Mat 14:1-12 | NETfull | STEP | At that time Herod the tetrarch heard reports about Jesus,

Matthew 14:1-12

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch ^{▼▼ A tetrarch, a ruler with rank and authority lower than a king, ruled only with the approval of the Roman authorities. This was roughly equivalent to being governor of a region. Several times in the NT, Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, is called a king (Matt 14:9, Mark 6:14–29), reflecting popular usage rather than an official title.} heard reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, ^{▼▼ ‡ Most witnesses (א² C D L W Z Θ 0106 f^{1, 13} 33 Maj. lat) read αὐτόν (auton, “him”) here as a way of clarifying the direct object; various important witnesses lack the word, however (א* B 700 pc ff¹ h q). The original wording most likely lacked it, but it has been included here due to English style. NA²⁷ includes the word in brackets, indicating reservations about its authenticity.} and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had repeatedly told ^{▼▼ The imperfect tense verb is here rendered with an iterative force.} him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ^{▼▼ This marriage of Herod to his brother Philip’s wife was a violation of OT law (Lev 18:16; 20:21). In addition, both Herod Antipas and Herodias had each left marriages to enter into this union.} 5 Although ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has not been translated.} Herod ^{▼▼ Grk “he”; the referent (Herod) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} wanted to kill John, ^{▼▼ Grk “him” (also in the following phrase, Grk “accepted him”); in both cases the referent (John) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. 6 But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath ^{▼▼ The Greek text reads here ὁμολογέω (homologeō); though normally translated “acknowledge, confess,” BDAG (708 s.v. 1) lists “assure, promise with an oath” for certain contexts such as here.} to give her whatever she asked. 8 Instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 Although it grieved the king, ^{▼▼ Grk “and being grieved, the king commanded.”} ^{▼▼ Herod was technically not a king, but this reflects popular usage. See the note on tetrarch in 14:1.} because of his oath and the dinner guests he commanded it to be given. 10 So ^{▼▼ Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.} he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His ^{▼▼ Grk “And his”; the referent (John the Baptist) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then John’s ^{▼▼ Grk “his”; the referent (John) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.”} disciples came and took the body and buried it and went and told Jesus.