The Meaning of Mark 6:20 Explained

Mark 6:20

KJV: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

YLT: for Herod was fearing John, knowing him a man righteous and holy, and was keeping watch over him, and having heard him, was doing many things, and hearing him gladly.

Darby: for Herod feared John knowing that he was a just and holy man, and kept him safe; and having heard him, did many things, and heard him gladly.

ASV: for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  Herod  feared  John,  knowing  that he  was a just  man  and  an holy,  and  observed  him;  and  when he heard  him,  he did  many things,  and  heard  him  gladly. 

What does Mark 6:20 Mean?

Study Notes

and observed
kept him safely, and, hearing him, did many things, hearing him gladly.

Context Summary

Mark 6:1-20 - The Widening Fields
In the opening paragraph of this chapter, we learn of hatred and rejection of those who had enjoyed the rich privileges of being the neighbors and associates of our Lord from His earliest days. They could not discern the divine in the human, the heavenly under the earthly veil. The Savior, therefore, driven from their towns, goes about among the villages, depriving Himself of the companionship of His disciples, in order to spread the good news as far as possible. The Lord is still in His Church through the Holy Spirit, but His power is limited and neutralized by our unbelief. It is useless to ask Him to put forth His great power and save us, so long as we have made it practically impossible for Him to do as we ask. The oldtime cry was: "Why shouldst thou be as a mighty man that cannot save?" The answer is supplied here: He could do no mighty work,"¦ and he marveled at their unbelief. Faith is our capacity for God, and there are several conditions for its nurture and growth.
With what simplicity the Twelve were started on their mission, Mark 6:7. But with what authority they spoke! Simplicity and power are closely allied. The truly strong soul is not in need of the external surroundings and circumstances on which others lean; and in proportion to our willingness to deprive ourselves of the sources of human confidence may we lay hold on and possess divine power. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 6

1  Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country
7  He gives the twelve power over unclean spirits
14  Various opinions of Jesus
16  John the Baptist is imprisoned, beheaded, and buried
30  The apostles return from preaching
34  The miracle of five loaves and two fishes
45  Jesus walks on the sea;
53  and heals all who touch him

Greek Commentary for Mark 6:20

Feared John [εποβειτο τον Ιωανην]
Imperfect tense, continual state of fear. He feared John and also Herodias. Between the two Herod vacillated. He knew him to be righteous and holy Imperfect tense again. Late Greek verb. From the plots and schemes of Herodias. She was another Jezebel towards John and with Herod. [source]
Much perplexed [πολλα ηπορει]
This the correct text not πολλα εποιει — polla epoiei did many things. Imperfect tense again. He heard him gladly (ηδεως ηκουεν — hēdeōs ēkouen). Imperfect tense again. This is the way that Herod really felt when he could slip away from the meshes of Herodias. These interviews with the Baptist down in the prison at Machaerus during his occasional visits there braced “his jaded mind as with a whiff of fresh air” (Swete). But then he saw Herodias again and he was at his wits‘ end (ηπορει — ēporei lose one‘s way, α — a privative and πορος — poros way), for he knew that he had to live with Herodias with whom he was hopelessly entangled. [source]
He heard him gladly [ηδεως ηκουεν]
Imperfect tense again. This is the way that Herod really felt when he could slip away from the meshes of Herodias. These interviews with the Baptist down in the prison at Machaerus during his occasional visits there braced “his jaded mind as with a whiff of fresh air” (Swete). But then he saw Herodias again and he was at his wits‘ end (ηπορει — ēporei lose one‘s way, α — a privative and πορος — poros way), for he knew that he had to live with Herodias with whom he was hopelessly entangled. [source]
Observed him [συνετήρει]
A mistranslation. Rev., kept him safe. Peculiar to Mark. Compare Matthew 9:17, are preserved; Luke 2:19, kept; σύν , closely; τηρεῖν , to preserve or keep, as the result of guarding. See on John 17:12, and reserved, 1 Peter 1:4. [source]
Did many things [πολλὰ ἐποίει]
The proper reading, however ἠπόρει ; from ἀ , not, and πόρος , a passage. Hence, strictly, to be in circumstances where one cannot find a way out. So Rev., rightly, he was much perplexed. The other reading is meaningless. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 6:20

Mark 6:14 Therefore do these powers work in him [δια τουτο ενεργουσιν αι δυναμεις εν αυτωι]
“A snatch of Herod‘s theology and philosophy” (Morison). John wrought no miracles (John 10:41), but if he had risen from the dead perhaps he could. So Herod may have argued. “Herod‘s superstition and his guilty conscience raised this ghost to plague him” (Gould). Our word energy is this same Greek word here used It means at work. Miraculous powers were at work in Jesus whatever the explanation. This all agreed, but they differed widely as to his personality, whether Elijah or another of the prophets or John the Baptist. Herod was at first much perplexed (διηπορει — diēporei Luke 9:7 and Mark 6:20). [source]
Mark 9:20 Tare him grievously [sunesparaxen auton)]
Luke 9:42 has both errēxen (dashed down, like Mark 9:18, rēssei) and sunesparaxen (convulsed). This compound with suṅ (together with), strengthens the force of the verb as in sunpnigō (Mark 4:7) and suntēreō (Mark 6:20). The only other instance of this compound verb known is in Maximus Tyrius (second century b.c.). [source]
Luke 1:50 Fear [ποβουμενοις]
Dative of the present middle participle. Here it is reverential fear as in Acts 10:2; Colossians 3:22. The bad sense of dread appears in Matthew 21:46; Mark 6:20; Luke 12:4. [source]
John 13:22 Doubting [ἀπορούμενοι]
See on Mark 6:20. [source]
Acts 25:20 Being perplexed [απορουμενος]
Present middle participle of the common verb απορεω — aporeō (α — a privative and πορος — poros way), to be in doubt which way to turn, already in Mark 6:20 which see and Luke 24:4. The Textus Receptus has εις — eis after here, but critical text has only the accusative which this verb allows (Mark 6:20) as in Thucydides and Plato. [source]
2 Corinthians 1:8 We despaired [ἐξαπορηθῆναι]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 4:8. From ἐξ outand out, and ἀπορέω tobe without a way of escape. See on did many things, Mark 6:20. [source]
Galatians 4:20 I stand in doubt of you [ἀποροῦμαι ἐν ὑμῖν]
Lit. I am perplexed in you. For this use of ἐν, comp. 2 Corinthians 7:16; Galatians 1:24. Paul's perplexity is conceived as taking place in the readers. For the verb, see on Mark 6:20; see on 2 Corinthians 4:8. Paul means: “I am puzzled how to deal with you; how to find entrance to your hearts. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 6:20 mean?

- for Herod was afraid of - John knowing him [to be] a man righteous and holy he kept safe him having heard him greatly he was perplexed gladly heard
γὰρ Ἡρῴδης ἐφοβεῖτο τὸν Ἰωάννην εἰδὼς αὐτὸν ἄνδρα δίκαιον καὶ ἅγιον συνετήρει αὐτόν ἀκούσας αὐτοῦ πολλὰ ἠπόρει ἡδέως ἤκουεν

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἡρῴδης  Herod 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἡρῴδης  
Sense: the name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ and the Apostles.
ἐφοβεῖτο  was  afraid  of 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φοβέομαι 
Sense: to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away).
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰωάννην  John 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰωάννης 
Sense: John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, the forerunner of Christ.
εἰδὼς  knowing 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
ἄνδρα  [to  be]  a  man 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
δίκαιον  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: δίκαιος  
Sense: righteous, observing divine laws.
ἅγιον  holy 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
συνετήρει  he  kept  safe 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: συντηρέω  
Sense: to preserve (a thing from perishing or being lost).
ἀκούσας  having  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
πολλὰ  greatly 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
ἠπόρει  he  was  perplexed 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπορέω  
Sense: to be without resources, to be in straits, to be left wanting, to be embarrassed, to be in doubt, not to know which way to turn.
ἡδέως  gladly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἡδέως  
Sense: with pleasure, gladly.
ἤκουεν  heard 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.