “a compromise with conscience.” Cambridge Bible notes that Herod did many things, but not “the thing.” Herod’s admiration remained superficial. He wanted John’s approval without John’s God. The verse holds up a mirror to any heart that hears good preaching but hedges on obedience.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Traditional view (partial obedience): The reading 'he did many things' (TR/KJV). Herod made some reforms but not the essential one.
- Modern critical view (baffled inaction): The reading 'he was much perplexed' (UBS/NA). Herod's conscience was trapped between fear and desire.
What is clear: Herod genuinely admired John and heard him gladly, yet he never repented of his sin with Herodias, and ultimately consented to John's execution.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Herod's fear | All traditions see Herod's fear as real, a mix of reverence, dread, and political caution. | Some (Gill, Barnes) emphasize fear of the multitude (Matthew 14:5); others (Wesley, Cambridge) stress personal awe at John's holiness. Both motives likely coexist. |
| Textual variant: did many things vs. was perplexed | The verse describes a positive yet incomplete response from Herod. | The UBS/NA text adopts <em>ēporei</em> (perplexed); the TR has <em>epoiei</em> (did). Most modern translations (ASV, BSB, YLT) follow the perplexed reading, while KJV/Douay follow the majority text. Perplexed highlights inner turmoil; did many things highlights partial obedience. |
| Could Herod be saved? | Herod is seen as a negative example of hearing without repentance. | Some traditions (Calvinist) view Herod as reprobate; others (Arminian) see him as resisting grace. Both agree his final state is one of judgment. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Herod Antipas ruled Galilee and Perea as a Roman tetrarch (4 BC, AD 39). He had divorced his first wife, the daughter of the Nabatean king Aretas, to marry Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, a union John the Baptist denounced as unlawful (Leviticus 18:16). John’s public rebuke put Herod in a political bind. John was hugely popular; Flavius Josephus confirms his influence. To kill him risked riot. To tolerate him risked undercutting Herod’s moral authority.
Herodias, by contrast, saw John as a threat to her marriage and position. The verse says she “had a quarrel against him and desired to kill him”, the Greek verb eneichen (ἐνεῖχεν) suggests a persistent, deep-seated grudge. Herod became the pivot between her fury and John’s integrity. He kept John in protective custody at Machaerus, a fortress east of the Dead Sea, and may have brought him up to Galilee for private audiences. The imperfect tenses in verse 20, “he used to hear him . . . he used to be perplexed (or do many things)”, indicate repeated, ongoing contact. Herod came close, again and again.
Literarily, Mark places this flashback just after the disciples return from their mission and just before the feeding of the five thousand. The story sets the stage: Herod’s guilty conscience thinks Jesus is John risen from the dead. It also frames the cost of discipleship, the forerunner dies, and his death foreshadows the path Jesus will walk.
Textual Notes
The external evidence strongly favors ἠπόρει (ēporei, “he was perplexed”) over ἐποίει (epoiei, “he did”). The perplexed reading is supported by early Alexandrian manuscripts (א, B, L) and is adopted by the UBS/NA text. Vincent’s Word Studies calls the alternative “meaningless.” The Byzantine tradition has “did many things,” which the KJV follows. The difference: perplexed highlights Herod’s internal confusion; did many things suggests he made some superficial changes.
Reception History
Early church interpreters saw Herod as a type of the wavering soul, a person who respects God’s messenger but is bound by passion. Chrysostom used him as a warning against allowing sinful relationships to harden the heart. Medieval moral readings (e.g., the Glossa Ordinaria) contrasted Herod’s “glad hearing” with Cain’s hatred, yet still placed him among the lost. Reformation commentators (Calvin, Geneva Notes) highlighted the insufficiency of natural reverence: Herod’s fear of John was a gift of common grace that did not save. Modern preachers often use the passage to illustrate the danger of “almost Christian” faith, close to the kingdom, but unwilling to enter through the narrow gate.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Herod’s respect was real but shallow. He feared John, protected him, listened with pleasure. He admired John’s righteousness and holiness. But admiration is not repentance.
- Herod’s conscience was stirred but not surrendered. He “did many things”, or, in the better-attested reading, “was much perplexed.” Either way, his heart was troubled by John’s words. Yet he never broke with his sin.
- Herod’s fear of people overcame his fear of God. At the banquet, peer pressure and a rash oath overrode his deference to John. He silenced the voice he had once protected.
Five-point outline
- A torn king and a faithful prophet (vv. 17, 19).
- Herod’s strange respect for John (v. 20a).
- The near-miss of regular hearing (v. 20b).
- The trap set by Herodias and the banquet (vv. 21, 25).
- The king who saved face but lost his soul (vv. 26, 29).
Illustration hooks
- A person who listens to sermons every Sunday, nods along, even gives generously, but won’t break off a secret relationship or habit they know is wrong.
- A leader who protects a whistleblower in private but caves when powerful friends pressure them to cut ties.
- Someone who respects a Christian colleague’s integrity, asks for advice, but never follows through because the cost is too high.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Can I respect godly people and still not be saved? (This verse shows it is possible.)
- How do I tell the difference between genuine conviction and mere admiration?
- What is the “one thing” I am holding back from God?
Leading a Discussion
This passage confronts us with a sobering truth: a person can be drawn to God’s messenger, even protect him and listen gladly, and still remain unchanged at the core. Herod serves as a warning against a faith that respects without obeying.
Discussion questions
- Read Mark 6:17, 20. What specific qualities in John did Herod recognize and respect?
- Why do you think Herod “kept him safe” rather than releasing or executing John? What does this tell you about Herod’s motives?
- Compare the variant readings “he did many things” and “he was much perplexed.” How does each reading shape your understanding of Herod’s response?
- What does it mean to “hear gladly” but not change? Can you think of modern examples?
- Herod protected John from Herodias for a time. Why did he ultimately give in? What pressures were at work?
- In verse 26, Herod was “exceedingly sorry” but still ordered the execution. What forces (fear, pride, social pressure) can override a troubled conscience?
- How can we guard ourselves against being “like Herod”, close to the truth but not transformed by it?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 11:3 | Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people. |
| I Kings 21:20 | Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in Yahweh’s sight. |
| II Kings 3:12 | Jehoshaphat said, “Yahweh’s word is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. |
| II Kings 3:13 | Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother.” The king of Israel said to him, “No, for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” |
| II Kings 6:21 | The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?” |
| II Kings 13:14 | Now Elisha became sick with the illness of which he died; and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” |
| II Chronicles 24:2 | Joash did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest. |
| II Chronicles 24:15 | But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died. He was one hundred thirty years old when he died. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that Herod did many things for John, even protecting him, but refused the one thing God demanded: breaking off his sin. He tried to quiet his conscience with lesser acts of respect, expecting them to substitute for genuine repentance and obedience.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that "observed him" means Herod kept John safe from his wife's schemes. The Greek shows Herod listened gladly many times and did many things in response, but never the one essential thing: he would not put away his unlawful wife. Partial obedience was his tragic failure.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
For Herod feared Iohn, knowing that hee was a iust man, and an holy, and reuerenced him, and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill points out that Herod's fear of John was a mix of reverence and dread, rooted in his recognition of John as a truly just and holy man. This kept Herod from killing John despite Herodias's pressure, and even led him to listen gladly and reform outwardly. Yet Gill stresses this was only natural affection and external change, not saving grace.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB draws attention to the striking contrast between Herod's fear of John and John's complete fearlessness toward Herod. Herod recognized John's holiness and listened to him willingly, even doing many good things under John's influence. Yet Herodias so manipulated him that he finally carried out what his own awakened conscience had long resisted.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that Mark gives only the most essential points of the mission because he records the first, historical sending of the Twelve, not an ideal blueprint for all later missions. The staff and sandals were allowed because Jesus meant them to go with what they already had, not to seek special equipment. Mark's emphasis on power over unclean spirits aligns with his Gospel's focus.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that Herod's guilty conscience made him superstitiously believe John the Baptist had risen, despite having beheaded him. He points out the tragedy of Herod hearing John gladly and doing many things, yet still yielding to sin and the pressure of his oath and guests.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent corrects two common mistranslations in this verse. What appears as "observed him" actually means "kept him safe" in the sense of guarding. And the standard rendering "did many things" is a copyist error; the original Greek means "was much perplexed," unable to find a way out.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights the hollow nature of Herod's gladness: he heard John gladly and even sought him out during his long imprisonment, yet he still held Herodias close. This delusive joy shows that hearing the truth with pleasure means nothing if cherished sin is not let go.