Herodias is a significant figure in the New Testament, known for her role in the events leading to the execution of John the Baptist. Her account is primarily found in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark.

Family Background and Marriage:

Herodias was a member of the Herodian dynasty, a complex family with numerous intermarriages. She was the daughter of Aristobulus IV and Berenice, making her a granddaughter of Herod the Great. Herodias first married Herod II (also known as Herod Philip I), her half-uncle, with whom she had a daughter, Salome. However, Herodias left Herod II to marry Herod Antipas, another of her uncles, who was the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea.

Controversial Marriage:

Her marriage to Herod Antipas was considered unlawful according to Jewish law, as it was both an incestuous union and a marriage to her former husband's brother while her first husband was still alive. This marriage drew the ire of John the Baptist, who openly criticized Herod Antipas for this transgression. In the Gospel of Mark, it is recorded: "For John had been telling Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.'" (Mark 6:18).

Role in the Death of John the Baptist:

Herodias harbored a grudge against John the Baptist for his condemnation of her marriage. Her opportunity for revenge came during Herod Antipas's birthday celebration. Her daughter, Salome, performed a dance that pleased Herod, prompting him to promise her anything she desired, up to half his kingdom. Coached by her mother, Salome requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Though distressed, Herod Antipas complied due to his oath and the presence of his guests. The Gospel of Matthew recounts: "Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.'" (Matthew 14:8).

Historical and Theological Significance:

Herodias's actions are often viewed as a stark example of the moral and spiritual corruption present in the Herodian dynasty. Her manipulation of her daughter and her role in the execution of John the Baptist highlight the dangers of unchecked ambition and vindictiveness. Herodias's account serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of defying God's laws and the destructive power of sin.

Later Life:

The historical records outside the Bible, such as those by the Jewish historian Josephus, suggest that Herodias's ambition eventually led to her downfall. Herod Antipas, at her urging, sought the title of king, which led to his banishment by the Roman Emperor Caligula. Herodias chose to accompany her husband into exile, demonstrating her loyalty to him despite the consequences of their actions.

Herodias remains a complex and controversial figure within the biblical narrative, illustrating the interplay of power, influence, and moral failure. Her account is a reminder of the enduring impact of personal choices and the sovereignty of God's justice.Herodias

daughter of Aristobulus, one of the sons of Mariamne and Herod the Great, and consequently sister of Agrippa I. She first married Herod Philip I.; then she eloped from him to marry Herod Antipas her step-uncle. The head of John the Baptist was granted at the request of Herodias. (Matthew 14:8-11; Mark 6:24-28) (A.D. 29.) She accompanied Antipas into exile to Lugdunum

Herodias

A granddaughter of Herod the Great and Mariamne, daughter of Aristobulus, and sister of Herod Agrippa I. She was first married to her Uncle Herod Philip, but afterwards abandoned him and connected herself with his brother Herod Antipas. It was by her artifice that Herod was persuaded to cause John the Baptist to be put to death, she being enraged at John on account of his bold denunciation of the incestuous connection which subsisted between her and Herod. When Herod was banished to Lyons, she accompanied him, Matthew 14:3,6 Mark 6:17 Luke 3:19. See HEROD III.

(Matthew 14:3-11; Mark 6:17-28; Luke 3:19), the daughter of Aristobulus and Bernice. While residing at Rome with her husband Herod Philip I. and her daughter, Herod Antipas fell in with her during one of his journeys to that city. She consented to leave her husband and become his wife. Some time after, Herod met John the Baptist, who boldly declared the marriage to be unlawful. For this he was "cast into prison," in the castle probably of Machaerus (q.v.), and was there subsequently beheaded. HERODIAS

he-ro'-di-as (Herodias): The woman who compassed the death of John the Baptist at Macherus (Matthew 14:1-12 Mark 6:14-29; compare also Luke 3:19, 20; Luke 9:7-9). According to the Gospel records, Herodias had previously been married to Philip, but had deserted him for his brother Herod the tetrarch. For this Herod was reproved by John (compare Leviticus 18:16; Leviticus 20:21), and Herod, therefore, to please Herodias, bound him and cast him into prison. According to Matthew 14:5 he would even then have put John to death, but "feared the multitude," which regarded John as a prophet. But Mark 6:19 relates it was Herodias who especially desired the death of John, but that she was withstood by Herod whose conscience was not altogether dead. This latter explanation is more in harmony with the sequel. At Herod's birthday feast, Herodias induced her daughter Salome, whose dancing had so charmed the tetrarch, to ask as her reward the head of John the Baptist on a charger. This was given her and she then brought it to her mother.

Herodias was daughter of Aristobulus, son of Herod the Great, by Mariamne, daughter of Hyrcanus. Her second husband (compare above) was Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea (circa 4-39 A.D.), son of Herod the Great by Malthace. Herod Antipus was thus the step-brother of Aristobulus, father of Herodias. Regarding the first husband of Herodias, to whom she bore Salome, some hold that the Gospel accounts are at variance with that of Josephus. In Matthew 14:3 Mark 6:17 Luke 3:19, he is called Philip the brother of Herod (Antipus). But in Matthew 14:3 and Luke 3:19 the name Philip is omitted by certain important manuscripts. According to Josephus, he was Herod, son of Herod the Great by Mariamne daughter of Simon the high priest, and was thus a step-brother of Herod Antipas (compare Josephus, Ant, XVIII, v, 4). It is suggested in explanation of the discrepancy

(1) that Herod, son of Mariamne, bore a second name Philip, or

(2) that there is confusion in the Gospels with Heroal-Philip, tetrarch of Trachonitis, who was the son of Herod the Great and Cleopatra, and who was in reality the husband of Salome, daughter of Herodias (compare also A. B. Bruce, The Expositor Greek Testament., I, 381; A. C. Headlam, article "Herod" in HDB, II, 359, 360).

According to Josephus (Ant., VIII, vii, 2; XVIII, vii, 1) the ambition of Herodias proved the ruin of Herod Antipas. Being jealous of the power of Agrippa her brother, she induced Herod to demand of Caligula the title of king. This was refused through the machinations of Agrippa, and Herod was banished. But the pride of Herodias kept her still faithful to her husband in his misfortune.

C. M. Kerr

2266. Herodias -- Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great
... 2265, 2266. Herodias. 2267 . Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great.
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Herodias ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2266.htm - 6k

The Dancing of Herodias. The Keeping of Oaths.
... Book X. 22. The Dancing of Herodias. The Keeping of Oaths. Wherefore John,
endued with prophetic boldness and not terrified at the ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/22 the dancing of herodias.htm

Herod Antipas Supposes Jesus to be John.
... with the blood of John.] 17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon
John, ^a and bound him, and put him in prison the sake of Herodias, his brother ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxii herod antipas supposes jesus.htm

The Martyrdom of John
... '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.18. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the martyrdom of john.htm

Herod --A Startled Conscience
... He, Herodias, and John the Baptist make a triad singularly like the other
triad in the Old Testament, of Ahab, Jezebel, and Elijah. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/heroda startled conscience.htm

The Story of the Stranger at the Well
... prison. Herod had taken for his wife a woman named Herodias, who had left
her husband to live with Herod, which was very wicked. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the stranger.htm

The Martyrdom of John
... and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.3. For Herod had laid
hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the martyrdom of john.htm

Herod
... 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. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 6 14-29 herod.htm

Testimonies in Regard to John the Baptist and Christ.
... [188] Josephus also records the same fact, [189] making mention of Herodias [190]
by name, and stating that, although she was the wife of his brother, Herod ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xi testimonies in regard to.htm

How Herod the Tetrarch was Banished.
... 1. But Herodias, Agrippa's sister, who now lived as wife to that Herod who was tetrarch
of Galilee and Peres, took this authority of her brother in an envious ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how herod the.htm

Is not He the Carpenter?
... 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. ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter vi is not he.htm

Herodias (7 Occurrences)
... For this he was "cast into prison," in the castle probably of Machaerus (qv), and
was there subsequently beheaded. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HERODIAS. ...
/h/herodias.htm - 12k

Herodias's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Herodias's (1 Occurrence). Mark 6:22 at which
Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, and so charmed ...
/h/herodias's.htm - 6k

Hero'di-as (6 Occurrences)
Hero'di-as. Herodias, Hero'di-as. Herodias's . Multi-Version Concordance
Hero'di-as (6 Occurrences). Matthew 14:3 For Herod having ...
/h/hero'di-as.htm - 8k

Philip's (5 Occurrences)
... Matthew 14:3 For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in
prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. ...
/p/philip's.htm - 7k

Salome (2 Occurrences)
... (2.) "The daughter of Herodias," not named in the New Testament. On the occasion
of the birthday festival held by Herod Antipas, who ...
/s/salome.htm - 10k

Kept (891 Occurrences)
... (KJV WEY BBE WBS). Matthew 14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter
of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. (KJV WBS YLT). ...
/k/kept.htm - 33k

Account (460 Occurrences)
... (DBY RSV). Matthew 14:3 For Herod had seized John, and had bound him and put him
in prison on account of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother. (DBY). ...
/a/account.htm - 35k

Danced (7 Occurrences)
... (KJV WEY DBY WBS). Matthew 14:6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter
of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod. (WEB ...
/d/danced.htm - 8k

Dance (18 Occurrences)
... the Jews always danced separately. The daughter of Herodias danced alone
(Matthew 14:6). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (vi) To move ...
/d/dance.htm - 15k

Please (324 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Please (324 Occurrences). Matthew 14:6 But when Herod's
birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod. ...
/p/please.htm - 36k

Who was Herodias in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why was John the Baptist beheaded? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Herod Antipas? | GotQuestions.org

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