Mark 6 19

Mark 6:19 kjv

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

Mark 6:19 nkjv

Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

Mark 6:19 niv

So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,

Mark 6:19 esv

And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,

Mark 6:19 nlt

So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod's approval she was powerless,

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 19 Meaning

Mark 6:19 depicts the intense, enduring animosity of Herodias towards John the Baptist. Driven by John's condemnation of her unlawful marriage to Herod Antipas, she harbored a deep-seated grudge and continually desired his death. This verse highlights her malicious intent and unwavering pursuit of vengeance, while simultaneously emphasizing that her ability to act upon this murderous desire was, for a period, restrained.

Mark 6 19 Context

Mark 6:19 is a pivotal statement within the account of John the Baptist's imprisonment and subsequent martyrdom. The immediate preceding verses (Mk 6:17-18) explain that John had publicly denounced Herod Antipas's marriage to Herodias because she was his brother Philip's wife, a union unlawful under Jewish law. This condemnation ignited Herodias's profound wrath. Thus, this verse clarifies her motivations: her deep-seated indignation from John's righteous rebuke translated into an unyielding, murderous intent. It also establishes the key conflict dynamic: Herodias's malice versus the forces (initially Herod's ambivalence and divine protection, as detailed in the subsequent verse, Mk 6:20) that temporarily prevent her from achieving her goal, setting the stage for the dramatic unfolding of John's beheading.

Mark 6 19 Word analysis

• So: Connects the events, indicating a direct consequence or result of John's prophetic denouncement mentioned in the preceding verse.
• Herodias: Greek Hērōdias (Ἡρῳδιάς). She was Herod Antipas's sister-in-law and niece. Her ambition, moral corruption, and deep personal vindictiveness are highlighted throughout the New Testament narratives involving John the Baptist. Her unlawful marriage, a significant public scandal, fueled her hatred for John who dared to challenge her unholy alliance and power.
• had a grudge: Greek eneichen (ἐνεῖχεν). This is an imperfect tense verb, emphasizing a continuous or habitual state. It means "to hold against," "to bear a grudge," or "to harbor resentment." It implies an intense, festering, active hostility, suggesting a deep-seated, persistent antagonism rather than a fleeting anger. It conveys a strong, continuous feeling of animosity and desire to harm John for his rebuke.
• against him: Referring specifically to John the Baptist. John, as God's prophet, was confronting the sinful actions of the powerful, exposing truth that conflicted with their desired way of life.
• and wanted: Greek ēthelen (ἠθέλεν). Also in the imperfect tense, meaning "she was wanting" or "she intended." It shows a persistent, strong will and definite intention to act upon her grudge. The combination with "had a grudge" shows her enduring hostile feeling directly translating into a sustained murderous will.
• to put him to death: Greek apokteinai (ἀποκτεῖναι). This directly states her murderous intent. It was not mere punishment or silencing that she sought, but his complete elimination. Her rage escalated to the highest possible degree of malice.
• but she could not: Greek kai ouk ēdunato (καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο). This crucial phrase indicates an inability to execute her intention immediately. Mark elaborates on the immediate reason in the next verse (Mk 6:20), explaining that Herod Antipas himself feared John and protected him, recognizing John as a righteous and holy man, and heeded his message (though perplexed). Beyond Herod's own conflicted stance, this clause subtly hints at a divine restraining hand, signifying that God's sovereign plan had not yet allowed John's martyrdom, and his life was protected until his appointed time for his prophetic fulfillment and testimony was completed.

Words-group analysis

• "Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death": This entire phrase encapsulates the full, relentless extent of Herodias's sin. Her wounded pride, combined with the conviction of truth, transformed into a continuous, active hatred that relentlessly sought John's complete destruction. It vividly illustrates how cherished sin, when challenged by God's truth, can lead to overwhelming evil intent and obsessive vengeance.
• "but she could not": This concise clause introduces the powerful theme of divine sovereignty or providential restraint over human evil. It sets up the dramatic tension, revealing that even the most malicious human desires are not always immediately fulfilled. It assures the reader that an external power, for a time, overrode her murderous will, ensuring that events would unfold according to God's timing and purpose for John's ministry and ultimate sacrifice.

Mark 6 19 Bonus section

The repeated use of the imperfect tense for both "had a grudge" (ἐνεῖχεν) and "wanted" (ἠθέλεν) in this verse significantly emphasizes the ongoing and persistent nature of Herodias's hostility and her sustained, determined will to murder John. This continuous state of mind illustrates an obsession, showcasing how deeply she was consumed by her desire for vengeance against the prophet who exposed her sin. Her unyielding pursuit reveals a profound resistance to repentance and a hardening of heart against God's truth, characteristics that ultimately define her villainy in the narrative. This passage serves as a vivid illustration of how unresolved anger and unconfessed sin can fester into deadly, destructive intentions.

Mark 6 19 Commentary

Mark 6:19 powerfully captures the depth of Herodias's venomous spite. Her deep-seated "grudge" (eneichen) was no fleeting irritation but a continuous, active animosity arising from John's righteous condemnation of her unlawful marriage. This persistent malice fueled her unwavering desire "to put him to death," exposing the profound evil nurtured by pride and unrepentant sin when confronted by God's truth. Critically, "she could not" fulfill this desire immediately, revealing that her murderous will was, for a period, restrained. This restraint, partially due to Herod's own conflicted reverence for John, primarily reflects God's sovereign hand, preserving John's life until His divine purpose for him was fulfilled, even if that purpose included his martyrdom. It underlines that ultimate control rests not with human wickedness but with divine providence. This verse highlights the spiritual conflict between light (John's prophetic truth) and darkness (Herodias's corrupt and vengeful spirit).