For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

MARK 6:17KJV
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Mark 6:17 (KJV)

What does Mark 6:17 mean?

Mark 6:17 explains why John was in prison: Herod had ordered his arrest because of a dispute involving Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Herod had married her, and that marriage lay behind his action against John.

Mark tells this as part of an account that follows Herod’s reaction to reports about Jesus. The phrase “Herod himself” emphasizes that the ruler was personally responsible for having John seized and confined.

The Greek behind Mark 6:17

  • “laid hold upon” — κρατέω (krateō): This word can mean to seize or take into custody. Here it describes John’s arrest by Herod’s order, rather than a chance encounter.
  • “bound” — δέω (deō): This word means to bind or tie. It gives a concrete picture of John being held under restraint in prison.

Why Mark 6:17 matters

  • The dispute was about Herod’s marriage, not merely a personal dislike of John. The next verse explains that John had told Herod it was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife.
  • Herodias had her own hostility toward John. Mark 6:19 says she wanted him killed, while verse 20 describes Herod as fearing John and protecting him. That difference helps explain the tension in the events that follow.

Where else these words appear

“Herodias'” Greek G2266 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
  • Matthew 14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
  • Mark 6:22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

“married” Greek G1060 · used in 25 verses

  • Matthew 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
  • Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

“Philip's” Greek G5376 · used in 37 verses

  • Matthew 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
  • John 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
  • Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

“Herod” Greek G2264 · used in 41 verses

  • Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
  • Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
  • Luke 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.