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Selected Verse: Mark 6:20 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Mr 6:20 |
King James |
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
For Herod feared John--but, as BENGEL notes, John feared not Herod.
knowing that he was a just man and an holy--Compare the ease of Elijah with Ahab, after the murder of Naboth (Kg1 21:20).
and observed him--rather, as in the Margin, "kept" or "saved him"; that is, from the wicked designs of Herodias, who had been watching for some pretext to get Herod entangled and committed to despatch him.
and when he heard him, he did many things--many good things under the influence of the Baptist on his conscience.
and heard him gladly--a striking statement this, for which we are indebted to our graphic Evangelist alone, illustrating the working of contrary principles in the slaves of passion. But this only shows how far Herodias must have wrought upon him, as Jezebel upon Ahab, that he should at length agree to what his awakened conscience kept him long from executing. |
The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
and observed
Kept him safely, and, hearing him, did many things, hearing him gladly. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Observed him (συνετήρει)
A mistranslation. Rev., kept him safe. Peculiar to Mark. Compare Mat 9:17, are preserved; Luk 2:19, kept ; σύν, closely; τηρεῖν, to preserve or keep, as the result of guarding. See on Joh 17:12, and reserved, Pe1 1:4.
Did many things (πολλὰ ἐποίει)
The proper reading, however ἠπόρει; from ἀ, not, and πόρος, a passage. Hence, strictly, to be in circumstances where one cannot find a way out. So Rev., rightly, he was much perplexed. The other reading is meaningless. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
And preserved him - Against all the malice and contrivances of Herodias. And when he heard him - Probably sending for him, at times, during his imprisonment, which continued a year and a half. He heard him gladly - Delusive joy! While Herodias lay in his bosom. |
20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.