Exegesis:

aposteilas … epetaxen ‘sending … ordered,’ ‘sent and ordered’: the sense is ‘sent with orders’ (Goodspeed, Moffatt, Translator’s New Testament).

epitassō (cf. 1.27) ‘give orders,’ ‘command.’

spekoulatora (only here in the N.T.) ‘courier,’ ‘scout,’ and, by extension of the meaning, ‘executioner’ (a loan-word from the Latin speculator).

Translation:

It is important that the sequence of events in the first clause not be confused, for a literal translation into some languages would make the text mean that Herod first sent off a soldier and then gave the orders. This may be recast in such instances to read ‘the king sent off a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head,’ or ‘the king gave orders to a soldier of the guard and sent him off to bring John’s head.’

His must in several languages be made more specific, since the reference is back in verse 25.

Beheaded is simply ‘cut off his head,’ and if the receptor language requires an indication of instrument, a ‘sword’ is most likely.

Brought is ‘carried,’ but in some languages there a number of words for ‘carrying’ depending on the type of object and how it is carried. The term chosen must fit this type of context.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .