Matthew 14 3

Matthew 14:3 kjv

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

Matthew 14:3 nkjv

For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

Matthew 14:3 niv

Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,

Matthew 14:3 esv

For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,

Matthew 14:3 nlt

For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod's brother Philip).

Matthew 14 verses

Matthew 14 3 Meaning

Matthew 14:3 provides the immediate background for the narrative surrounding John the Baptizer's death. It states that Herod Antipas, the tetrarch, had previously arrested, bound, and imprisoned John. The explicit reason given for this imprisonment was John's public condemnation of Herod's marriage to Herodias, who was his brother Philip's wife. This act highlights the confrontation between righteous prophetic declaration and corrupt political authority rooted in personal immorality.

Matthew 14 3 Context

Matthew 14:3 serves as an explanatory parenthesis within the broader narrative of Jesus's ministry and the mounting opposition He faced. The preceding verses (Mt 14:1-2) describe Herod Antipas's perplexity and fear when he heard about Jesus's miraculous powers, leading him to conclude that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead. Verse 3 then steps back to explain why John's death was significant to Herod and the circumstances leading to it. This verse is essential for understanding the political and personal motivations behind John's fate, highlighting the inherent conflict between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of men, particularly when earthly rulers' desires clash with divine law and prophetic truth. Historically, Herod Antipas was a client king appointed by Rome, constantly navigating Roman power and local Jewish sentiment. His marriage to Herodias was a scandalous breach of both Jewish law (since Philip, her previous husband, was still alive and not deceased in a situation requiring levirate marriage, and she was Herod's sister-in-law) and Roman societal norms (which still found incestuous unions generally disfavored, though some imperial exceptions existed).

Matthew 14 3 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): A conjunction that explains the preceding statement. In Matthew 14:1-2, Herod attributes Jesus's power to John the Baptist risen from the dead. Verse 3 begins by explaining why John was relevant to Herod's thoughts, indicating Herod's knowledge of and responsibility for John's imprisonment. It sets up the cause for Herod's troubled conscience.
• Herod (Ἡρῴδης - Hērōdēs): Refers to Herod Antipas, one of the sons of Herod the Great. He ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 BC to AD 39. He was tetrarch, not king. His character is marked by weakness, superstition, and an ultimate succumbing to the desires of his court.
• had seized (ἐκρατήσας - ekratēsas): A strong verb implying a forceful apprehension, arrest, or capture. It shows John did not willingly submit to the imprisonment but was forcibly taken by authority.
• John (Ἰωάννην - Iōannēn): John the Baptizer, a prophet sent to prepare the way for Jesus, known for his bold preaching, call to repentance, and baptism. His uncompromising prophetic message often put him at odds with the powerful.
• and bound (καὶ δήσας - kai dēsas): Indicates that John was not only arrested but also physically restrained with chains or ropes, ensuring his incapacitation and preventing escape. This emphasizes the severity of his custody.
• him (αὐτὸν - auton): Refers to John, confirming he was the subject of Herod's actions.
• and put (καὶ ἔθετο - kai etheto): From the verb tithēmi, meaning "to put, place." It denotes the decisive act of placing John into confinement, not just a temporary holding.
• him (αὐτὸν - auton): Again refers to John.
• in prison (ἐν φυλακῇ - en phylakē): The Greek word refers to a place of custody or a jail. It signifies a secured detention where he would remain for an indefinite period, indicating not just an arrest but ongoing incarceration.
• for the sake of (διὰ - dia): A preposition indicating the reason or cause behind Herod's actions. The reason for John's imprisonment was directly related to Herodias.
• Herodias (Ἡρῳδιάδα - Hērōdiada): The main instigator of John's death. She was the granddaughter of Herod the Great, meaning she was Herod Antipas's niece. She had previously been married to Herod Philip I (Herod Antipas's half-brother), with whom she had a daughter, Salome. Her ambition and animosity towards John led to his demise.
• his brother (τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ - tou adelphou autou): Specifies the close family relationship between Herod Antipas and Philip. This detail underscores the incestuous and unlawful nature of the marriage in the eyes of Jewish law.
• Philip’s wife (Φιλίππου τῇ γυναικὶ - Philippou tē gunaiki): Confirms Herodias's marital status to Philip prior to her illicit union with Herod Antipas. This clarifies the scandalous nature of their marriage which violated Jewish law, as Philip was still alive. This detail directly explains John's righteous rebuke.

Matthew 14 3 Bonus section

The Herod mentioned in Mt 14:3, Herod Antipas, divorced his first wife, Phasaelis (daughter of Aretas IV, Nabataean king), to marry Herodias. This divorce and subsequent illicit marriage led to a war with Aretas IV, where Antipas suffered a significant defeat. Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities 18.5.1-4) corroborates the events of John's imprisonment by Antipas and connects it to John's growing popularity among the masses, which Herod feared might lead to a rebellion. John’s prophetic rebuke of Herod and Herodias's marriage was also a key factor mentioned by Josephus. Therefore, Herod’s decision to imprison John was a complex mixture of political apprehension due to John's influence and personal resentment stemming from John's condemnation of his marriage. The Gospels prioritize the moral and theological reason over the purely political. The fact that Herod, later on, expressed guilt or superstition regarding John indicates that he could not entirely escape the conviction of John's words, yet his weakness and desire to please others ultimately led him to a heinous act. This verse implicitly sets up the confrontation between the Kingdom of Heaven (represented by John and soon, Jesus) and earthly, corrupt authority.

Matthew 14 3 Commentary

Matthew 14:3 is a pivotal explanatory verse, providing the direct cause for John the Baptizer's imprisonment and setting the stage for his subsequent execution. The core issue was John's unwavering adherence to God's law, as he fearlessly denounced Herod Antipas's unlawful marriage to Herodias. This union violated Lev 18:16 and 20:21, which prohibited a man from taking his brother's wife while the brother was still alive, especially without the conditions for levirate marriage. John, as God's prophet, saw it as his divine duty to expose this sin, regardless of the political consequences or the power of those involved.

Herod, though possibly intrigued by John and even fearing him (Mk 6:20), chose to suppress the prophetic voice rather than repent. His act of imprisonment highlights a recurring tension between prophetic truth and political expediency or personal gratification. This was not a general condemnation but a targeted attack on a specific, deeply personal sin of the ruler, made public by a courageous man of God. Herodias, driven by wounded pride and perhaps fearing that John's continued preaching might lead Herod to divorce her, actively orchestrated John's demise, making her a formidable adversary of righteousness. The verse's primary purpose is to justify Herod's superstitious fear in verse 2 and underscore the tragic fate of God's final Old Testament prophet who boldly spoke truth to power, a prophetic archetype echoing Elijah and other figures who challenged Israel's kings.

Example: The principle of speaking truth to power, even when unpopular or dangerous, remains central for believers today. Just as John called out sin in the highest places, Christians are called to live righteously and gently correct wrong where it is found, holding to biblical standards even amidst cultural pressures.