Mark 6:18

Mar_6:18

For John had said unto Herod.

The difficulty of wise rebuke

It is difficult to rebuke well; i.e., at a right time, in a right spirit, and in a right manner. The Baptist rebuked Herod without making him angry; therefore he must have rebuked him with gravity, temper, sincerity, and an evident goodwill towards him. On the other hand, he spoke so firmly, sharply, and faithfully, that his rebuke cost him his life He reproved him under the prospect of suffering for his faithfulness; and we should never use a strong word, however true it be, without being willing to acquiesce in some penalty or other, should it so happen, as the seal of our earnestness. (J. H. Newman.)

Rebuke of sin considered indelicate

I have always noticed that people who live in the practice of vice think the servants of God ought not to allude to things so coarse. We are allowed to denounce the sins of the man-in-the-moon and the vices of savages in the middle of Africa; but as to the everyday vices of this city of London, if we put our finger upon them in Gods name, then straightway someone cries, It is indelicate to allude to these things. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

6:18 Mark gives the moral-religious reason for the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist. Josephus refers to the political reason (fear that John’s great popularity might start a revolution; Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2). Similarly, the religious reasons for Jesus’ condemnation (Mark 14:63-64) became political when he was brought before Pontius Pilate (15:2; Luke 23:2-3). • It is against God’s law: Not only was the relationship adulterous (Lev 20:10), but it violated the further law against marrying a brother’s wife (Lev 18:16; 20:21).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

18. For John had said] Herod was probably on his way to meet his father-in-law, when he first encountered the Baptist, who, in the presence of the Galilean king, proved himself no “reed shaken by the wind” (Luk_7:24), but boldly denounced the royal crimes (Luk_3:19), and declared the marriage unlawful. For this outspoken faithfulness he was flung into prison, probably in the castle of Machærus or “the Black Fortress,” which Herod’s father had built in one of the most abrupt wâdys to the east of the Dead Sea, to overawe the wild Arab tribes of the neighbourhood. Though originally in the possession of Aretas, Herod had probably seized the fortress after the departure of his first wife to her father’s stronghold at Petra (Jos. Ant. xviii. 5. 2).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For John had said unto Herod,.... He had been personally with him, and had plainly and freely told him of his sin, and faithfully reproved him for it; alleging what he had done was contrary to the law of God:

it is not lawful, for thee to have thy brother's wife: See Gill on Mat 14:4.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

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

Ver. 18. {See Trapp on "Mat 14:3"} {See Trapp on "Mat 14:4"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers. 18, 19. For John said unto Herod. The Greek tense (elege) implies more than the simple expression, "he said;" it implies a repeated warning. We learn from St. Matthew (Mat_14:5) that Herod would have killed John before, but he feared the people. Here St. Mark says that Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him; and she could not; for Herod feared John. There is no contradiction between the two evangelists. The case appears to have been this: that at first Herod desired to put John to death, because John had reproved him on account of Herodias. But by degrees John gained an influence over Herod by the force of his character, and by his holy life and teaching.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

wanted to kill him, but she could not

Herodias is the subject of this phrase and "she" is a metonym as she wants someone else to execute John. AT: "she wanted someone to kill him, but she could not have him killed" (See: Metonymy)

for Herod feared John; he knew

These two clauses can be linked differently to show more clearly why Herod feared John. AT: "for Herod feared John because he knew" (See: Connecting Words)

he knew that he was a righteous

"Herod knew that John was a righteous"

Listening to him

"Listening to John"

translationWords

John (the Baptist)

Herod Antipas

lawful

Herodias

righteous

holy

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

18. ἔλεγεν γάρ. For John had said (A.V.) or “had been saying” (see on Mar 5:8), is here more accurate than “for John said” (R.V.). In Mar 6:17, R.V. agrees with A.V. in “for he had married her.” The English pluperf. is right in both cases.

Οὐκ ἔξεστιν. Lev 18:16 admitted of one exception—where the brother was dead and had left no son. Philip was still alive. It is not said that the divorce of the daughter of Aretas was a bar to the marriage with Herodias. Josephus says that Antipas imprisoned John because of his great influence; he might cause a revolution. That was the reason publicly given for putting John in prison, and Antipas perhaps really feared disturbance; he could not avow his private reason. John seems to have been leniently treated; he was allowed to receive visits (Mat 11:2 f.; Luk 7:18 f.), and Antipas himself conversed with him (Mar 6:20). There is nothing to suggest that John had publicly denounced Antipas; rather that he had privately remonstrated with him. Aenon (Joh 3:23) was close to Tiberias, and John could easily visit Antipas. For ἔχειν = “marry” cf. Mar 12:23; 1Co 5:1.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18.] ἔλεγεν—more than once: it was the burden of John’s exhortations to him.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18. Ἔλεγε γὰρ Ἰωάννης—for John had said.1 Ὅτι οὐκ ἐξεστί σοι—it is not lawful for thee. See Lev 18:16, Lev 20:21. But John would emphasize not so much the departure from Jewish law, for which Herod had slight regard, but the broader ground of common morals.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.