And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him 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.
- BSB Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John 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 shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
- Matt 21:32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
- Matt 11:9But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
- Mark 6:19–20Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
- Mark 11:30–32The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
- Mark 14:1–2After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
- Acts 4:21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
- Luke 20:6But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
- Acts 5:26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.