Luk 9:7-8 | NETfull | STEP | Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead,

Luke 9:7-8

Herod’s Confusion about Jesus

7 Now Herod ^{▼▼ Herod refers here to Herod Antipas. See the note on Herod Antipas in 3:1.} the tetrarch ^{▼▼ See the note on tetrarch in 3:1.} heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, ^{▼▼ Or “was very confused.” See L&N 32.10 where this verse is given as an example of the usage.} because some people were saying that John ^{▼▼ John refers to John the Baptist, whom Herod had beheaded (v. 9).} had been raised from the dead, 8 while others were saying that Elijah ^{▼▼ The appearance of Elijah would mean that the end time had come. According to 2 Kgs 2:11, Elijah was still alive. In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.} had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. ^{▼▼ The phrase had risen could be understood to mean “had been resurrected,” but this is only a possible option, not a necessary one, since the phrase could merely mean that a figure had appeared on the scene who mirrored an earlier historical figure. The three options of vv. 7–8 will be repeated in v. 19.}