King James Version

What Does Mark 6:17 Mean?

Mark 6:17 in the King James Version says “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip...” — study this verse from Mark chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.”

Mark 6:17 · KJV

Context

15

Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

16

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

17

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

18

For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

19

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

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. Mark begins the flashback explaining John's execution, revealing the moral corruption behind Herod's guilty conscience. 'Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John' (αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ Ἡρῴδης ἀποστείλας ἐκράτησεν τὸν Ἰωάννην, autos gar ho Hērōdēs aposteilas ekratēsen ton Iōannēn)—the emphatic 'himself' stresses Herod's personal responsibility. He arrested John, though later claiming reluctance to execute him (v. 26). 'Bound him in prison' (ἔδησεν αὐτὸν ἐν φυλακῇ, edēsen auton en phylakē) imprisoned the prophet who called for repentance.

'For Herodias' sake' (διὰ Ἡρῳδιάδα, dia Hērōdiada) reveals the underlying issue: 'his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her' (τὴν γυναῖκα Φιλίππου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι αὐτὴν ἐγάμησεν, tēn gynaika Philippou tou adelphou autou, hoti autēn egamēsen). This was doubly sinful: adultery (marrying while his brother lived) and violation of Levitical law forbidding marriage to brother's wife (Leviticus 18:16; 20:21). The exception (Levirate marriage, Deuteronomy 25:5-6) didn't apply since Philip lived. Herod's sexual sin, political power, and unwillingness to repent created explosive situation when confronted by prophetic truth.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The historical details are complex. Josephus identifies Herodias's first husband as Herod (son of Herod the Great by Mariamne II), not Philip the tetrarch. Scholars debate whether Mark erred or 'Philip' was this Herod's secondary name. Regardless, the marriage violated Jewish law: Herodias divorced her husband to marry his half-brother Herod Antipas, who divorced his wife (Nabatean king Aretas's daughter) to marry Herodias. This created international incident—Aretas later attacked Herod, defeating him. Jews viewed this defeat as divine judgment for John's execution (Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2). Herodias was ambitious, using marriage to gain power—Antipas ruled Galilee and Perea, more significant than her first husband's position. John the Baptist publicly condemned this marriage, applying biblical law to political leaders. This prophetic boldness invited persecution but demonstrated that God's word applies to all, regardless of rank. Early church fathers praised John's courage confronting powerful sinners, establishing pattern for prophetic ministry that speaks truth to power despite personal cost.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does John the Baptist's willingness to confront powerful sinners with God's law model the prophetic calling to speak truth regardless of consequences?
  2. What does Herod's imprisonment of John rather than repenting reveal about how political power and sexual sin often combine to resist divine authority?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 25 words
αὐτὴν1 of 25

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

γὰρ2 of 25

“For”

G1063

properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)

ὁ3 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἡρῴδης4 of 25

“Herod”

G2264

heroic; herod, the name of four jewish kings

ἀποστείλας5 of 25

“had sent forth”

G649

set apart, i.e., (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively

ἐκράτησεν6 of 25

“and laid hold”

G2902

to use strength, i.e., seize or retain (literally or figuratively)

τὸν7 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰωάννην8 of 25

“upon John”

G2491

joannes (i.e., jochanan), the name of four israelites

καὶ9 of 25

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἔδησεν10 of 25

“bound”

G1210

to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively)

αὐτὴν11 of 25

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ἐν12 of 25

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῇ13 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

φυλακῇ14 of 25

“prison”

G5438

a guarding or (concretely, guard), the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or (specially), the time (as a division of day or nigh

διὰ15 of 25

“for”

G1223

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

Ἡρῳδιάδα16 of 25

“Herodias”

G2266

herodias, a woman of the heodian family

τὴν17 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γυναῖκα18 of 25

“wife”

G1135

a woman; specially, a wife

Φιλίππου19 of 25

“Philip's”

G5376

fond of horses; philippus, the name of four israelites

τοῦ20 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀδελφοῦ21 of 25

“brother”

G80

a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)

αὐτὴν22 of 25

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ὅτι23 of 25

“for”

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

αὐτὴν24 of 25

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ἐγάμησεν·25 of 25

“he had married”

G1060

to wed (of either sex)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Mark. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Mark 6:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Mark 6:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 11:2Luke 3:19-20Matthew 4:12Luke 3:1Matthew 14:3-12

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