The Execution of John the Baptist
Matthew 14:1-12
Matt.14.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εν: PREP
- εκεινω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- καιρω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ηκουσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- Ηρωδης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- τετρααρχης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ακοην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 6:14 (verbal): Mark opens the same episode with Herod hearing reports about Jesus (Mark calls him 'Herod'/'king'), a close narrative parallel to Matthew 14:1.
- Luke 9:7 (verbal): Luke similarly records that Herod the tetrarch heard about Jesus, matching Matthew's account of Herod's awareness of Jesus' activity.
- Matt.14:2 (structural): The immediate Matthean continuation explains the content of the report (rumors that Jesus is John the Baptist raised), showing how Herod reacted to what he heard.
- Mark 6:16 (thematic): In Mark's account Herod wonders whether Jesus is John raised from the dead—thematively linked to Matthew's report that Herod heard such rumors about Jesus.
Alternative generated candidates
- At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,
- At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus.
Matt.14.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- παισιν: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αυτου·Ουτος: PRON,gen,sg,m+DEM,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βαπτιστης·αυτος: NOUN,nom,sg,m+PRON,nom,sg,m
- ηγερθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- νεκρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- δια: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,acc,sg,n
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- δυναμεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ενεργουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 6:14-16 (verbal): Mark records the same report: Herod says, 'John, whom I beheaded, has been raised,' and links the extraordinary powers/works to this belief—closely paralleling Matthew's wording and idea.
- Luke 9:7-8 (verbal): Luke recounts Herod's perplexity and reports that 'some say John has been raised from the dead,' echoing Matthew's report of popular identification of Jesus with the raised John.
- Matt.16:14 (thematic): Later in Matthew, people likewise identify Jesus as John the Baptist (or Elijah), showing the recurring theme of public misidentification of Jesus with John.
- Luke 7:18-23 (thematic): When John’s disciples ask whether Jesus is 'the one,' Jesus points to his miracles (healings, raising the dead) as the evidence—connecting the idea that miraculous 'powers' authenticate Jesus and that such works prompt identification with John or prophetic figures.
- Matt.14:1-3 (structural): Immediate context: Matthew has just noted Herod’s imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist, which explains why Herod would suppose John raised—this passage provides the structural background for v.2.
Alternative generated candidates
- and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."
- And he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."
Matt.14.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: CONJ
- Ηρωδης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κρατησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Ιωαννην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εδησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- φυλακη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- απεθετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- δια: PREP
- Ηρωδιαδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γυναικα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Φιλιππου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αδελφου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
Parallels
- Mark 6:17 (quotation): Very close verbal parallel: Mark explicitly states that Herod had seized John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias (Philippus’ wife).
- Mark 6:14-29 (structural): Full Markan account of the episode (Herod, Herodias, the banquet, Salome’s dance, and John’s beheading) parallels and expands the Matthean narrative context and outcome.
- Luke 3:19-20 (verbal): Luke likewise records John’s rebuke of Herod and notes that Herod added to this by shutting John up in prison, providing a parallel explanation for John’s imprisonment.
- Matt 11:2-3 (allusion): Within Matthew, John’s imprisonment is presupposed when John (from prison) sends disciples to Jesus to inquire whether he is the expected one, linking Matt.14:3 to John’s later activity.
- Luke 7:18-23 (thematic): Luke preserves the episode of John sending disciples from prison to Jesus to ask about his identity; thematically this connects John’s imprisonment with his continued prophetic role and questions about Jesus’ messianic work.
Alternative generated candidates
- For Herod had seized John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
- For Herod had seized John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.
Matt.14.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ελεγεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: CONJ
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιωαννης·Ουκ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εξεστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- εχειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτην·: PRON,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 6:18 (quotation): Parallel, nearly identical report of John’s words rebuking Herod for marrying Herodias; same saying appears in Mark’s narrative.
- Luke 3:19-20 (structural): Luke likewise records John’s rebuke of Herod for taking Herodias and the resulting imprisonment—same episode placed earlier in Luke’s chronology.
- Leviticus 18:16 (allusion): Priestly law prohibiting a man from uncovering his brother’s wife provides the legal/ethical basis for John’s assertion ‘It is not lawful for you.’
- Leviticus 20:21 (allusion): Further legal sanction against marrying a brother’s wife (and its consequences) underlies the claim of illegality in John’s rebuke.
- 1 Kings 21:20-24 (thematic): Elijah’s prophetic confrontation of Ahab (condemning royal sexual/land abuse and announcing judgment) parallels the prophetic role and judgment-theme when John rebukes Herod.
Alternative generated candidates
- for John had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
- For John had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
Matt.14.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- θελων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,masc,nom,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- αποκτειναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- εφοβηθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οχλον: NOUN,acc,sg,masc
- οτι: CONJ
- ως: CONJ
- προφητην: NOUN,acc,sg,masc
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- ειχον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Mark 6:20 (structural): Direct synoptic parallel—notes Herod’s fear and respect for John, explaining why Herod was reluctant to kill him.
- Mark 6:14-16 (thematic): Reports popular speculation that Jesus was John raised (or another prophet), reflecting the crowd’s view of prophetic identity that made rulers cautious.
- Luke 3:19-20 (structural): Parallel account of Herod’s hostility toward John (imprisonment and desire to kill), providing the same motive described in Matthew.
- Luke 9:7-9 (thematic): Herod’s puzzlement about Jesus’ identity and his connection to John (whom he had executed)—illustrates the political sensitivity created by popular belief that a prophet had appeared.
- John 6:14 (thematic): Crowd identification of Jesus as ‘the Prophet’—a similar phenomenon where popular recognition of someone as a prophet shapes public and political response.
Alternative generated candidates
- And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet.
- Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.
Matt.14.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- γενεσιοις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- δε: CONJ
- γενομενοις: PTCP,dat,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Ηρωδου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ωρχησατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- θυγατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- Ηρωδιαδος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- μεσω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ηρεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ηρωδη: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 6:21-22 (verbal): Near-verbatim synoptic parallel: Mark likewise reports that Herodias' daughter danced in the midst and pleased Herod at his birthday.
- Mark 6:21-29 (structural): Mark's extended account connects the daughter's dance (vv.21–22) with Herod's oath and the subsequent beheading of John (vv.25–29), paralleling Matthew's narrative sequence.
- Matthew 14:3-11 (structural): Immediate Matthean context: verse 6 is part of this larger unit recounting John the Baptist's imprisonment, the daughter's dance, and John's execution.
- Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2 (allusion): Independent Jewish-historical account that likewise reports Herod's birthday banquet, the dancing of Herodias' daughter, and the resulting execution of John the Baptist.
Alternative generated candidates
- But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the guests and pleased Herod,
- Now when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before those reclining at table and pleased Herod.
Matt.14.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οθεν: ADV
- μετα: PREP
- ορκου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ωμολογησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- δουναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- αιτησηται: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 6:26 (quotation): Direct parallel account in Mark; Herod, after an oath, pledges to give the girl whatever she asks (nearly identical wording).
- Mark 6:22-28 (quotation): Extended Markan narrative of the same episode — the dance, Herod's oath, the girl's request, and the beheading of John the Baptist.
- Matt.14:8 (structural): Immediate Matthean continuation: the girl asks for John the Baptist's head, showing the consequence of Herod's sworn promise.
- Judg.11:30-40 (thematic): Thematic parallel: a rash vow leads to the demanded death/consecration of a daughter; both passages highlight the tragic results of binding oaths.
Alternative generated candidates
- so that the king vowed with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
- So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
Matt.14.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- προβιβασθεισα: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,sg,f
- υπο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- μητρος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτης·Δος: PRON,gen,sg,f + VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- φησιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ωδε: ADV
- επι: PREP
- πινακι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κεφαλην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Ιωαννου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- βαπτιστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 6:21-29 (quotation): Parallel narrative of Herodias' daughter asking for John the Baptist's head; Mark preserves the same sequence and much of the same speech as Matthew's account.
- Mark 6:25 (verbal): Close verbal parallel to Matthew 14:8—the daughter's demand 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist' is rendered with virtually the same wording in Mark.
- Matthew 14:11 (structural): Immediate sequel within Matthew's narrative: Herod orders John's beheading and the head is brought to the girl—shows the outcome of the request in 14:8.
- Luke 9:7-9 (allusion): Luke alludes to Herod's role in John's death and the rumor that Jesus was John returned; Luke's account compresses the banquet episode but preserves the connection between Herod and John's execution.
Alternative generated candidates
- Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
- Prompted by her mother, she went in and said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
Matt.14.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- λυπηθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,m,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βασιλευς: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ορκους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- συνανακειμενους: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,acc,m,pl
- εκελευσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δοθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
Parallels
- Mark 6:26 (verbal): Parallel Gospel account of Herod's response: virtually the same wording—Herod, distressed because of his oaths and guests, commands that John's head be given.
- Judges 11:30-40 (thematic): Jephthah's rash vow leads to the death/sacrifice of his daughter; both scenes spotlight a leader's binding vow/oath producing tragic loss.
- 1 Kings 21:10-16 (thematic): Ahab and Jezebel arrange Naboth's unjust execution through court manipulation—parallels a ruler's misuse of authority and lethal outcome influenced by others at court.
- Acts 12:1-4 (thematic): Herod Agrippa's execution of James and persecution of the church echoes the motif of a king violently targeting a faithful servant (as Herod orders John's beheading), and the political dynamics behind such executions.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the king was distressed, yet because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.
- And Herod was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded that it be given.
Matt.14.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- πεμψας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- απεκεφαλισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Ιωαννην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- φυλακη·: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 6:27-28 (verbal): Mark's parallel tells the same episode with similar wording: Herod sends an executioner and John is beheaded in the prison (close verbal and narrative correspondence to Matthew 14:10).
- Luke 3:19-20 (structural): Luke records Herod's imprisonment of John after John's rebuke of Herod and Herodias—provides the background cause for the later execution recounted in Matthew 14:10.
- Luke 9:9 (verbal): Luke elsewhere summarizes the event—Herod's admission that he had John beheaded—serving as a brief parallel attesting the same fact related in Matthew 14:10.
- Acts 12:2 (thematic): Herod Agrippa's execution of James (killed by the sword) is a thematic parallel of a ruler ordering the violent death of a prominent Jewish leader/prophet for political reasons.
- Revelation 20:4 (thematic): Revelation mentions those who were beheaded for their testimony; thematically connects imperial/violent execution by beheading with the fate of prophetic witnesses like John the Baptist.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
- He sent and had John's head brought, and he gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
Matt.14.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ηνεχθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- κεφαλη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- επι: PREP
- πινακι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- εδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κορασιω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ηνεγκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- μητρι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτης: PRON,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 6:28 (verbal): Almost identical brief report: the head of John is presented on a platter and given to the girl, matching Matthew’s wording and detail.
- Mark 6:17-29 (structural): Full Markan narrative of John’s imprisonment, Herodias’s grudge, the daughter’s dance, and the beheading—provides the fuller episode that Matthew summarizes.
- Matthew 14:3-12 (structural): The immediate Matthean context: the preceding verses recount John’s arrest, Herodias’s hostility, the daughter’s request, and the execution that culminates in v.11.
- Luke 9:7-9 (thematic): Luke records Herod’s awareness of John (and his expectation that Jesus might be John risen), reflecting the same Herodian concern and the aftermath of John’s death referenced in Matthew.
Alternative generated candidates
- And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And they reported this to Jesus.
- And his disciples came and took up the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
Matt.14.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- προσελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- ηραν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- πτωμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- εθαψαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- και: CONJ
- ελθοντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- απηγγειλαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 6:29 (verbal): Nearly identical report: Mark explicitly says the disciples took up John's body, laid it in a tomb, and went and told Jesus (close verbal parallel to Matthew 14:12).
- Mark 6:30 (structural): Continues the same sequence—after the event the apostles gather and report to Jesus—mirrors the narrative flow linking the burial and the disciples' report to Jesus.
- John 19:40-42 (thematic): Parallels the burial of a revered teacher by followers who prepare and lay the body in a tomb (Jesus’ burial by Joseph/Nicodemus echoes the disciples’ care for John’s body).
- Luke 9:9 (thematic): Luke records Herod's awareness and puzzlement over Jesus in the immediate aftermath of John's execution—thematises the consequences and response to John’s death within the Gospel tradition.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.
- When Jesus heard this, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,
and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."
For Herod had seized John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,
because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
Although he wished to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before those at the table and pleased Herod,
so the king vowed with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
The king was grieved, yet because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be granted. So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought on a platter and given to the young woman, and she took it to her mother.
Then John's disciples came, took his body, buried it, and went and told Jesus.