Herodias Ἡρωδιάς
Wife of Herod Antipas who had John beheaded.
Biography
Herodias was the wife of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee during the time of Jesus' ministry. She was originally married to Herod Philip, the half-brother of Herod Antipas, but later divorced him to marry Herod Antipas (Mat.14.3; Mrk.6.17; Luk.3.19). John the Baptist openly condemned this marriage as unlawful, which led to his imprisonment by Herod Antipas (Mat.14.3-4; Mrk.6.17-18; Luk.3.19-20). Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to have him killed, but Herod Antipas feared the multitude who regarded John as a prophet (Mat.14.5; Mrk.6.19-20). On Herod Antipas's birthday, Herodias's daughter danced before the guests, pleasing Herod Antipas, who promised to give her whatever she asked (Mat.14.6-7; Mrk.6.21-23). Prompted by her mother Herodias, the daughter asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter (Mat.14.8; Mrk.6.24-25). Although reluctant, Herod Antipas fulfilled the request and had John beheaded in prison (Mat.14.9-11; Mrk.6.26-28).
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In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 3 with study contentMatthew 2 verses
- Matthew 14:3
"For Herod had arrested John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife."
Study Matthew → - Matthew 14:6
"But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod."
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Mark 3 verses
- Mark 6:17
"For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her."
Study Mark → - Mark 6:19
"Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t,"
Study Mark → - Mark 6:22
"When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”"
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Luke 1 verse
- Luke 3:19
"but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Ἡρωδιάς | G2266G |
Herodias
re also Lu 3:19,20; 9:7-9). According to the Gospel records, Herodias had previously been married to Philip, but had deserted him for his brother Herod the tetrarch. For this Herod was reproved by John (compare Le 18:16; 20:21), and Herod, therefore, to please Herodias, bound him and cast him into prison. According to Mt 14:5 he would even then have put John to death, but "feared the multitude," which regarded John as a prophet. But Mr 6:19 f relates it was Herodias who especially desired the death of John, but that she was withstood by Herod whose conscience was not altogether dead. This latter explanation is more in harmony with the sequel. At Herod's birthday feast, Herodias induced her daughter Salome, whose dancing had so charmed the tetrarch, to ask as her reward the head of John the Baptist on a charger. This was given her and she then brought it to her mother.
Herodias was daughter of Aristobulus, son of Herod the Great, by Mariamne, daughter of Hyrcanus. Her second husband (compare above) was Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea (circa 4-39 AD), son of Herod the Great by Malthace. Herod Antipus was thus the step-brother of Aristobulus, father of Herodias. Regarding the first husband of Herodias, to whom she bore Salome, some hold that the Gospel accounts are at variance with that of Josephus. In Mt 14:3; Mr 6:17; Lu 3:19, he is called Philip the brother of Herod (Antipus). But in Mt 14:3 and Lu 3:19 the name Philip is omitted by certain important manuscripts. According to Josephus, he was Herod, son of Herod the Great by Mariamne daughter of Simon the high priest, and was thus a step-brother of Herod Antipas (compare Josephus, Ant, XVIII, v, 4). It is suggested in explanation of the discrepancy
(1) that Herod, son of Mariamne, bore a second name Philip, or
(2) that there is confusion in the Gospels with Heroal-Philip, tetrarch of Trachonitis, who was the son of Herod the Great and Cleopatra, and who was in reality the husband of Salome, daughter of Herodias (compare also A. B. Bruce, The Expositor Greek Testament., I, 381; A. C. Headlam, article "Herod" in HDB, II, 359, 360).
According to Josephus (Ant., VIII, vii, 2; XVIII, vii, 1) the ambition of Herodias proved the ruin of Herod Antipas. Being jealous of the power of Agrippa her brother, she induced Herod to demand of Caligula the title of king. This was refused through the machinations of Agrippa, and Herod was banished. But the pride of Herodias kept her still faithful to her husband in his misfortune.
C. M. Kerr
he-ro'-di-on (Herodion; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek Hrodion): A Roman Christian to whom Paul sent greetings (Ro 16:11). The name seems to imply that he was a fre