Herodias Ἡρωδιάς
Wife of Herod Antipas who had John beheaded.
Who is Herodias in the Bible?
Herodias was the wife of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee during Jesus' ministry, as recorded in Matthew 14:3, Mark 6:17, and Luke 3:19. She had previously been married to Herod Philip, Herod Antipas's half-brother, but left him to marry Herod Antipas, a union that John the Baptist publicly condemned as unlawful. Angered by John's criticism, Herodias harbored a grudge against him and sought his death, though Herod Antipas initially resisted because he feared the crowds who viewed John as a prophet. Her opportunity came when her daughter danced before Herod Antipas at his birthday celebration, and he rashly promised to grant whatever she requested, leading her to ask for John's head at her mother's prompting (Matthew 14:6-11, Mark 6:22-28). Herodias represents the dangers of unchecked pride and vengeance, as her determination to silence John the Baptist resulted in the execution of one of the most significant forerunners to Christ.
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
"Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,"
Study Matthew → - Matthew 14:6
"On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod"
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Mark 3 verses
- Mark 6:17
"For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married."
Study Mark → - Mark 6:19
"So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,"
Study Mark → - Mark 6:22
"When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”"
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Luke 1 verse
- Luke 3:19
"But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Ἡρωδιάς | Hērōdiás | Herodias, a woman of the Heodian family |
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