Matthew 14:5
New International Version
Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

New Living Translation
Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.

English Standard Version
And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.

Berean Standard Bible
Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

Berean Literal Bible
Although wishing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because they were holding him as a prophet.

King James Bible
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

New King James Version
And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

New American Standard Bible
Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.

NASB 1995
Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.

NASB 1977
And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they regarded him as a prophet.

Legacy Standard Bible
And although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they were regarding John as a prophet.

Amplified Bible
Although Herod wished to have him put to death, he feared the people, for they regarded John as a prophet.

Christian Standard Bible
Though Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd since they regarded John as a prophet.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, since they regarded him as a prophet.

American Standard Version
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he had wanted to kill him and he was afraid of the people who were holding him as a Prophet.

Contemporary English Version
Herod wanted to kill John. But the people thought John was a prophet, and Herod was afraid of what they might do.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And having a mind to put him to death, he feared the people: because they esteemed him as a prophet.

English Revised Version
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Herod wanted to kill John. However, he was afraid of the people because they thought John was a prophet.

Good News Translation
Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the Jewish people, because they considered John to be a prophet.

International Standard Version
Although Herod wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, since they regarded John as a prophet.

Literal Standard Version
and willing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because as a prophet they were holding him.

Majority Standard Bible
Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

New American Bible
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet.

NET Bible
Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet.

New Revised Standard Version
Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet.

New Heart English Bible
And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd because they regarded him as a prophet.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Weymouth New Testament
And he would have liked to put him to death, but was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a Prophet.

World English Bible
When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Young's Literal Translation
and, willing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because as a prophet they were holding him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Beheading of John
4because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet. 6On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod…

Cross References
Jeremiah 26:21
King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt.

Matthew 11:9
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.


Treasury of Scripture

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

when.

Mark 6:19,20
Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: …

Mark 14:1,2
After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death…

Acts 4:21
So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

because.

Matthew 21:26,32
But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet…

Mark 11:30-32
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me…

Luke 20:6
But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

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Afraid Although Considered Counted Crowd Death Desiring Eyes Fear Feared Held Herod Holding John Kill Liked Multitude Prophet Regarded Wanted
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Afraid Although Considered Counted Crowd Death Desiring Eyes Fear Feared Held Herod Holding John Kill Liked Multitude Prophet Regarded Wanted
Matthew 14
1. Herod's opinion of Jesus.
3. Wherefore John Baptist was beheaded.
13. Jesus departs into a solitary place,
15. where he feeds five thousand men with five loves and two fishes.
22. He walks on the sea to his disciples;
34. and landing at Gennesaret,
35. heals the sick who touch of the hem of his garment.














(5) He feared the multitude.--St. Mark, whose narrative is here much the fullest of the three, adds that Herod himself "feared John," knowing "him to be a just man and a holy," and was much perplexed--this, rather than "did many things" is the true reading--and heard him gladly (Mark 6:20). There was yet a struggle of conscience against passion in the weak and wicked tetrarch, as there was in Ahab in his relations with Elijah. In Herodias, as in Jezebel, there was no halting between two opinions, and she, in the bitterness of her hate, thirsted for the blood of the prophet who had dared to rebuke her guilt.

Verse 5. - And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude (cf. Luke 20:6). Mark has, "And Herodias set herself against him, and would have put him to death; and she could not; for Herod feared John." The more detailed account in Mark is doubtless the more exact. Perhaps the facts of the case were that, in the first heat of his resentment, Herod wished to kill John, but feared the anger of the people, and that afterwards, when he him in his power and Herodias still urged his death, Herod had himself learned to respect him. Observe

(1) that it is quite impossible to suppose that either evangelist had the words of the other in front of him. The difference does not consist merely of addition or explanation;

(2) that these are exactly the kind of verbal coincidences which might be expected to be found in two oral traditions starting from a common basis. For they counted him as a prophet (ὡς προφήτην αὐτὸν εϊχον); so Matthew 21:26 (cf. Matthew 21:46; Mark 11:32; Philippians 2:29).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Although
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[Herod] wanted
θέλων (thelōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

to kill
ἀποκτεῖναι (apokteinai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 615: To put to death, kill; fig: I abolish. From apo and kteino; to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy.

[John],
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

he was afraid
ἐφοβήθη (ephobēthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5399: From phobos; to frighten, i.e. to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. Revere.

of the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

people,
ὄχλον (ochlon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

because
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

they considered
εἶχον (eichon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

him
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

a prophet.
προφήτην (prophētēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.


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