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 6:24 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:24 recounts part of the narrative involving Herodias, her daughter, commonly believed to be named Salome, and John the Baptist.

This verse captures the moment after Salome has charmed Herod and his guests with her dancing, leading to Herod's offer to grant her whatever she wishes.

Salome, not knowing what to ask for, approaches her mother, Herodias, for advice.

Evidently, Herodias, holding a grudge against John the Baptist for his condemnation of her marriage to Herod (since she was previously married to Herod's brother), seizes the opportunity to eliminate John.

She instructs her daughter to ask for John the Baptist's head, thus leading to the request for his execution.

This verse unveils the dynamics of manipulation and influence, as Salome seeks counsel from her mother, culminating in a demand fueled by Herodias's vengeful motives.

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Historical Context

The context of Mark 6:24 is set during the era of Herod Antipas' rule over Galilee and Perea in the early first century.

Herodias had been married to Herod's brother, Philip, but then married Herod Antipas.

John the Baptist had openly criticized this marriage, and Herodias held a deep resentment towards him.

Salome's dance at Herod's banquet and her subsequent request marks a critical instance of intertwining political ambition, family ties, and moral confrontation.

At the time, it was not uncommon for rulers to make extravagant promises, and in this instance, Herod's oath to Salome sets the stage for the execution of John the Baptist.

Theological Insights

The story of the beheading of John the Baptist, culminating in Mark 6:24, reflects several theological themes.

From a Christian perspective, it exemplifies the conflict between the prophetic voice of righteousness, represented by John the Baptist, and the corruption of worldly powers.

The complicity of Salome following her mother's wishes can be seen as the antithesis of the obedience of faith; instead of seeking moral guidance, she seeks vindictive counsel.

This event prefigures the Passion of Christ, where Jesus, like John, faces death at the hands of political forces.

Practical Applications

One practical application of Mark 6:24 is the caution against seeking counsel from those with questionable morals or motives.

This verse also teaches the values of discernment and personal responsibility; Salome could have rejected her mother's vengeful suggestion.

It encourages individuals to consider the potential consequences their decisions can have on others and to uphold righteousness even when facing societal or familial pressures.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:8: "And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger."
Mark 6:22: "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."
Luke 3:19-20: "But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Add yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words to understand include:

"εἶπεν" (eipen): This verb means "said" or "told," which in the context shows direct speech and dialogue.
"ἐξελθοῦσα" (exelthousa): This participle means "having gone out" or "went forth," indicating Salome's action of leaving Herod's presence.
"ἀποκεφαλισμὸν Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτίζοντος" (apokephalismos Ioannou tou baptizontos): This phrase is explicitly gruesome, translating to "the beheading of John the baptizer."

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The request for the beheading of John in Mark 6:24 can be compared to instances in ancient literature where a ruler is manipulated into making a fatal decision. In Greek mythology, similar tragic narratives occur such as Clytemnestra influencing her children to avenge their father.

In ancient religious texts, there are stories of rulers making vows that lead to sacrificial acts, but usually, these stories emphasize the punishment of unjust rulers by divine powers, rather than the execution of a prophet.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific perspectives do not directly correlate to the understanding of Mark 6:24, as it recounts historical events rather than explaining natural phenomena.

However, psychology may offer insight into the behavior and mindset of characters in the verse, such as the dynamics of influence, decision-making under pressure, and the compounding effects of resentment and vindictiveness seen in Herodias.

commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have varying interpretations of Mark 6:24.

Some focus on the moral dimensions of the story, observing Salome's lack of moral independence and Herodias's manipulation.

Others highlight the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through the figure of John the Baptist as a precursor to Jesus Christ, noting how his martyrdom foreshadows the fate of Jesus.

Commentators may also explore the political and dynastic complexities of Herod's court and their impact on the early Christian community.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:24 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 6:24 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?