At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The most striking, and often missed, detail here is the subtle word choice indicating Herod's intent: "Herod wills to kill you." This isn't just a prediction of a future event, but a statement about Herod's internal determination and desire, suggesting a hidden malice rather than an immediate, outright threat. It hints that the Pharisees might have been acting on Herod's behalf, or at least exploiting his known disposition, to manipulate Jesus.
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Some Pharisees approach Jesus with a seemingly urgent warning, telling him to leave the area because Herod Antipas wants to kill him. This interaction occurs as Jesus continues his ministry, and his response reveals his awareness of Herod's cunning nature and his own divine timetable. The Pharisees' motive is suspect, as they often opposed Jesus, and their warning might have been a ploy to drive him away or into the hands of other authorities, especially since Jesus was moving closer to Jerusalem.
Why would the Pharisees, Jesus’s critics, warn him of danger? It wasn't out of genuine concern.
The Pharisees approached Jesus with a seemingly helpful warning about Herod’s intent to kill him. However, their true motive was to get rid of Jesus from their region. They likely saw him as a threat to their religious authority and influence. By suggesting he flee to another jurisdiction, they hoped to remove him from the crowds who were flocking to him. It was a calculated move to neutralize his growing popularity and impact, disguised as friendly advice.
Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, was a complex figure. Was he genuinely threatening Jesus, or was it a more subtle manipulation?
The report about Herod wanting to kill Jesus is presented, but the deeper analysis reveals a mix of fear and cunning. Herod had previously killed John the Baptist, a decision that troubled his conscience. He likely feared Jesus’s growing influence, which could potentially destabilize his rule. However, instead of a direct confrontation, he seemed to prefer a more indirect approach. The warning from the Pharisees could have been a tactic to intimidate Jesus into leaving his territory, or even a fabricated threat orchestrated by Herod himself to achieve this removal. Jesus's response, calling Herod a 'fox,' highlights this cunning and deceptive nature.
Faced with a direct threat and political intrigue, Jesus doesn't back down. His focus remains on His divine mission.
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Despite the warnings and the implied danger from both the Pharisees and Herod, Jesus’s response is not one of fear or retreat. He calls Herod a 'fox' and declares His mission will continue. Jesus reveals that His path is set: He will perform His work 'today and tomorrow,' and on the 'third day' He will be completed. This doesn't necessarily mean physical death on the third day but signifies the completion of His earthly mission according to God's plan. Jesus’s focus is on fulfilling His Father's will, not on evading threats. He knows His ultimate destination is Jerusalem, the place where prophets face their end, and He walks toward it with resolute purpose.
Understand the original words
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A religious and political party in first-century Judaism known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the traditions of the elders. They were often in conflict with Jesus regarding the interpretation of the Law.
The warning from the Pharisees serves as a pivotal moment where Jesus contrasts Herod's localized, political threat with his own divinely ordained mission, which he knows will culminate in his death in Jerusalem, not by Herod's decree.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Perea
During Jesus' public ministry, he spent significant time teaching and healing in Galilee and Perea, regions under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas.
c. AD 30
Pharisees Warn Jesus of Herod
Pharisees approach Jesus, warning him that Herod Antipas intends to kill him and urging him to leave the area. Their motives are suspect, potentially aligning with Herod's desire to be rid of Jesus or to push him into the jurisdiction of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Response to Herod
Jesus, recognizing Herod's cunning and manipulative nature (calling him a 'fox'), dismisses the threat. He states his mission will be completed soon, implying his death is divinely appointed and will occur in Jerusalem, not at Herod's hands.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem
Following the encounter with the Pharisees, Jesus expresses sorrow over Jerusalem, lamenting its rejection of prophets and predicting its future destruction. This highlights the stark contrast between the city's fate and Herod's localized threat.
c. AD 32
Herod Antipas and John the Baptist
Earlier, Herod Antipas had reluctantly executed John the Baptist due to the influence of his wife Herodias and a rash vow. This event likely contributed to Herod's superstitious fear and his desire to avoid further conflict or divine retribution.
AD 33
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is arrested and brought before both Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Herod questions Jesus but sends him back to Pilate, ultimately playing a role in the events leading to the crucifixion, though Jesus' death occurs in Jerusalem.
This passage shows a similar situation where a ruler (Jezebel) threatens a prophet (Elijah) with death, prompting a flight. Jesus' response, however, is markedly different, as He acknowledges His appointed end and doesn't flee.
Amos 7:12Amos was also confronted by authorities (Amaziah) and told to leave their territory, similar to the Pharisees' warning to Jesus. Jesus' response to Herod, calling him a 'fox,' has a prophetic tone of judgment, echoing the authority with which Amos spoke.
Luke 9:9This verse shows Herod Antipas is already uneasy about Jesus and trying to figure out who He is. The warning from the Pharisees likely stems from Herod's existing fear and desire to control or eliminate the growing influence of Jesus.
Luke 13:33Jesus' direct response, stating He must walk 'today and tomorrow and the day following,' highlights His awareness of His ultimate destiny in Jerusalem. This reframes the warning as a minor threat compared to His preordained path to the cross.
vincentLuke 13:31: "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee."
DayThe best texts read hour.Will kill (θέλει ἀποκτεῖναι)As in so many cases the A. V. renders as the future of the verb to kill; whereas there are two distinct verbs; to will or determine, and to kill. The meaning is, Herod willeth or is determined to kill thee. Rev., would fain, seems rather feeble.
calvinLuke 13:31-33: "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee."
- The same day some of the Pharisees came, saying to him, Depart, and go hence: for Herod intends to kill thee. 32. And he said to them, Go, tell that fox, Lo, I cast out devils, and I perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am completed. [280] 33. But yet I must walk today and tomorrow, and the following day; for it is not a usual occurre…
The most striking, and often missed, detail here is the subtle word choice indicating Herod's intent: "Herod wills to kill you." This isn't just a prediction of a future event, but a statement about Herod's internal determination and desire, suggesting a hidden malice rather than an immediate, outright threat. It hints that the Pharisees might have been acting on Herod's behalf, or at least exploiting his known disposition, to manipulate Jesus.
Some Pharisees approach Jesus with a seemingly urgent warning, telling him to leave the area because Herod Antipas wants to kill him. This interaction occurs as Jesus continues his ministry, and his response reveals his awareness of Herod's cunning nature and his own divine timetable. The Pharisees' motive is suspect, as they often opposed Jesus, and their warning might have been a ploy to drive him away or into the hands of other authorities, especially since Jesus was moving closer to Jerusalem.
Some Pharisees approach Jesus with a seemingly urgent warning, telling him to leave the area because Herod Antipas wants to kill him. This interaction occurs as Jesus continues his ministry, and his response reveals his awareness of Herod's cunning nature and his own divine timetable. The Pharisees' motive is suspect, as they often opposed Jesus, and their warning might have been a ploy to drive him away or into the hands of other authorities, especially since Jesus was moving closer to Jerusalem.
"At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”" — The most striking, and often missed, detail here is the subtle word choice indicating Herod's intent: "Herod wills to kill you." This isn't just a prediction of a future event, but a statement abou…
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Last reviewed October 2026