King James Version

What Does Mark 6:24 Mean?

Mark 6:24 in the King James Version says “And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.” — study this verse from Mark chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.”

Mark 6:24 · KJV

Context

22

And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23

And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25

And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

26

And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. The plot's mastermind reveals herself as Salome consults her mother. 'She went forth' (ἐξελθοῦσα, exelthousa) indicates Salome left the banquet hall to consult Herodias privately—suggesting she didn't initially know what to request. This demonstrates Herodias's manipulation: using her daughter as instrument without informing her beforehand. 'What shall I ask?' (Τί αἰτήσωμαι, Ti aitēsōmai) shows Salome's uncertainty—having successfully pleased Herod, she sought guidance on capitalizing on his promise.

'The head of John the Baptist' (Τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ, Tēn kephalēn Iōannou tou baptistou) reveals Herodias's immediate, unhesitating response—she'd been waiting for precisely this opportunity. Her specificity (not just 'John's death' but 'his head') shows the depth of her hatred and desire for visible proof of his execution. This request exemplifies hardened wickedness: no wavering, no second thoughts, just cold determination to silence God's prophet. The contrast is stark: John proclaimed repentance; Herodias demanded his head. The passage warns that those who persistently resist conviction eventually seek to destroy the source of their conviction rather than repent.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Herodias's immediate response suggests she'd long contemplated this scenario, waiting for opportunity. Her demand for John's head specifically may reflect several motivations: ensuring he was truly dead (not imprisoned again), humiliating the prophet even in death, or following ancient Near Eastern practice where beheading enemies demonstrated complete victory. Requesting the head on a platter (v. 25) added macabre detail—treating the prophet's remains as banquet dish. This violated Jewish burial customs requiring respectful treatment of corpses. Ancient sources record various instances of heads displayed as trophies—Pompey's head presented to Caesar, John the Baptist's stored by Herodias (according to some traditions). The swift consultation and return suggests Herodias was nearby, waiting—confirming this was premeditated plot, not spontaneous request. Salome's willingness to request such ghastly prize indicates either her youth and manipulation by her mother or her own moral corruption. Early church tradition held that Salome later died tragically, falling through ice and being decapitated—whether historical or legendary, this tradition reflected belief in divine justice.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Herodias's instant, unhesitating demand for John's head illustrate the depth of wickedness that results from persistent rejection of prophetic truth?
  2. What does this mother-daughter collaboration in murder teach about how sin and hardness toward God can be passed generationally?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 17 words
ἡ1 of 17
G3588

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

δὲ2 of 17

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

ἐξελθοῦσα3 of 17

“she went forth”

G1831

to issue (literally or figuratively)

εἶπεν4 of 17

“and said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

τῇ5 of 17
G3588

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

μητρὶ6 of 17

“mother”

G3384

a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote)

αὐτῆς7 of 17
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

Τί8 of 17

“What”

G5101

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

αἰτήσομαι9 of 17

“shall I ask”

G154

to ask (in genitive case)

ἡ10 of 17
G3588

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

δὲ11 of 17

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

εἶπεν12 of 17

“and said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

Τὴν13 of 17
G3588

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

κεφαλὴν14 of 17

“The head”

G2776

the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively

Ἰωάννου15 of 17

“of John”

G2491

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

τοῦ16 of 17
G3588

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

βαπτίστου17 of 17

“the Baptist”

G910

a baptizer, as an epithet of christ's forerunner

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 6:24 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 6:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Job 31:31Ezekiel 19:2-32 Chronicles 22:3-4Genesis 27:8-11Proverbs 27:3-4Psalms 37:14

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