Mark 6 · Verse 20

Mark 6:20

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.
Mark 6:20, King James Version

Mark 6:20 in other translations

BSBbecause Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
WEBfor Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
ASVfor Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly.
YLTfor Herod was fearing John, knowing him a man righteous and holy, and was keeping watch over him, and having heard him, was doing many things, and hearing him gladly.
DARBYfor Herod feared John knowing that he was a just and holy man, and kept him safe; and having heard him, did many things, and heard him gladly.
BBEFor Herod was in fear of John, being conscious that he was an upright and holy man, and kept him safe. And hearing him, he was much troubled; and he gave ear to him gladly.
WebsterFor Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and observed him: and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

What does Mark 6:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. For Herod feared John--but, as Bengel notes, John feared not Herod. knowing that he was a just man and an holy--Compare the case of Elijah with Ahab, after the murder of Naboth (1Ki 21:20). and observed him--rather, as in the Margin, "kept" or "saved him"; that is, from the wicked designs of Herodias, who had been watching for some pretext to get Herod entangled and committed to despatch him. and when he heard him, he did many things--many good things under the influence of the Baptist on his conscience. and heard him gladly--a striking statement this, for which we are indebted to our graphic Evangelist alone, illustrating the working of contrary principles in the slaves of passion. But this only shows how far Herodias must have wrought upon him, as Jezebel upon Ahab, that he should at length agree to what his awakened conscience kept him long from executing.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. He did many things. But he did not do the thing which was demanded of him--to break off from his sins. He attempted to make a compromise with his conscience. He still loved his sins, and did other things which he supposed might be accepted, in the place of putting away, as he ought, the wife of his brother--the polluted and adulterous woman with whom he lived. Perhaps he treated John kindly, or spoke well of him, or aided him in his wants; and attempted in this way to silence his rebukes, and destroy his faithfulness. This was probably before John was imprisoned. So sinners often treat ministers kindly, and do much to make them comfortable, and hear them gladly, while they are still unwilling to do the thing which is demanded of them, to repent and believe the gospel. They expect that their kind attentions will be accepted in the place of what God demands--repentance and the forsaking of their sins.

(k) "feared" Ex 11:3, Eze 2:5-7 (2) "observed him" or, "kept him", or "saved him"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 6:14-29

Herod feared John while he lived, and feared him still more when he was dead. Herod did many of those things which John in his preaching taught him; but it is not enough to do many things, we must have respect to all the commandments. Herod respected John, till he touched him in his Herodias. Thus many love good preaching, if it keep far away from their beloved sin. But it is better that sinners persecute ministers…

Read the full comment on Mark 6:14-29 →

Mark 6:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὁho<the>G3588
γὰρgarforG1063
ἩρῴδηςHērōdēsHerodG2264
ἐφοβεῖτοephobeitowas afraid ofG5399
τὸνton<the>G3588
ἸωάννηνIōannēnJohnG2491
εἰδὼςeidōsknowing
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ἄνδραandra[to be] a manG435
δίκαιονdikaionrighteousG1342
καὶkaiandG2532
ἅγιονhagionholyG40
καὶkaiandG2532
συνετήρειsunetēreihe was keeping safeG4933
αὐτόν.autonhim.G846
καὶkaiAndG2532
ἀκούσαςakousaswhen having heardG191
αὐτοῦautouhimG846
πολλὰpollamuchG4183
ἠπόρει,ēporeihe was perplexedG639
καὶkaiandG2532
ἡδέωςhēdeōsgladlyG2234
αὐτοῦautouhimG846
ἤκουεν.¶ēkouenwas hearing.G191

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 6:20

  • Matthew 21:26

    But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

  • Matthew 14:5

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

  • 2 Chronicles 24:15-22

    But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house. Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. …

  • John 5:35

    He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

  • Psalms 106:12-13

    Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

  • 2 Kings 3:12-13

    And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.

  • Mark 11:18

    And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

  • 1 Kings 21:20

    And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord.

  • Ezekiel 2:5-7

    And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

  • 2 Kings 6:21

    And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

  • Ezekiel 33:32

    And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

  • Daniel 4:18

    This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
feared.
11:18; Ex 11:3; 1Ki 21:20; 2Ki 3:12,13; 6:21; 13:14; 2Ch 24:2,15-22
2Ch 26:5; Eze 2:5-7; Da 4:18,27; 5:17; Mt 14:5; 21:26
observed him. or, kept him, or saved him. and heard.
4:16; Ps 106:12,13; Eze 33:32; Joh 5:35

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 6:19

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

  • Mark 6:20

    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.

  • Mark 6:21

    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;

Read all of Mark 6

Mark 6:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque Herodes temía á Juan, sabiendo que era varón justo y santo, y le tenía respeto: y oyéndole, hacía muchas cosas; y le oía de buena gana.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
car Hérode craignait Jean, le sachant homme juste et saint, et il le gardait soigneusement; et lorsqu’il l’avait entendu, il faisait beaucoup de choses, et il l’écoutait volontiers.
German
Elberfelder 1871
denn Herodes fürchtete den Johannes, da er wußte, daß er ein gerechter und heiliger Mann war, und er verwahrte ihn; und wenn er ihn gehört hatte, so tat er vieles, und er hörte ihn gern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Herodes enim metuebat Joannem, sciens eum virum justum et sanctum: et custodiebat eum, et audito eo multa faciebat, et libenter eum audiebat.