Mark 6:20 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Herod fears John, knowing him to be just and holy, protects him, and listens to him gladly even while remaining unchanged.
What Does Mark 6:20 Mean?
Herodias could not kill John because Herod shielded him. The king feared the prophet, knew his justice and holiness, kept him safe from the queen, and even liked to listen to him. Herod did many things after those prison conversations, yet never the one thing the preaching asked.
It is possible to admire a preacher and refuse his message. Herod stands as the portrait of almost: almost persuaded, almost repentant, gladly hearing and never yielding. Respect for holiness is not the same as obedience to God, and a conscience entertained but not obeyed grows easier to override, as the next scene will show.
Mark 6:20 in the Original Language
syntereo (συντηρέω), 'observed' -- to keep safe, to guard and protect.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 6:20
What does Mark 6:20 mean?
Herod fears John, knowing him to be just and holy, protects him, and listens to him gladly even while remaining unchanged.