Mark 6 20

Mark 6:20 kjv

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Mark 6:20 nkjv

for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Mark 6:20 niv

because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

Mark 6:20 esv

for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

Mark 6:20 nlt

for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 20 Meaning

Mark 6:20 describes the complex and conflicted relationship Herod Antipas had with John the Baptist. Herod feared John, recognizing his righteous and holy character. This fear, perhaps a mix of awe and political caution, led him to protect John. Despite imprisoning him due to John's condemnation of his unlawful marriage, Herod continued to listen to John. His encounters with John's message left him greatly perplexed, facing a moral dilemma. Yet, surprisingly, he also found pleasure in listening to John, drawn to the truth but unwilling to fully embrace its demands.

Mark 6 20 Context

Mark 6:20 is embedded in Mark's narrative concerning John the Baptist's imprisonment and subsequent execution by Herod. Earlier in chapter 6, Mark details Herod's initial impression and action toward John (Mark 6:17-18). John had publicly condemned Herod Antipas for marrying Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, a union considered unlawful under Mosaic law (Lev 18:16; 20:21). This condemnation inflamed Herodias's hatred for John. While Herodias sought to kill John, Herod initially restrained her and protected John, albeit in prison. The wider context of Mark 6 involves Jesus sending out the twelve disciples, Herod's fearful and superstitious reaction to news of Jesus, connecting him with the resurrected John, and ultimately the tragic dinner party where John is beheaded. This verse provides crucial insight into Herod's inner turmoil and conflicted moral state leading up to John's demise, highlighting his struggle between the recognized truth and his unrepented sin and fear of man.

Mark 6 20 Word analysis

• For Herod feared (ὁ γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ἐφοβεῖτο, ho gar Hērōdēs ephobeito): The Greek verb phobeō here indicates not just dread but a deep respect or awe for John, possibly combined with a pragmatic fear of the impact of John's message on the populace, whom John influenced greatly. Herod knew John was more than just an ordinary man, implying a supernatural or divine aura. This was distinct from a reverential "fear of the Lord."

• knowing (εἰδὼς, eidōs): This participle denotes full and clear awareness, not merely hearsay or suspicion. Herod genuinely understood John’s character. This wasn't ignorance but an informed acknowledgment, which heightens his culpability.

• that he was a righteous (δίκαιον, dikaion): This word signifies moral rectitude, conformity to God's standards and will. John lived a life in accordance with God's law, standing apart from the corruption of Herod's court. Herod recognized John's upright conduct and integrity.

• and holy man (καὶ ἅγιον, kai hagion): The term hagios means "set apart" for God, consecrated, distinct from common use. John was not just morally good but consecrated for God's purposes, representing a divine sphere. Herod perceived this divine consecration.

• and he protected him (καὶ συνετήρει αὐτόν, kai synetērei auton): This phrase suggests keeping safe, watching over, preserving. Herod’s protection might have stemmed from a mix of motives: superstitious dread of harming a prophet, pragmatic desire to prevent popular uprising if John were harmed, or perhaps a lingering flicker of conscience. This protection was paradoxical, given John's imprisonment.

• When he heard him (καὶ ἀκούσας αὐτοῦ, kai akousas autou): Herod not only listened occasionally but was in a position where he regularly heard John, implying prolonged exposure to his message while John was imprisoned.

• he was greatly perplexed (πολλὰ ἠπόρει, polla ēporei): The Greek verb aporeō signifies being at a loss, having no way out, being greatly distressed or bewildered. Herod found John’s message, particularly its ethical demands (like divorcing Herodias), a moral impasse that he could not resolve, stuck between his recognized sin and his attachment to it. It indicates deep internal struggle.

• and yet he used to listen to him gladly (καὶ ἡδέως αὐτοῦ ἤκουεν, kai hēdeōs autou ēkouen): Hēdeōs means "pleasurably," "sweetly," or "with delight." This reveals the irony and tragedy of Herod’s situation. He was drawn to the truth, found intellectual or aesthetic pleasure in it, yet consistently refused to yield to its demands. It suggests a certain charm or conviction in John's preaching that resonated even with an unrepentant heart.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man": This phrase highlights Herod's informed and conflicted fear. He knew the truth about John's character, elevating his rejection of John's message from mere ignorance to conscious suppression of truth. This is not the reverential fear of God that leads to repentance but a mixture of awe, superstition, and perhaps fear of consequences, political or divine.
  • "he protected him...When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he used to listen to him gladly": This forms a striking antithesis that defines Herod's inner conflict. He acted to protect John but simultaneously maintained him in chains, heard his words but remained paralyzed by their implications, and even found pleasure in listening but would not submit. This illustrates a "double-minded" individual, attracted to light but bound by darkness, reflecting the human capacity for spiritual hypocrisy or moral paralysis in the face of convicting truth.

Mark 6 20 Bonus section

The "great perplexity" (πολλὰ ἠπόρει) of Herod underscores a specific type of moral paralysis. Aporeō often describes a situation where one is at a loss, cannot find a way out, or is stuck without resources. For Herod, this perplexity was not an intellectual inability to understand John's words, but a moral and existential dilemma stemming from the fact that he understood perfectly well what John demanded of him, yet could not bring himself to abandon his sin (his marriage to Herodias) or his pride. He recognized the truth but found himself unwilling or unable to act upon it, a deep spiritual "stuckness." This differs sharply from those who reject truth outright; Herod's heart was truly divided, experiencing the torment of internal contradiction between his conscience and his desires, illustrating the human condition caught between light and darkness.

Mark 6 20 Commentary

Mark 6:20 portrays the internal spiritual battlefield within Herod Antipas. His respect for John was real; he recognized John's unique prophetic status as a man set apart by God. This acknowledgment, however, did not lead to repentance but to perplexity and a kind of self-serving preservation. Herod’s actions are a study in paradox: he protected the man he had imprisoned, appreciated the message he refused to obey, and delighted in words that deeply disturbed him. This state of being "perplexed" reveals a soul torn between conviction and personal desires. He was aware of God's demands through John but prioritized his reputation, his unholy marriage, and political stability over divine truth. The pleasure Herod took in listening was superficial, akin to appreciating art without letting it transform one's life. His ultimate failure was his inability to bridge the gap between intellectual assent/aesthetic pleasure and decisive action. This tragic inner struggle culminates in his capitulation to Herodias, leading to John's beheading, demonstrating that intellectual recognition and even "glad" listening without repentance are ultimately insufficient and can even lead to graver sin. It serves as a somber warning about the danger of an unresolved conscience in the face of divine truth.

• Examples:
  • Someone who enjoys Bible studies and Christian sermons but continually refuses to change a known sinful habit in their life.
  • A person who intellectually acknowledges biblical truth about creation or morality but refuses to commit to faith, remaining perpetually "perplexed" by its implications.
  • Leaders who engage with religious figures for public appearance or advice, without genuine personal transformation.