Mark 6

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

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.

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

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

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.

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.

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

And they did all eat, and were filled.

And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

What does Mark 6:19 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:19 refers to Herodias, the wife of Herod Antipas, who was the ruler of Galilee and Perea.

Herodias held a grudge against John the Baptist because he had openly criticized her marriage to Herod, which was deemed unlawful according to Jewish law, as Herodias was previously married to Herod's brother, Philip.

This verse emphasizes Herodias's deep resentment towards John the Baptist to the point where she sought to have him killed.

However, for a reason not specified in this verse, she was unable to carry out her wish.

The verse implies a personal vendetta, a clash between prophetic truth-telling and royal impropriety, and the limits to Herodias's power despite her royal status and influence.

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Historical Context

The event described in Mark 6:19 occurs within the context of first-century Judea.

Herod Antipas was a client king under Roman authority, and his marriage to Herodias was controversial for several reasons.

John the Baptist's criticism of this marriage was based on Jewish law, which prohibited a man from marrying his brother's wife while the brother was still alive, a law stated in Leviticus 18:16.

In this historical context, prophets like John the Baptist played a role in calling out rulers for their moral and religious transgressions.

This often led to conflicts with political authorities, as seen here with Herodias.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates the cost of prophetic truth-telling and the conflict between worldly power and divine commandments.

John the Baptist represents the moral voice that stands in opposition to the power and privilege of the ruling class.

This account can be seen as foreshadowing the conflict between Jesus Christ and the political as well as religious authorities of his time, which would ultimately lead to his crucifixion.

The inability of Herodias to kill John could indicate the protection of God's prophets or perhaps a lack of opportunity or means within her political environment.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in modern life as a call to speak truth to power, regardless of the personal cost. It warns of the dangers of holding grudges and seeking vengeance, which can consume a person.

Additionally, the verse serves as a reminder that individuals might limit their actions based on legal, societal, or personal constraints.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:3-5: "For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet."

Leviticus 18:16: "Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of Mark 6:19, the word "ἐνεῖχεν" (enekhein) is used, which translates to "had a grudge" or "held it against." This indicates an ongoing state of hostility or resentment.

The word "ἀποκτεῖναι" (apokteinai) translates to "kill" or "put to death," which is a direct and violent response that Herodias wishes to enact but cannot.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this biblical narrative to other ancient myths and religions, the theme of a royal figure being at odds with a prophetic or moralistic character is not uncommon.

For example, in Greek mythology, the prophet Tiresias often found himself in conflict with the ruling class due to his prophecies.

This motif underscores the universal tension between power structures and ethical or religious imperatives.

Scientific Perspectives

Mark 6:19 does not directly lend itself to scientific analysis, as it deals with historical events and personal motives.

However, modern psychology could provide insight into the behaviors and thought processes of individuals who hold grudges and seek revenge, corroborating the destructive nature of such emotions as suggested in the Bible.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer a range of interpretations on this verse.

Some view Herodias's inability to kill John as evidence of God's protection of his prophets, while others suggest that it reflects Herodias's lack of complete authority or fear of public backlash.

Commentators may also explore the moral courage of John the Baptist as he stands firm in his convictions despite the personal danger he faces.

This verse highlights the dangers of speaking truth to power and the inevitable conflicts that arise when moral and religious law confronts political ambitions.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:19 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 6:19 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?