Matthew 14:3-4
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While John directly confronted Herod about marrying his brother's wife, the text emphasizes that Herod imprisoned him "for Herodias' sake." This subtle shift highlights that the immediate reason for the imprisonment wasn't just the sin itself, but Herod's desire to appease or satisfy Herodias, whom he was clearly infatuated with.
For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just heard about John the Baptist’s execution, and the disciples come to tell him. The narrative shifts to explain why John was imprisoned, revealing a scandalous relationship between Herod the tetrarch and his brother’s wife, Herodias. John had boldly confronted Herod about this illicit marriage, leading to his arrest and imprisonment, setting the stage for the tragic events that follow.
Why was Herod Antipas's marriage to Herodias such a scandal? It wasn't just a bad choice; it was a direct violation of God's law.
Matthew 14:3 tells us that Herod Antipas arrested John the Baptist because of Herodias, who was married to his brother, Philip. This union was deeply problematic for several reasons:
John the Baptist was a man of the wilderness, but his message reached the palace. How did he navigate such a dangerous encounter with a king?
John's confrontation with Herod is a powerful example of prophetic courage:
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Understand the original words
kratēsas · Greek Verb
To lay hold of or arrest someone by force. In a biblical context, it often implies an act of oppression or the subduing of an individual by those in political or religious power.
exestin · Greek Adverb/Verb
To be in accordance with the divine law or commandments of God as revealed in Scripture. In this context, it refers to the moral requirements established by the Mosaic Law.
This verse anchors John the Baptist's prophetic confrontation within the messy, scandalous personal lives of the ruling Herodian family, highlighting the dangerous intersection of political power, illicit relationships, and bold truth-telling.
c. 4 BC
Death of Herod the Great
Herod the Great, the client king of Judea, dies. His kingdom is divided among his sons, including Herod Antipas who receives Galilee and Peræa.
Between 4 BC and AD 26
Herod Antipas Marries Herodias
Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Peræa, divorces his first wife (daughter of Aretas IV, king of Petra) and marries Herodias, who leaves her husband, Philip (Herod Antipas's half-brother), while he is still alive.
c. AD 27-28— this verse
John the Baptist Reproves Herod
John the Baptist publicly denounces Herod Antipas's marriage to Herodias as unlawful, calling it adultery and incest. This leads to Herod's deep resentment and Herodias's desire for John's death.
c. AD 28
Imprisonment of John the Baptist
Herod Antipas, fearing public unrest and influenced by Herodias, imprisons John the Baptist in the fortress of Machaerus.
c. AD 29
Death of John the Baptist
During a birthday celebration for Herod Antipas, his stepdaughter Salome dances. On Herodias's instruction, Salome requests John the Baptist's head, which Herod, bound by an oath, grants.
c. AD 36-37
Herod Antipas Exiled
Following a military defeat by Aretas IV, Herod Antipas is accused before the Roman emperor Caligula, leading to his deposition and exile to Gaul (modern France).
This verse explicitly forbids marrying one's brother's wife, highlighting the illegitimacy of Herod's union with Herodias and the basis for John the Baptist's condemnation.
Mark 6:17-18This passage directly quotes John the Baptist confronting Herod about marrying his brother's wife, underscoring the specific reason for his imprisonment and Herod's internal conflict.
Luke 3:19-20This account shows Herod's fear and his imprisonment of John not only for the unlawful marriage but also for 'all the wicked things he did,' providing broader context for Herod's actions against the prophet.
Proverbs 29:10This proverb speaks to the wicked hating those who are upright and speaking truth, which reflects Herod's internal struggle and his eventual silencing of John due to John's righteous condemnation.
1 Samuel 15:24This passage shows Saul's fear of the people and his subsequent flawed actions, paralleling Herod's fear of the multitude and his compromising oath, both illustrating how external pressures can lead to terrible decisions.
barnesMatthew 14:3: "For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife."
For Herod had laid hold on John ... - See Mark 6:17-20 ; Luke 3:19-20 . This Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was first married to Herod Philip, by whom she had a daughter, Salome, probably the one that danced and pleased Herod. Josephus says that this marriage of Herod Antipas with Herodias took place while he was on a journey to Rome. He stop…
calvinMatthew 14:3-12: "For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife."
- For Herod had seized John, and bound him, and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4. For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5. And though he wished to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they accounted him a prophet. 6. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias dan…
While John directly confronted Herod about marrying his brother's wife, the text emphasizes that Herod imprisoned him "for Herodias' sake." This subtle shift highlights that the immediate reason for the imprisonment wasn't just the sin itself, but Herod's desire to appease or satisfy Herodias, whom he was clearly infatuated with.
Jesus has just heard about John the Baptist’s execution, and the disciples come to tell him. The narrative shifts to explain why John was imprisoned, revealing a scandalous relationship between Herod the tetrarch and his brother’s wife, Herodias. John had boldly confronted Herod about this illicit marriage, leading to his arrest and imprisonment, setting the stage for the tragic events that follow.
Jesus has just heard about John the Baptist’s execution, and the disciples come to tell him. The narrative shifts to explain why John was imprisoned, revealing a scandalous relationship between Herod the tetrarch and his brother’s wife, Herodias. John had boldly confronted Herod about this illicit marriage, leading to his arrest and imprisonment, setting the stage for the tragic events that follow.
"For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”" — While John directly confronted Herod about marrying his brother's wife, the text emphasizes that Herod imprisoned him "for Herodias' sake." This subtle shift highlights that the immediate reason fo…
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Last reviewed October 2026
