But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text emphasizes that Herod's birthday feast was a setting where propriety was abandoned, allowing Herodias's daughter to perform a dance that "pleased Herod," setting the stage for the tragic events that followed. This detail highlights how corrupting influences, even within seemingly celebratory occasions, can pave the way for grave sin and destruction.
But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod,
English Standard Version (ESV)
John the Baptist has already been imprisoned for denouncing Herod's unlawful marriage. Now, during a lavish birthday feast for Herod's nobles, Herodias's daughter performs a dance that captivates the ruler and his guests, setting the stage for a terrible request. This celebration, intended for honor and revelry, becomes the backdrop for a dark bargain that will seal John's fate.
Birthdays and feasts are common today, but Herod's celebration was a dangerous breeding ground for sin. What made this particular birthday so perilous?
Herod's birthday wasn't just a casual gathering; it was a lavish banquet attended by his 'lords, high captains, and chief estates.' The commentators highlight that such lavish celebrations, especially those adopted from Roman customs, often led to increased luxury, uncontrolled merriment, and open debauchery.
A Dangerous Mix:
A young woman's dance is the catalyst for a tragedy. What was so shocking about this performance, and why did it 'please' Herod?
The dance performed by the daughter of Herodias was not a simple display of talent; it was likely a provocative and immodest spectacle.
The Nature of the Dance:
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c. 28 AD— this verse
John the Baptist Imprisons
John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas after denouncing his unlawful marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's former wife.
c. 28 AD
Herod's Birthday Banquet
Herod Antipas holds a lavish birthday celebration for his nobles, during which his stepdaughter Salome dances. This pagan custom of celebrating birthdays was not typical among Jews.
c. 28 AD
Salome's Request
Pleased by the dance, Herod imprudently promises Salome anything she asks. Prompted by her mother, Herodias, Salome demands the head of John the Baptist.
c. 28 AD
Beheading of John the Baptist
Despite his reluctance, Herod orders John the Baptist's execution to uphold his oath before his guests, leading to the prophet's death in prison.
This passage also describes a birthday celebration by a ruler (Pharaoh) that culminates in a significant event and judgment, paralleling Herod's doomed festivity.
Esther 1:3-4This describes lavish banquets held by King Ahasuerus, highlighting the context of royal feasting where entertainment and political influence often intertwined, similar to Herod's celebration.
Proverbs 20:1This verse warns that wine and strong drink lead to wild behavior and deception, directly relating to the context of Herod's birthday feast where such revelry contributed to a tragic outcome.
Mark 6:21-22This passage offers a parallel account of the same event, emphasizing the presence of the nobility and the king's enthusiastic, albeit foolish, response to the dance.
1 Samuel 18:7This shows how music and dancing, even when praised, can lead to dangerous envy and destructive actions, providing a thematic link to how entertainment at Herod's feast led to a deadly request.
vincentMatthew 14:6: "But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod."
Birthday (γενεσίοις)Though some explain it as the anniversary of Herod's accession. The custom of celebrating birthdays by festivities was not approved by the strict Jews; but it is claimed that the Herodian princes adopted the custom. The Roman satirist, Persins, alludes to a festival known as "Herod's Day," and pictures a banquet on that occasion."But whenComes Herod's day, and…
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…
The text emphasizes that Herod's birthday feast was a setting where propriety was abandoned, allowing Herodias's daughter to perform a dance that "pleased Herod," setting the stage for the tragic events that followed. This detail highlights how corrupting influences, even within seemingly celebratory occasions, can pave the way for grave sin and destruction.
John the Baptist has already been imprisoned for denouncing Herod's unlawful marriage. Now, during a lavish birthday feast for Herod's nobles, Herodias's daughter performs a dance that captivates the ruler and his guests, setting the stage for a terrible request. This celebration, intended for honor and revelry, becomes the backdrop for a dark bargain that will seal John's fate.
John the Baptist has already been imprisoned for denouncing Herod's unlawful marriage. Now, during a lavish birthday feast for Herod's nobles, Herodias's daughter performs a dance that captivates the ruler and his guests, setting the stage for a terrible request. This celebration, intended for honor and revelry, becomes the backdrop for a dark bargain that will seal John's fate.
"But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod," — The text emphasizes that Herod's birthday feast was a setting where propriety was abandoned, allowing Herodias's daughter to perform a dance that "pleased Herod," setting the stage for the tragic eve…
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Last reviewed October 2026