Mark 6 16

Mark 6:16 kjv

But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

Mark 6:16 nkjv

But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"

Mark 6:16 niv

But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"

Mark 6:16 esv

But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

Mark 6:16 nlt

When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead."

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 16 Meaning

Mark 6:16 conveys Herod Antipas's profound and fear-filled belief that Jesus of Nazareth is John the Baptist, whom he had executed, resurrected from the dead. This declaration arises from reports of Jesus's powerful works, leading Herod's conscience, burdened by his past sin, to interpret these divine manifestations through the lens of guilt and a superstitious recognition of spiritual power. His statement serves as an early, though distorted, acknowledgment of Jesus's extraordinary nature, mistakenly attributing it to a prophet he himself had killed.

Mark 6 16 Context

Mark 6:16 appears shortly after Jesus empowers and sends out the Twelve apostles to preach and cast out demons. Reports of their powerful ministry, alongside Jesus's own widespread fame and miracles, have begun to circulate throughout Galilee, drawing the attention of both the public and its rulers. The preceding verses (Mk 6:14-15) highlight the various conjectures people had about Jesus's identity, including that He was John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. Herod's personal confession in verse 16 is thus placed within this context of burgeoning fame and diverse speculation. Structurally, Mark places Herod's declaration of guilt and fear before detailing John the Baptist's beheading (Mk 6:17-29). This "Markan sandwich" technique interlocks Herod's disturbed conscience directly with the horrific act that caused it, emphasizing the consequence of his sin as background to his distorted perception of Jesus.

Mark 6 16 Word analysis

• But (δὲ, de): A transition particle, indicating a shift in focus to Herod's reaction, distinguishing it from general public opinion.
• when Herod (Ἡρῴδης, Hērōdēs): Refers to Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great. He was the Roman-appointed tetrarch (ruler of a fourth part) of Galilee and Perea from 4 BC to AD 39. Though called "king" by popular designation and in Mark (Mk 6:14), his true title was tetrarch, reflecting his lesser status than a full king. His historical rule was marked by cunning and moral compromise.
• heard thereof (ἤκουσεν, ēkousen): From akouō, to hear. It signifies that the news of Jesus's powerful works and fame had spread widely and reached even the highest political authority in the region.
• he said (ἔλεγεν, elegen): Imperfect tense of legō (to say). This implies not merely a one-time utterance, but potentially a persistent or repeated declaration, suggesting a recurring thought or an idea he was dwelling on. It conveys his deep conviction, possibly tormented, regarding Jesus's identity.
• It is (Ὅτι, Hoti): Introduces a direct quotation, asserting his firm belief.
• John (Ἰωάννης, Iōannēs): Refers to John the Baptist, the powerful prophetic voice whom Herod had previously imprisoned and executed.
• whom I beheaded (ὃν ἐγὼ ἀπεκεφάλισα, hon egō apekepḥálisa): This is a critical clause.
  • whom (ὃν, hon): A direct object pronoun linking John to the act.
  • I (ἐγὼ, egō): Emphatic personal pronoun. Herod highlights his direct responsibility and culpability in John's death. This self-accusation reveals the torment of his conscience.
  • beheaded (ἀπεκεφάλισα, apekepḥálisa): From apokepḥalizō, to cut off the head, to behead. This precise and gruesome term underlines the brutality of the act and the horror associated with it for Herod.
• he is risen from the dead (οὗτος ἠγέρθη ἐκ νεκρῶν, houtos ēgérthē ek nekrōn):
  • he (οὗτος, houtos): Refers to John the Baptist.
  • is risen (ἠγέρθη, ēgérthē): Aorist passive indicative of egeirō, to raise up, to waken. Here, "has been raised." This indicates Herod's belief in John's resurrection. This could stem from Jewish folk beliefs about the transmigration of souls, or more generally about powerful prophets (like Elijah) returning, coupled with his own superstitious guilt.
  • from the dead (ἐκ νεκρῶν, ek nekrōn): A standard phrase in Greek for resurrection. This expresses Herod's supernatural and fearful interpretation of Jesus's power as a manifestation of a powerful prophet's return from the realm of death.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But when Herod heard thereof, he said": This phrase establishes the immediate cause-and-effect. Herod's encounter with the pervasive news of Jesus's works prompts a significant internal response, leading to a vocal declaration. It shows the impact of divine power, even upon an unrighteous secular ruler.
• "It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead": This is Herod's full, guilt-ridden confession and superstitious interpretation. The conjunction of his specific sin ("whom I beheaded") with the astonishing conclusion ("he is risen from the dead") is pivotal. It links John's power in his lifetime, his unjust death at Herod's hand, and Herod's terrified conclusion that Jesus is the supernaturally empowered, returned prophet. His fear is a mixture of terror and awe, implicitly validating the power of the divine realm, even if his interpretation is misguided concerning Jesus' true identity. This short declaration concisely conveys his torment, superstition, and acknowledgement of divine power.

Mark 6 16 Bonus section

• Herod Antipas had a reputation for political cunning (Lk 13:32), yet he was characterized by indecision and moral weakness, particularly in his relationship with Herodias, which directly led to John's death. His superstitious belief reflects a combination of his Hellenistic environment (which had various beliefs about the afterlife and heroes returning) and the general Jewish milieu concerning the coming of Elijah before the Messiah (Mal 4:5).
• The fact that Mark places Herod’s proclamation of John’s return before narrating John's actual beheading is a deliberate literary choice, known as a Markan sandwich or intercalation. This structure emphasizes the direct link between Herod's act and its haunting consequences. It immediately frames the account of John’s death with the theme of its lingering effect on the one responsible, highlighting Herod's personal culpability and psychological state.
• Herod's statement "he is risen" reveals that the concept of resurrection was present and somewhat believed even in secular-leaning circles, albeit often mixed with popular folklore. This underscores the theological climate into which Jesus's actual resurrection would later occur.

Mark 6 16 Commentary

Mark 6:16 presents a chilling insight into the mind of Herod Antipas. His recognition of Jesus's powerful works, specifically His miracles and authoritative teaching, forces him to confront his gravest sin: the arbitrary execution of John the Baptist. Driven by a tormenting conscience and likely popular belief in the transmigration of souls or the return of prophets like Elijah (Mal 4:5), Herod concludes that Jesus is John, resurrected from the dead. This statement, spoken before Mark details the beheading, powerfully connects Herod's guilt with his skewed perception. He attributes divine power to a reanimated corpse, reflecting a mind that recognizes supernatural reality but misidentifies the source due to his moral compromise.

Herod’s belief is an unwitting validation of resurrection as a potential reality, contrasting sharply with the Sadducees who denied it (Mk 12:18). His conviction showcases how personal sin can twist and distort one's understanding of God's work. Despite his royal authority, Herod is haunted by the blood he shed, demonstrating that no position or power can truly shield a person from the internal judgment of conscience when confronting divine truth. His desire to see Jesus (Lk 9:9) may stem not only from curiosity but also from a continuation of this anxious apprehension, knowing he faced the return of a man he had wronged. Ultimately, Herod's fearful attribution is a profound misidentification of the true Son of God, yet it testifies to the undeniable power and authority that radiated from Jesus, so great that it unsettled even kings.