And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
Parallel translations
- WEB and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
- BSB and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.
- NKJV So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.
- NASB He sent word and had John beheaded in the prison.
- NLT So John was beheaded 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 sends and has John beheaded in prison. The faithful prophet is martyred for his testimony.
Overview
On Herod's order, John is executed in his cell, a quiet and brutal end to a courageous ministry. The greatest of the prophets, who prepared the way for Christ, dies at the whim of a corrupt court. His martyrdom foreshadows the rejection and death that Jesus Himself would face, and it honors all who suffer for righteousness' sake.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rev 11:7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
- Luke 9:9And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
- Matt 17:12But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
- Matt 23:34–36Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
- Matt 21:35–36And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
- Matt 22:3–6And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
- 2 Chr 36:16But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
- Mark 9:13But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
- Mark 6:27–29And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
- Jer 2:30In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 14:10 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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