Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
Parallel translations
- WEB When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
- KJV And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
- NKJV And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
- NASB Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.
- NLT Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.
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 wanted to kill John but feared the crowd, who regarded him as a prophet. Fear of people, not reverence for God, restrained Herod's hand.
Overview
Herod desired John's death but held back out of fear of the multitude, who esteemed John as a prophet. His restraint sprang from political calculation rather than conscience or true respect for John's message. The verse reveals the moral weakness of a ruler governed by fear of public opinion rather than the fear of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Matt 21:26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
- Matt 21:32For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
- Matt 11:9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
- Mark 6:19–20So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,
- Mark 11:30–32John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!”
- Mark 14:1–2Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.
- Acts 4:21After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.
- Luke 20:6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
- Acts 5:26At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
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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 14:5 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.