Mark 6:17

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.

For {G1063} Herod {G2264} himself {G846} had sent forth {G649} and laid hold {G2902} upon John {G2491}, and {G2532} bound {G1210} him {G846} in {G1722} prison {G5438} for {G1223} Herodias {G2266}' sake {G1223}, his {G846} brother {G80} Philip's {G5376} wife {G1135}: for {G3754} he had married {G1060} her {G846}.

For Herod had sent and had Yochanan arrested and chained in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her,

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 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.

Commentary

Context of Mark 6:17

Mark 6:17 provides the crucial background for the tragic death of John the Baptist, explaining why King Herod Antipas imprisoned him. Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, was the tetrarch (ruler) of Galilee and Perea during Jesus' ministry. This verse reveals the immediate cause of John's imprisonment: his courageous denunciation of Herod's unlawful marriage to Herodias. Herodias was previously married to Herod's half-brother, Philip (Herod Philip I, not the tetrarch Philip). Jewish law strictly forbade such a marriage (Leviticus 18:16; 20:21), and John, as a prophet of God, boldly spoke against it. This verse sets the stage for the subsequent narrative of John's execution, detailed in Mark 6:21-29.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Prophetic Courage and Integrity: John the Baptist exemplifies unwavering commitment to truth, even when it meant confronting powerful political figures. His willingness to speak against Herod's sin demonstrates profound moral courage, a hallmark of a true prophet.
  • Consequences of Unrighteousness: Herod's actions are driven by his illicit desires and the influence of Herodias. The verse highlights how personal sin, when confronted, often leads to conflict and oppression, as Herod sought to silence the voice of righteousness.
  • Conflict Between Truth and Power: This verse illustrates the timeless tension between divine truth and corrupt worldly authority. John's imprisonment is a direct result of his challenge to Herod's morally indefensible marriage, a theme echoed throughout biblical history where prophets confront kings.
  • The Cost of Discipleship: John's fate serves as a stark reminder that following God's truth can come at a great personal cost, including imprisonment and even death. This foreshadows the persecution faced by Jesus and His disciples.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison" emphasizes the physical restraint and imprisonment. The Greek original, ἐκράτησεν τὸν Ἰωάννην καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτὸν ἐν φυλακῇ (ekratēsen ton Iōannēn kai edēsen auton en phylakē), literally means "he seized John and bound him in prison." The forcefulness of "seized" (ekratēsen) underscores Herod's direct and authoritative action in silencing John, rather than a mere legal process.

Related Scriptures

This account is also powerfully paralleled in the Gospel of Matthew, specifically in Matthew 14:3-4, which explicitly states John's rebuke: "For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her." This direct confrontation is the catalyst for Herodias's vengeful plot. John's ministry, which began with a call to repentance and baptism in the wilderness, ultimately led him to challenge the highest echelons of power.

For believers today, Mark 6:17 is a powerful reminder to uphold moral and ethical standards, even when it is unpopular or dangerous. It calls us to consider: Are we willing to speak truth to power, or to stand against cultural norms that contradict God's Word? John's example challenges us to maintain integrity and faithfulness in our witness, regardless of the personal cost, trusting in God's ultimate sovereignty.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 11:2

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

  • Luke 3:19

    But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

  • Luke 3:20

    Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

  • Luke 3:1

    ¶ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

  • Matthew 14:3

    For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put [him] in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

  • Matthew 14:12

    And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

  • Matthew 4:12

    ¶ Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
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