Matthew 14:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of Yochanan the Immerser."

Berean Standard Bible:

Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

American Standard Version:

And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G1161} she, being before instructed^{G4264} of^{G5259} her^{G846} mother^{G3384}, said^{G5346}, Give^{G1325} me^{G3427} here^{G5602} John^{G2491} Baptist's^{G910} head^{G2776} in^{G1909} a charger^{G4094}.

Cross-References (KJV):

2 Chronicles 22:2

Forty and two years old [was] Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

2 Chronicles 22:3

He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.

Mark 6:24

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

1 Kings 19:2

Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

Proverbs 1:16

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

1 Kings 18:4

For it was [so], when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

Numbers 7:13

And his offering [was] one silver charger, the weight thereof [was] an hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them [were] full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

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Commentary for Matthew 14:8

Matthew 14:8 is a verse that captures a pivotal moment in the narrative of John the Baptist's execution. The verse reads, "And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger." This event is set within the historical context of Judea under the rule of Herod Antipas, a client king of the Roman Empire.

The verse is part of a larger story involving Herod Antipas, his wife Herodias, and her daughter (traditionally named Salome, though not named in the Bible). John the Baptist had publicly condemned Herod for marrying Herodias, who was his brother Philip's wife, an act John declared to be unlawful according to Jewish law. Herodias harbored a grudge against John for this and wanted him killed, but Herod, fearing the crowds who considered John a prophet, kept him in prison instead.

The verse itself describes the culmination of Herodias's scheme to have John the Baptist executed. During Herod's birthday celebration, Salome danced before the king and his guests, pleasing Herod so much that he rashly promised to give her anything she desired, up to half his kingdom. After conferring with her mother, Salome requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter (or "charger"). This gruesome request reflects the political intrigue and moral corruption of the Herodian court, as well as the danger faced by prophetic figures who spoke truth to power.

The themes present in this verse include the consequences of unchecked power and desire, the manipulation of rulers by those close to them, and the often tragic fate of those who dare to challenge the status quo. It also highlights the complex interplay between political authority and religious conviction in first-century Palestine, a dynamic that would continue to shape the region's history, including the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. John's martyrdom foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus and underscores the cost of discipleship and the price of speaking out against injustice.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Strong's Number: G4264
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: προβιβάζω
Transliteration: probibázō
Pronunciation: prob-ib-ad'-zo
Description: from πρό and a reduplicated form of βιάζω; to force forward, i.e. bring to the front, instigate:--draw, before instruct.
Strong's Number: G5259
There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὑπό
Transliteration: hypó
Pronunciation: hoop-o'
Description: a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.
Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
Strong's Number: G3384
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μήτηρ
Transliteration: mḗtēr
Pronunciation: may'-tare
Description: apparently a primary word; a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote):--mother.
Strong's Number: G5346
There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: φημί
Transliteration: phēmí
Pronunciation: fay-mee'
Description: properly, the same as the base of φῶς and φαίνω; to show or make known one's thoughts, i.e. speak or say:--affirm, say. Compare λέγω.
Strong's Number: G1325
There are 377 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δίδωμι
Transliteration: dídōmi
Pronunciation: did'-o-mee
Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
Strong's Number: G3427
There are 227 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μοί
Transliteration: moí
Pronunciation: moy
Description: the simpler form of ἐμοί; to me:--I, me, mine, my.
Strong's Number: G5602
There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὧδε
Transliteration: hōde
Pronunciation: ho'-deh
Description: from an adverb form of ὅδε; in this same spot, i.e. here or hither:--here, hither, (in) this place, there.
Strong's Number: G2491
There are 130 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰωάννης
Transliteration: Iōánnēs
Pronunciation: ee-o-an'-nace
Description: of Hebrew origin (יוֹחָנָן); Joannes (i.e. Jochanan), the name of four Israelites:--John.
Strong's Number: G910
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Βαπτιστής
Transliteration: Baptistḗs
Pronunciation: bap-tis-tace'
Description: from βαπτίζω; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ's forerunner:--Baptist.
Strong's Number: G2776
There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κεφαλή
Transliteration: kephalḗ
Pronunciation: kef-al-ay'
Description: from the primary (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively:--head.
Strong's Number: G1909
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπί
Transliteration: epí
Pronunciation: ep-ee'
Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Strong's Number: G4094
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πίναξ
Transliteration: pínax
Pronunciation: pin'-ax
Description: apparently a form of πλάξ; a plate:--charger, platter.

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