Matthew 14:3

Verse

Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

American Standard Version (1901)

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

Bible in Basic English

For Herod had taken John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

Douay-Rheims 1899

For Herod had apprehended John and bound him, and put him into prison, because of Herodias, his brother’s wife.

Free Bible Version

Herod had detained John, and had him put in chains and imprisoned on account of Herodias, the wife of Philip, his brother.

Geneva Bible 1599

For Herod had taken Iohn, and bounde him, and put him in prison for Herodias sake, his brother Philips wife.

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

One Unity Resource Bible

For Herod [Heroic] had laid hold of John [Yah is gracious], and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip [Loves horses]’s wife.

Translation for Translators

The reason Herod thought that was this: Herod had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, while Philip was still living. So John had been saying to him, “What you did by marrying your brother’s wife while your brother is still alive is against God’s law!” Then, to please Herodias, Herod told his soldiers to arrest John. They bound him with chains and put him in prison.

Unlocked Literal Bible

For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

Noah Webster Bible

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

World English Bible

For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

Young's Literal Translation

For Herod having laid hold on John, did bind him, and did put him in prison, because of Herodias his brother Philip's wife,

Context

The Beheading of John

²and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”³Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,⁴because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

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Summary

In Matthew 14:3, we see that King Herod had arrested John the Baptist because John had boldly spoken out against Herod's unlawful marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife. This verse highlights the courage and conviction of John the Baptist in standing up for righteousness and speaking the truth, even in the face of powerful opposition. It also serves as a reminder of the persecution and suffering that faithful servants of God may endure for the sake of upholding God's standards and principles. Ultimately, John's imprisonment and later martyrdom point to the cost of discipleship and the need for unwavering faith in God's truth, regardless of the consequences.

Commentary

John Gill
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

For Herod had laid hold on John,.... By his servants, whom he sent to apprehend him: and bound him; laid him in chains, as if he was a malefactor; and put him in prison, in the castle of Machaerus (d), for Herodias's sake; who was angry with him, had a bitter quarrel against him, and by whose instigation all this was done; who was his brother Philip's wife. This Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, son to Herod the Great (e), and brother to Philip, and to this Herod; so that she was niece to them both; and first married the one, and then the other, whilst the former was living. Philip and this Herod were both sons of Herod the Great, but not by the same woman; Philip was born of Cleopatra of Jerusalem, and Herod Antipas of Malthace, a Samaritan (f); so that Philip was his brother by his father's side, but not by his mother's; the Evangelist Mark adds, "for he had married her": the case was this, Herod being sent for to Rome, called at his brother Philip's by the way, where he fell into an amorous intrigue with his wife, and agreed, upon his return, to take her with him and marry her; as he accordingly did, and divorced his own wife, who was daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia Petraea; which occasioned a war between Herod and his wife's father, in which the former was beaten (g), (d) Joseph. Antiqu. 1. 18. c. 7. (e) Ib. c. 6. (f) Joseph. Antiqu. 1. 18. c. 6. de Bello Jud. l. 1. c. 28. sect. 7. (g) Joseph. Antiqu. 1. 18. c. 6.