And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
Parallel translations
- WEB The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her.
- BSB The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.
- NKJV And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.
- NASB And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.
- NLT Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Herod was deeply grieved but, fearing loss of face before his guests, would not refuse. It warns that fear of man can override conscience and lead to grave evil.
Overview
Herod knew the request was wicked and felt genuine sorrow, yet he valued his reputation and his rash oaths above an innocent man's life. The fear of man proves a snare (Proverbs 29:25), driving him to do what he knew was wrong. His sorrow without repentance only deepened his guilt.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Matt 27:3–5Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
- Matt 14:9And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
- Matt 27:24–25When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 6:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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