Mark 6:18
16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!”
17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.
For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”
19 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,
20 because 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.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”
- KJV
- For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
- WEB
- For John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
- ASV
- For John said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother`s wife.
- DARBY
- For John said to Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have the wife of thy brother.
- BLB
- For John was saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother.”
- ÅB
- Men Johannes hadde sagt til Herodes: Det er deg ikke tillatt å ha din brors hustru.
- OTB
- For Johannes hadde sagt til Herodes: "Det er mot loven for deg å ha din brors kone."
- B1930
- Men Johannes hadde sagt til Herodes: Det er dig ikke tillatt å ha din brors hustru.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Leviticus 18:16
You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.
Read in contextLeviticus 20:21
If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.
Read in contextEzekiel 3:18–19
If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood.
Read in context1 Kings 22:14
But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”
Read in contextMatthew 14:3–4
Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
Read in contextActs 24:24–26
After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
Read in contextActs 20:26–27
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Read in context