And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
And {G2532} said {G2036} unto his {G846} servants {G3816}, This {G3778} is {G2076} John {G2491} the Baptist {G910}; he {G846} is risen {G1453} from {G575} the dead {G3498}; and {G2532} therefore {G1223}{G5124} mighty works {G1411} do shew forth themselves {G1754} in {G1722} him {G846}.
and said to his attendants, "This must be Yochanan the Immerser. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him."
and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him.
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Matthew 16:14
And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. -
Mark 8:28
And they answered, John the Baptist: but some [say], Elias; and others, One of the prophets. -
John 10:41
And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. -
Matthew 11:11
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
In Matthew 14:2, King Herod Antipas expresses his troubled conviction about Jesus to his servants. Having heard of Jesus' growing fame and miraculous deeds, Herod immediately concludes that Jesus is John the Baptist, whom he had unjustly executed, now risen from the dead and empowered to perform great feats.
Context
This verse follows directly after Herod Antipas hears reports of Jesus' ministry. As the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, Herod was the ruler responsible for the imprisonment and eventual beheading of John the Baptist. His declaration here reveals a mind tormented by guilt and superstition. Faced with undeniable evidence of supernatural power associated with Jesus, Herod's conscience projects his past sin onto the present, leading him to a fearful, yet incorrect, conclusion.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "mighty works" translates the Greek word dynameis (δυνάμεις), which literally means "powers" or "abilities." In this context, it refers specifically to supernatural acts or miracles. It emphasizes that the actions Jesus performed were not ordinary human feats but manifestations of divine strength and authority, demonstrating His unique connection to God. The phrase "do shew forth themselves" (ἐνεργοῦσιν - energousin) indicates an active, operative, and powerful manifestation of these abilities.
Practical Application
This verse offers several insights for contemporary reflection: