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 6:27 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:27 recounts the execution of John the Baptist, a significant figure in Christianity and the forerunner of Jesus Christ.

In this verse, the King, Herod Antipas, orders an executioner to behead John in the prison where he was held.

John had been imprisoned because he had condemned Herod's marriage to Herodias, who was previously his brother's wife.

This execution was at the request of Herodias's daughter, prompted by her mother, after she pleased Herod with her dance during a feast.

Despite his initial reluctance due to a fear of John's influence and acknowledgment that John was a righteous man, Herod felt compelled to comply with the request because of an oath he had sworn to her in front of his guests.

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Historical Context

This verse is set during the first century CE in the Roman-controlled region of Judea.

Herod Antipas was a ruler under the Roman Empire.

John the Baptist had gained a following because of his preaching and baptism, including calls for ethical behavior and his criticism of the Herodian family's morals.

Herod Antipas's marriage to Herodias was controversial and against Jewish law, as it involved his brother's former wife.

This family dynamic and the political tensions of the time led to John's imprisonment and eventual execution.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the beheading of John the Baptist was seen as a prefiguration of the persecution of Jesus Christ and his followers.

John’s death is seen as a martyrdom, and he is often cited in theological discussions regarding the price of prophetic truth-telling and righteousness in the face of political power.

Additionally, the fulfillment of Herod's oath, despite the immoral request, highlights the complexity of moral decisions and the consequences of rash promises.

Practical Applications

This verse reminds believers of the cost of standing up for truth and righteousness.

It can be applied in daily life by encouraging individuals to remain steadfast in their convictions, even in the face of opposition or danger.

It also warns against the making of hasty promises or oaths that may lead one to act against their conscience or moral judgment.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:8-11: And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

Luke 9:9: And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
Mark 6:18: For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

Language Study

"King" (βασιλεὺς - basileus) in this context refers to Herod Antipas, a tetrarch or sub-king under Roman authority.
"Executioner" (σπεκουλάτωρ - spekulatōr) denotes a professional soldier, likely in the service of Herod, whose tasks could include carrying out executions.
"Beheaded" (ἀποκεφαλίζω - apokephalizō) directly translates to decapitate or behead, and it is used here in the aorist tense, indicating a completed action.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In several ancient cultures, beheading was a common form of execution for notable prisoners or political rivals.

This form of capital punishment would often carry a message of deterrence and display of power.

In other religious traditions, such as Islam, John the Baptist (known as Yahya) is also revered as a prophet, and his death is similarly regarded as an example of righteousness in the face of corruption.

Scientific Perspectives

While there is no direct scientific intersection with this narrative, forensic science can provide insights into the historical practice of beheading as a form of execution.

Anthropological studies have explored the cultural and socio-political reasons for different execution methods in ancient societies and could shed light on the harshness of this method.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have reflected on this verse and its implications. They highlight Herod's moral weakness and the contrast between his respect for John and his fear of public opinion.

Some see in Herod's hesitation an acknowledgement of John's holiness, while others focus on the brutality of Herodias's vengeance.

Additionally, commentators often discuss the role of prophecy and its reception, using John the Baptist as an example of the cost associated with being a bearer of divine truth.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:27 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 6:27 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?