Lexical Summary Héródias: Herodias Original Word: Ἡρῳδιάς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Herodias. From Herodes; Herodias, a woman of the Heodian family -- Herodias. see GREEK Herodes NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Héródés Definition Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great NASB Translation Herodias (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2266: ἩρῳδιάςἩρῳδιάς (WH Ἡρῳδιάς, see Ἡρῴδης and Iota), Ἡρῳδιάδος, ἡ, Herodias, daughter of Aristobulus and granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was first married to Herod (Philip (see Φίλιππος, 1)), son of Herod the Great, a man in private life; but she afterward formed an unlawful union with Herod Antipas, whom she induced not only to slay John the Baptist but also to make the journey to Rome which ruined him; at last she followed him into exile in Gaul (see Ἡρῴδης, 2): Matthew 14:3, 6; Mark 6:17, 19, 22; Luke 3:19. Topical Lexicon Name and Genealogical Background Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great through his son Aristobulus and the Hasmonean princess Mariamne. She first married her half-uncle Herod Philip (sometimes called Herod Boethus) and bore him Salome. During a visit to another half-uncle, Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, she agreed to leave Philip and become Antipas’ wife, on condition that he divorce his own wife, the Nabataean princess Phasaelis. This union created a scandal both politically and morally, setting the stage for her appearance in the Gospel narratives. Occurrences in Scripture The Greek forms Ἡρῳδιάδα / Ἡρῳδιάδος (Herodias) appear six times in the New Testament: Matthew 14:3, 14:6; Mark 6:17, 6:19, 6:22; Luke 3:19. Each occurrence centers on the same historical episode—John the Baptist’s condemnation of Herod Antipas’ marriage and Herodias’ subsequent role in John’s martyrdom. Herodias’ Unlawful Marriage John the Baptist publicly rebuked Antipas, declaring, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:18). The Mosaic Law forbade such a union (Leviticus 18:16; 20:21). Herodias’ disregard for this command illustrates the Herodian dynasty’s habitual violation of covenant standards to secure power. The incident also highlights John’s prophetic courage: he confronted sin in high places without reluctance, a model for fearless proclamation today. Herodias and the Death of John the Baptist Herodias “nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him” (Mark 6:19). Her opportunity arose during Antipas’ birthday banquet. Her daughter’s dance pleased Antipas, who rashly vowed to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by Herodias, the girl requested John’s head. “The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her” (Mark 6:26). John was beheaded, and his head presented to the girl, who gave it to her mother (Mark 6:27-28; Matthew 14:11). The narrative exposes the destructive power of vindictive sin and the tragic consequences of vow-making divorced from righteousness. Theological and Moral Lessons 1. Sanctity of Marriage: Herodias’ account underscores God’s unchanging moral law regarding marriage. Illicit unions, even when culturally accepted, remain sinful before God. Historical Corroboration Josephus (Antiquities 18.5.1–2) confirms the marriage, John’s imprisonment at Machaerus, and Antipas’ fear of John’s influence. His account also links the illegal union to the subsequent war with Nabataea, which Rome did not sanction. This extra-biblical testimony harmonizes with the Gospel record, attesting to Scripture’s historical reliability. Implications for Christian Ministry Pastors and teachers must uphold biblical standards of marriage regardless of cultural pressures. The narrative calls leaders to confront sin lovingly yet firmly, knowing some will react with hostility. It also urges believers to guard their hearts against bitterness, lest they follow the path of Herodias. Finally, the account reminds the church that faithful witness may provoke persecution, but “blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matthew 5:10). Further Study Compare Leviticus’ marriage prohibitions with the New Testament’s teaching on divorce and remarriage (Matthew 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7). Study the parallelism between John’s death and Jesus’ crucifixion regarding unjust trials, political expediency, and the silence of righteous sufferers. Examine Herodian politics in first-century Judea to appreciate the tension between God’s kingdom and worldly power. Forms and Transliterations Ηρωδιαδα Ἡρῳδιάδα Ηρωδιαδος Ἡρῳδιάδος Ηρωδιας Ἡρῳδιὰς erodiada Ērōdiada erodiados Ērōdiados erodias Ērōdias Herodiada Hērōdiada Herodiados Hērōdiados Herodias Hērōdias Heroidiáda Hērōidiáda Heroidiádos Hērōidiádos Heroidiàs HērōidiàsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 14:3 N-AFSGRK: ἀπέθετο διὰ Ἡρῳδιάδα τὴν γυναῖκα NAS: because of Herodias, the wife KJV: prison for Herodias' sake, his INT: put [him] on account of Herodias the wife Matthew 14:6 N-GFS Mark 6:17 N-AFS Mark 6:19 N-NFS Mark 6:22 N-GFS Luke 3:19 N-GFS Strong's Greek 2266 |
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