Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Parallel translations
- KJV And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
- BSB So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.
- NKJV Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,
- NASB Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison,
- NLT So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison,
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 sent an executioner to behead John in prison. It records the unjust death of a faithful prophet who paid for his obedience with his life.
Overview
With cold efficiency Herod gave the order, and John was executed without trial for the crime of telling the truth. John, of whom Jesus said none greater had been born of women, died as a martyr for God's law. His death foreshadows the rejection and execution of the One he came to announce.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Matt 14:10–11and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
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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 6:27 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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