Mark 6 · Verse 26

Mark 6:26

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.
Mark 6:26, King James Version

Mark 6:26 in other translations

BSBThe king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.
WEBThe king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her.
ASVAnd the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her.
YLTAnd the king--made very sorrowful--because of the oaths and of those reclining (at meat) with him, would not put her away,
DARBYAnd the king, while made very sorry, on account of the oaths and those lying at table with him would not break his word with her.
BBEAnd the king was very sad; but because of his oaths, and those who were with him at table, he would not say 'No' to her.
WebsterAnd the king was exceeding sorry: yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes who sat with him, he would not reject her.

What does Mark 6:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
26. And the king was exceeding sorry--With his feelings regarding John, and the truths which so told upon his conscience from that preacher's lips, and after so often and carefully saving him from his paramour's rage, it must have been very galling to find himself at length entrapped by his own rash folly. yet for his oath's sake--See how men of no principle, but troublesome conscience, will stick at breaking a rash oath, while yielding to the commission of the worst crimes! and for their sakes which sat with him--under the influence of that false shame, which could not brook being thought to be troubled with religious or moral scruples. To how many has this proved a fatal snare! he would not reject her.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 For their sakes which sat with him - Probably these persons joined in with the request, and were glad of this opportunity to get this light of Israel extinguished; he being a public reprover of all their vices.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · 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 6:26 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
περίλυποςperiluposencompassingly sorrowfulG4036
γενόμενοςgenomenoshaving been madeG1096
ὁhotheG3588
βασιλεὺςbasileuskingG935
διὰdiaon account ofG1223
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ὅρκουςhorkousoathsG3727
καὶkaiandG2532
τοὺςtousthoseG3588
ἀνακειμένουςanakeimenousreclining with [him]G345
οὐκouknotG3756
ἠθέλησενēthelēsenwas he willingG2309
ἀθετῆσαιathetēsaito refuseG114
αὐτήν.autēnher.G846

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

Cross references for Mark 6:26

  • Matthew 27:24-25

    When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

  • Matthew 14:9

    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.

  • Matthew 27:3-5

    Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mt 14:9; 27:3-5,24,25

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

Context

  • Mark 6:25

    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.

  • Mark 6:26

    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.

  • Mark 6:27

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

Read all of Mark 6

Mark 6:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el rey se entristeció mucho; mas á causa del juramento, y de los que estaban con él á la mesa, no quiso desecharla.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le roi en fut très attristé, mais, à cause des serments et de ceux qui étaient à table avec lui, il ne voulut pas lui manquer de parole.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der König wurde sehr betrübt; doch um der Eide und um derer willen, die mit zu Tische lagen, wollte er sie nicht zurückweisen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et contristatus est rex: propter jusjurandum, et propter simul discumbentes, noluit eam contristare: