dance

The Greek that is translated in English as “danced” is translated in Mazaltepec Zapotec as “danced by herself,” since otherwise the implication is that she was dancing with a man. (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)

Herod (Antipas)

The Greek that is transliterated as “Herod (Antipas)” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for king and and a sign depicting cutting off the head (of John the Baptist), referring to Matthew 14:10 et al. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Herod” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Herod Antipas .

complete verse (Matthew 14:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 14:6:

  • Uma: “After that, when Herodes made a feast/party to remember the day of his birth, the daughter of Herodias danced (modero’–see footnote) in front of the guests. Herodes was very glad seeing her dance.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then one day Herod made a feast to celebrate the day of his birth. The daughter of Herodiyas danced and the people there watched her. Herod was very happy” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And on the day when Herod is celebrating his being born long ago, the maiden daughter of Herodias danced for the people who were gathered there. Herod really liked it.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When the day arrived on which Herod had been born, the young-lady who was Herodias’ daughter danced in front of all who were invited to celebrate (lit. join-in-being-happy). Herod excessively enjoyed her dancing,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “However when Herodes’ birthday came, Herodias’ daughter, who was the daughter of Felipe, danced in the presence of the people who had been invited. It really pleased Herodes very much.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But there came that day on which Herod made a fiesta. The daughter of Herodias entered where the people were whom Herod had gathered for the fiesta, and she danced. Herod liked what the girl did.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 14:6

With verse 6 a shift in time and setting is indicated, and at least one new character is introduced into the narrative. For these reasons it may be helpful for the reader if a new paragraph is begun.

But indicates a contrast, but because of the way the sentence is constructed, it may seem that when Herod’s birthday came contrasts with the previous verse. The real contrast is between the fact that Herod did not feel he could put John to death (previous verse), and the fact that he eventually did just that on the occasion of the girl’s dancing at his birthday. Some translators have said something like “But finally he was able to do so…” or “But at the time of his birthday, he did. The daughter of Herodias danced….”

Herod’s birthday may more explicitly be described as “Herod’s birthday celebrations” (Barclay, Phillips). Some translators have said “When Herod had a feast to celebrate his birthday.”

The daughter of Herodias is presumably Salome, her daughter by her first husband, Herod Philip. As far as is known, Salome was the only daughter of Herodias. In translation, however, she should not be identified by name, since her name appears nowhere in the Gospel.

In some cases, to say simply danced will not be as well understood as “entertained the people there by dancing.”

The company are “all the guests” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Before the company may be translated “before all the people who had come for Herod’s birthday celebration.”

And pleased Herod is translated as a passive by Good News Translation: “Herod was so pleased.”

It may be more natural to restructure the whole sentence: “But at the time of his birthday, Herod did put John to death. The daughter of Herodias entertained the company with her dancing, and she pleased Herod very much.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Matthew 14:6

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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