Devine Scripture

Mark 6:17

What does Mark 6:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 6:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 6:17 means

Mark 6:17 narrates that Herod had sent for John, seized him, and bound him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. The verse reveals a tangled personal and political scandal: Herod’s marriage breached social and religious norms, and John rebuked it. Herodias’ involvement shows the domestic motives behind John’s arrest. The verse makes clear that John’s imprisonment was not primarily for political revolt but for moral opposition to Herod’s private sin—an important reminder that prophetic confrontation often puts the messenger at odds with powerful people.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For Herod himself had sent men out to take John and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had taken for himself.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

For Herod himself, having sent forth, did lay hold on John, and bound him in the prison, because of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he married her,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For the same Herod had sent and seized John, and had bound him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.

Context

This verse begins the flashback explaining why Herod believed John had risen (verse 16). It explains the interpersonal cause of John’s imprisonment: his opposition to Herod’s marriage. The detail that Herod married his brother’s wife and that Herodias was offended sets up the motive for vengeance that will play out in her daughter’s dance and John’s beheading in the following verses. The context emphasizes the cost of prophetic truth-telling.

v.16But Herod, when he heard thereof, said, John, whom I beheaded, he is risen.

v.17This passage

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

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 3:19

    but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,

  • Matthew 4:12

    Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee;

  • Luke 3:1

    Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

  • Matthew 14:3

    For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

  • Matthew 11:2

    Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples

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