Matthew 14 10

Matthew 14:10 kjv

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

Matthew 14:10 nkjv

So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.

Matthew 14:10 niv

and had John beheaded in the prison.

Matthew 14:10 esv

He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,

Matthew 14:10 nlt

So John was beheaded in the prison,

Matthew 14 verses

Matthew 14 10 Meaning

Matthew 14:10 describes the immediate, tragic culmination of King Herod Antipas's rash promise and Herodias's vengeful demand. The verse plainly states that Herod sent his guards, who carried out the command to execute John the Baptist by beheading him within the confines of his prison cell. It marks the martyrdom of God's final and greatest Old Testament prophet, highlighting the profound conflict between righteousness and the corrupt exercise of worldly power driven by lust, pride, and fear.

Matthew 14 10 Context

This verse occurs at a critical juncture in the Gospel of Matthew, directly following the grim account of John the Baptist's imprisonment and the depraved circumstances leading to his execution. John was imprisoned by Herod Antipas because he had denounced Herod's unlawful marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife (Mt 14:3-4). Though Herod initially feared John and knew him to be a righteous man (Mk 6:20), he was ultimately swayed by Herodias's vindictiveness and the pressure of an ill-conceived oath made during a lavish banquet, prompted by Herodias's daughter's dance (Mt 14:6-9). Matthew 14:10 marks the dark outcome of these events. The swift, impersonal execution underscores Herod's abuse of power and his willingness to sacrifice truth and righteousness for the sake of appearance and a wicked promise. It signifies the end of the Old Covenant prophetic era and foreshadows the eventual suffering and martyrdom of Jesus and His followers. Historically, beheading was a common method of execution, often carried out swiftly. The Jewish culture held deep respect for prophets, and their persecution by corrupt rulers was a recurring theme, echoing through centuries of prophetic resistance to unrighteous kingship.

Matthew 14 10 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction, but effectively links this decisive action directly to the preceding narrative of Herod's oath and Herodias's demand. It conveys immediate consequence.
• he sent (πέμψας - pempsas): From the verb πέμπω (pempō), meaning "to send." As an aorist participle, it implies an action that took place prior to or simultaneously with the main verb ("beheaded"). It reveals Herod delegated the act, perhaps to distance himself from the direct deed, yet it firmly establishes his command and ultimate culpability. This 'sending' was a direct executive order.
• beheaded (ἀπεκεφάλισεν - apekephalisen): From ἀποκεφαλίζω (apokephalizō), a compound verb of ἀπό (apo, "off" or "away from") and κεφαλή (kephalē, "head"). It explicitly and brutally states the method of execution. The term is stark, emphasizing the irreversible nature of the act. This form, the aorist indicative, indicates a completed historical fact with direct agency from the sender.
• John (τὸν Ἰωάννην - ton Iōannēn): Refers to John the Baptist. The definite article (τὸν) emphasizes his singular, known identity, identifying him as the significant John of the narrative, highlighting the prominence of the victim.
• in (ἐν - en): A preposition indicating location.
• the prison (τῇ φυλακῇ - tē phylakē): From φυλακή (phylakē), meaning "guard, prison, watch." The definite article (τῇ) points to the specific prison where John was held. Executing him inside the prison implies a more discreet act than a public execution, reflecting Herod's complex motivations of fear and a desire to control information or perception, rather than a show of power to the populace.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he sent": This phrase immediately places the full responsibility for John's death squarely on Herod Antipas, despite him not physically performing the act. It speaks to his power and the execution of his will.
• "and beheaded John": This is the stark, central act of the verse. The verb choice is unflinching and graphically precise. It highlights the brutal efficiency and finality of the execution.
• "in the prison": This phrase emphasizes John's vulnerable state—confined and isolated—making his martyrdom a consequence of being unjustly detained by a corrupt ruler rather than, for instance, combat or open defiance leading to public execution. It also contributes to the pathos of the situation.

Matthew 14 10 Bonus section

The speed and finality of the act in Matthew 14:10, captured by the Aorist tense of "beheaded," suggest an immediate carrying out of the grim command, emphasizing Herod's desire to fulfill his oath to save face rather than retract an impious vow. John the Baptist's death, unlike some Old Testament prophetic murders, happened under the "pagan" Roman-backed ruler, but at the instigation of figures linked to Jewish kingship, representing a continuum of unrighteous authority suppressing God's truth. This specific execution method (beheading) was known in both Jewish and Roman cultures, making it universally recognizable as a violent and decisive ending. For early Christians, John's fate served as an early precedent for the potential cost of discipleship and speaking God's word against oppressive powers, providing a martyrological framework for understanding future persecutions they might face.

Matthew 14 10 Commentary

Matthew 14:10 is a succinct, potent verse that signifies the tragic culmination of John the Baptist's prophetic ministry: his martyrdom at the hands of corrupt power. This act, driven by Herodias's vengeful lust and Herod's weak character and oath, reveals the stark contrast between worldly power, which fears and suppresses truth, and divine truth, which speaks boldly against sin regardless of consequences. John's execution foreshadows the path of suffering that Jesus Himself would tread and the persecution faced by those who faithfully proclaim God's word (Mt 10:28). His death highlights the danger of spiritual compromise and illustrates that adherence to God's will often brings the wrath of worldly systems that resist His authority. This event also acts as a profound testament to John's unwavering integrity even unto death.