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 6:17KJVWhat does Mark 6:17 mean?
Mark 6:17 explains that King Herod had John the Baptist arrested and put in prison because of Herodias, who had been married to Herod’s brother Philip but was now married to Herod. The verse highlights that Herod’s actions were motivated by his relationship with Herodias.
In this verse, the Gospel writer is giving background on why John the Baptist ended up in prison. Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, had taken his brother’s wife, Herodias, as his own, which was seen as scandalous and unlawful. John the Baptist had publicly criticized this marriage, and as a result, Herod had him arrested to appease Herodias.
The Greek behind Mark 6:17
- The word for "bound" is δέω (deō), which means to tie or imprison. This emphasizes that John was not just detained but physically restrained and kept under guard.
- The phrase "for Herodias' sake" uses διά (dia), which often means "because of" or "on account of." This clarifies that Herod’s main reason for arresting John was pressure from Herodias, not simply a political decision.
- The word "married" is γαμέω (gameō), which refers to entering into a marriage relationship. The Greek here makes clear that Herod had formally taken Herodias as his wife, not just living with her.
Why Mark 6:17 matters
- Mark 6:17 clears up that John’s imprisonment was not just a random act but was directly tied to his criticism of Herod’s marriage to Herodias, which was considered improper by Jewish law.
- The verse sets the stage for the conflict that leads to John the Baptist’s eventual execution, showing the personal and political tensions at play.
- Understanding this background helps explain why Herodias held such a grudge against John and why Herod felt compelled to act, even if he was uneasy about it.