Mark 6:14

KJV

¶ And king Herod heard [of him]; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} king {G935} Herod {G2264} heard {G191} of him;(for {G1063} his {G846} name {G3686} was {G1096} spread abroad {G5318}:) and {G2532} he said {G3004}, That {G3754} John {G2491} the Baptist {G907} was risen {G1453} from {G1537} the dead {G3498}, and {G2532} therefore {G1223}{G5124} mighty works {G1411} do shew forth themselves {G1754} in {G1722} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Meanwhile, King Herod heard about this, for Yeshua's reputation had spread. Some were saying, "Yochanan the Immerser has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him."

Berean Standard Bible

Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

American Standard Version

And king Herod heardthereof; for his name had become known: and he said, John the Baptizer is risen from the dead, and therefore do these powers work in him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 6:14 marks a pivotal point in Jesus' Galilean ministry, as His widespread fame and powerful works reach the ears of King Herod Antipas. Haunted by his past sin in executing John the Baptist, Herod immediately concludes that Jesus must be John resurrected, believing that John's spirit is now manifesting mighty works through Jesus. This verse not only highlights the undeniable impact of Jesus' ministry but also reveals Herod's troubled conscience and his superstitious, yet telling, attempt to explain the divine power he observes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' commissioning of the twelve disciples, empowering them to preach repentance, cast out demons, and heal the sick ([Mark 6:7-13](/mark/6-7-13 "Mark 6:7-13 - Jesus Commissions the Twelve")). Their widespread activity, combined with Jesus' own powerful ministry, significantly amplified His reputation throughout Galilee. The narrative then shifts from the disciples' mission to the reaction of the political authority, Herod, setting the stage for the flashback account of John the Baptist's martyrdom ([Mark 6:17-29](/mark/6-17-29 "Mark 6:17-29 - The Death of John the Baptist")), which explains Herod's particular fear and conclusion. This interlude underscores the escalating tension surrounding Jesus' identity and the growing opposition He faces, even from the highest levels of secular power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Herod Antipas was the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, a client king under Roman authority. He was known for his political maneuvering and moral compromises, particularly his unlawful marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, which John the Baptist had publicly condemned ([Mark 6:17-18](/mark/6-17-18 "Mark 6:17-18 - John Rebukes Herod")). The Jewish populace, including Herod himself, held a strong belief in resurrection and the return of prophets, particularly Elijah ([Malachi 4:5](/malachi/4-5 "Malachi 4:5 - Prophecy of Elijah's Return")) or Jeremiah, before the coming of the Messiah. Herod's immediate leap to the conclusion that Jesus was John risen from the dead reflects not only his personal guilt and superstition but also a prevalent cultural expectation regarding the re-emergence of powerful prophetic figures.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 6:14 contributes to several overarching themes in the Gospel of Mark. It emphasizes the **unstoppable spread of Jesus' fame and the undeniable power of His ministry**, demonstrating that even political rulers are forced to acknowledge His impact, however reluctantly. The verse also powerfully illustrates **Herod's guilty conscience** and the psychological torment that unaddressed sin can inflict, driving him to a superstitious and irrational explanation for Jesus' works. Furthermore, it highlights the recurring theme of **misunderstanding Jesus' true identity**, as Herod, like many others in Mark's Gospel, fails to grasp that Jesus is the Messiah, attributing His power to a resurrected prophet rather than to His unique divine nature. This sets up the later crucial confession of Peter in [Mark 8:29](/mark/8-29 "Mark 8:29 - Peter's Confession of Christ").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **for (Greek, _gár'_):** This primary particle serves to assign a reason or provide an explanation. In this context, it introduces the cause for Herod's hearing of Jesus: "for his name was spread abroad." It connects the widespread fame of Jesus directly to Herod's awareness, indicating that the news was so pervasive it reached even the highest echelons of power.
* **was risen (Greek, _egeírō'_):** This verb means "to waken," "rouse," or "raise (again, up)," often from sleep, disease, or death. Herod's use of this term indicates his belief in a literal resurrection of John the Baptist, not merely a spiritual presence or influence. It underscores his fear that John's prophetic power, now amplified, had returned to confront him.
* **mighty works (Greek, _dýnamis'_):** Derived from a word meaning "force" or "power," this term specifically refers to miraculous power or a miracle itself. It emphasizes the extraordinary, supernatural nature of Jesus' deeds, which were clearly beyond human capability. Herod's attribution of these "mighty works" to a resurrected John reveals his recognition of their divine origin, even if he misidentifies the source.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And king Herod heard [of him];"**: This opening clause immediately establishes the scope of Jesus' influence, indicating that His reputation had grown to such an extent that it penetrated even the insulated world of the ruling elite. Herod's hearing of Jesus is not casual but significant, given his position and his prior entanglement with prophetic figures.
* **"(for his name was spread abroad:)"**: This parenthetical explanation clarifies *why* Herod heard. Jesus' "name" (representing His identity, authority, and reputation) was not merely known but "spread abroad," signifying a widespread, undeniable, and pervasive recognition of His ministry and impact across the region.
* **"and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead,"**: This is Herod's immediate and striking conclusion. His attribution of Jesus' power to a resurrected John reveals a deep-seated fear and a guilty conscience concerning John's unjust execution. It suggests a superstitious belief that John's spirit, now empowered, had returned to exact judgment or continue his prophetic work.
* **"and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him."**: This final clause provides the reasoning for Herod's conclusion. He links the extraordinary, miraculous powers ("mighty works") being displayed by Jesus directly to his belief that John had been resurrected. The phrase "shew forth themselves" (Greek, _energéō_) implies an active, efficient, and powerful working of these miraculous abilities, further solidifying Herod's conviction that something supernatural was at play.

#### Literary Devices
Mark employs several literary devices in this verse. **Foreshadowing** is evident as Herod's fear of a resurrected John subtly anticipates Jesus' own future resurrection, though Herod's understanding is flawed. The **parenthetical statement** "(for his name was spread abroad:)" serves as an explanatory device, providing immediate context for Herod's awareness and highlighting the expansive reach of Jesus' ministry. **Irony** is present in Herod's mistaken identity: he attributes Jesus' divine power to a resurrected John, missing the true, far greater identity of Jesus as the Son of God. This also functions as a form of **dramatic irony**, as the reader knows Jesus' true identity, making Herod's misjudgment all the more poignant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 6:14 underscores the profound impact of Jesus' ministry, demonstrating that divine truth and power cannot be contained or ignored, even by those in positions of authority who might wish to suppress it. Herod's reaction serves as a stark theological commentary on the nature of a guilty conscience, illustrating how unaddressed sin can lead to irrational fears, distorted perceptions, and a desperate attempt to rationalize divine activity through a lens of personal dread rather than humble inquiry. It highlights the human tendency to misinterpret God's work, often projecting our own fears and biases onto His actions, rather than seeking to understand His true identity and purpose.

* [Matthew 14:1-2](/matthew/14-1-2 "Matthew 14:1-2 - Herod Hears of Jesus")
* [Luke 9:7-9](/luke/9-7-9 "Luke 9:7-9 - Herod Perplexed by Jesus")
* [John 10:41](/john/10-41 "John 10:41 - Many Believe in Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Herod's reaction to Jesus' fame offers a powerful mirror for contemporary reflection. It challenges us to consider how we respond to the undeniable presence and power of God in our world. Do we, like Herod, allow past sins or unaddressed guilt to cloud our perception of who Jesus is and what He is doing? His immediate, superstitious conclusion reveals a heart that is not open to truth but is instead consumed by fear and self-condemnation. This serves as a vital reminder that genuine repentance and a clear conscience are prerequisites for truly understanding and embracing God's work. Our response to Jesus should be one of humble faith and worship, recognizing Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God, rather than projecting our own anxieties or misinterpretations onto His divine identity and mission. The widespread "spreading abroad" of Jesus' name also encourages us: the truth of the Gospel, empowered by God, will inevitably make its way into every corner, challenging all to confront its claims.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What unaddressed guilt or past sins might be hindering my clear perception of God's work in my life or in the world today?**
* **How do I tend to explain or rationalize powerful spiritual experiences or divine interventions? Am I open to God's true identity, or do I project my own preconceived notions?**
* **In what ways is Jesus' "name spread abroad" in my community or sphere of influence, and how am I participating in that spread?**
* **What is my deepest conviction about Jesus' identity, and how does that conviction shape my response to His power?**

### FAQ

**Why did Herod think Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected?**

Answer: Herod's belief that Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected stemmed primarily from a deeply troubled and guilty conscience. He had unlawfully imprisoned and executed John at the behest of Herodias, his brother's wife, and her daughter ([Mark 6:17-29](/mark/6-17-29 "Mark 6:17-29 - The Beheading of John")). The widespread reports of Jesus' miraculous powers and authoritative teaching would have stirred Herod's inner turmoil and fear of divine retribution. In his superstitious mind, the only explanation for such extraordinary "mighty works" was that John, whom he had silenced, had returned from the dead with even greater power, perhaps to confront him. This interpretation allowed him to rationalize the supernatural phenomena through the lens of his own sin and the consequences he feared.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Herod's interpretation of Jesus as John the Baptist resurrected was fundamentally flawed, his reaction, born of a guilty conscience, ironically points to a deeper truth about the Christ. Herod's fear that John's power was "shewing forth" through Jesus, implying a return from death with amplified authority, subtly foreshadows the ultimate reality of Jesus' own resurrection. Unlike John, who was a prophet pointing to the Messiah, Jesus is the Messiah Himself, whose true power is fully manifested not in a mere return, but in His triumphant victory over death and sin on the cross and through His glorious resurrection ([Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Declared Son of God by Resurrection")). The "mighty works" Herod observed were not merely a re-emergence of a prophet's power, but the very power of God incarnate, demonstrating His authority over sickness, demons, and ultimately, death itself ([Colossians 2:9-10](/colossians/2-9-10 "Colossians 2:9-10 - Fullness of Deity in Christ")). Herod's troubled conscience, while misdirected, also points to the universal need for redemption that only the crucified and resurrected Christ can provide, offering true forgiveness and peace that a guilty conscience can never find on its own ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrew/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Cleansing of Conscience by Christ's Blood")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 9:7

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;

Luke 9:9

And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

Mark 6:14

¶ And king Herod heard [of him]; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

Mark 6:29

And when his disciples heard [of it], they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

Mark 1:28

And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

Matthew 9:31

But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

1 Thessalonians 1:8

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.