Herod's Birthday Feast

The words

1. Beheaded

   Matthew and Mark say John was beheaded in prison on Herod’s order; Josephus’s separate account places his imprisonment and death at Machaerus.

   Matthew 14:9–10 (opens a new tab) · Mark 6:26–27 (opens a new tab) · Josephus: Antiquities 18.5.2 (opens a new tab)

2. Birthday

   Mark places the supper on Herod’s birthday and lists the invited leaders; Matthew also links the daughter’s dance and Herod’s oath to the birthday celebration.

   Mark 6:21–23 (opens a new tab) · Matthew 14:6–7 (opens a new tab)

3. Charger

   Matthew and Mark use “charger” for the dish requested for John’s head; the pictured platter is dated to the fourth–fifth century by the Met.

   Matthew 14:8 (opens a new tab) · Mark 6:25 (opens a new tab) · Met: Late Roman platter (opens a new tab)

4. Chief Estates

   Mark lists the chief estates of Galilee among Herod’s birthday guests, alongside his lords and high captains, before describing the daughter’s dance.

   Mark 6:21–22 (opens a new tab)

5. Convenient Day

   Mark introduces the birthday supper as a “convenient day,” after saying Herodias wanted John killed but could not while Herod feared and listened to him.

   Mark 6:19–20 (opens a new tab) · Mark 6:21 (opens a new tab)

6. Corpse

   Mark says John’s disciples take his corpse and lay it in a tomb; Matthew says they bury the body and then go and tell Jesus.

   Mark 6:29 (opens a new tab) · Matthew 14:12 (opens a new tab)

7. Danced

   Mark and Matthew’s KJV accounts describe Herodias’s daughter dancing before Herod; Mark includes the supper guests, and Matthew follows with the oath.

   Mark 6:22 (opens a new tab) · Matthew 14:6–7 (opens a new tab)

8. Executioner

   Mark names an executioner sent by the king, who beheads John in prison; Matthew reports Herod sending to have John beheaded without naming that role.

   Mark 6:27 (opens a new tab) · Matthew 14:10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 14:1-12 (opens a new tab)

9. Gladly

   Mark’s KJV text says Herod heard John “gladly” and “did many things”; the NET reads that he was baffled, while still liking to listen.

   Mark 6:20 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Mark 6:14-29 (opens a new tab)

10. Herodias

    Mark says Herodias wanted John killed after his objection to her marriage; Matthew describes her instructing her daughter to ask for John’s head.

    Mark 6:17–19 (opens a new tab) · Matthew 14:8 (opens a new tab)

11. High Captains

    Senior military commanders.

    Mark includes high captains among Herod’s birthday guests, between the lords and chief estates of Galilee, as he sets the scene for the supper.

    Mark 6:21 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Mark 6:14-29 (opens a new tab)

12. King Herod

    Mark calls the ruler King Herod; Matthew introduces him as “Herod the tetrarch” and later also calls him king when describing the order for John’s death.

    Mark 6:14 (opens a new tab) · Matthew 14:1; Matthew 14:9–10 (opens a new tab)

13. Lawful

    Mark gives John’s words to Herod as “not lawful” to have his brother’s wife; Matthew also reports John’s objection and Herod’s imprisonment of him.

    Mark 6:17–18 (opens a new tab) · Matthew 14:3–4 (opens a new tab)

14. Quarrel

    A grudge or hostility.

    Mark says Herodias had a quarrel against John and wanted him killed; the following verse says Herod feared John, knowing him as just and holy.

    Mark 6:19–20 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Mark 6:14-29 (opens a new tab)

15. Supper

    Mark’s supper scene moves from the birthday guests and dance to John’s execution; the account connects Herod’s decision with his oath and the people seated with him.

    Mark 6:21–22; Mark 6:26–27 (opens a new tab)