Paragraph 14:6–12

14:6a

On: Between the events of 14:3–5 and this paragraph, John has been in prison for several months to a year. Here are some other ways to indicate this:

⌊some time later,⌋ when it was
-or-

⌊months later,⌋ when it was

Herod’s birthday: The Greek term that the Berean Standard Bible translates as birthday means a “birthday celebration.” Herod was celebrating the day of the year when he had been born. He celebrated by having a feast. In Roman culture, these feasts often included wine to get drunk and women for sex. The family of Herod followed much of the Roman culture.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Herod’s birthday feast/celebration
-or-
the day when another year of Herod’s life was finished
-or-
the day ⌊of the year⌋ on which Herod had been born

however: There is a contrast here. In the previous paragraph, even though Herod wanted to kill John, he did not do it. But in this paragraph, he does have him killed. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this contrast with the conjunction however.

Some English versions do not begin this paragraph with the conjunction however. In some languages, a conjunction like “but” will not be necessary either.

14:6b

the daughter of Herodias: This was the daughter of Herodias by her previous husband. She was not the daughter of Herod. She was of marriageable age in that culture, probably between thirteen and eighteen years old.

danced: The daughter danced to entertain the people at the celebration. In that culture, it could have been a kind of dance that was sensual.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

⌊entertained them by⌋ dancing
-or-
danced ⌊to please Herod⌋

before them: This phrase indicates that the daughter of Herodias danced “in front of the people at the celebration.” She danced so that the people at the celebration could watch her. This included Herod’s guests, and also Herod.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in front of the whole group (Good News Translation)
-or-
for the people whom Herod invited
-or-
while the people watched her

14:6c

and pleased Herod: Herod thoroughly enjoyed the dancing of the young woman. The subject of the verb pleased is either “the daughter of Herodias” or “the dancing.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

she pleased Herod (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Herod was so delighted with her (God’s Word)

-or-

a dance that greatly pleased him (New Living Translation (2004))

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