Philip Φίλιππος
Herod Antipas' brother, first husband of Herodias
Who is Philip in the Bible?
Philip (also called Herod Philip I) was a son of Herod the Great who lived during the time of Jesus and John the Baptist. He was married to Herodias, but his half-brother Herod Antipas divorced his own wife to marry Herodias, creating a scandal in the royal family (Matthew 14:3, Mark 6:17). John the Baptist publicly condemned this unlawful marriage, which led to his imprisonment and eventual execution. Though Philip himself fades from the biblical record after this incident, his marriage to Herodias became a pivotal point in the Gospel narrative, illustrating both the moral corruption of Herod's dynasty and John the Baptist's courageous stand for righteousness.
Biography
Philip (sometimes called Herod Philip I) was the son of Herod the Great and his fifth wife, Mariamne II. He was was not given any of his father's territory, unlike his brother his half brother Philip the Tetrach. Another half-brother, Herod Antipas, fell in love with Philip's wife Herodias, and married her, divorcing his first wife, the daughter of Aretas IV, king of the Nabataeans. John the Baptist condemned this marriage as unlawful, leading to his imprisonment and eventual execution (Mat.14.3-12; Mrk.6.17-29; Luk.3.19-20). The Gospels do not provide further details about Philip's life or his response to the events involving Herodias and Herod Antipas.
Family
Siblings
Partners
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 3 with study contentMatthew 1 verse
- 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 →
Mark 1 verse
- 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 →
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,"
Study Luke →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Φίλιππος | Phílippos | fond of horses; Philippus, the name of four Israelites |
| (same form as previous) | Greek | Φίλιππος | Phílippos | fond of horses; Philippus, the name of four Israelites |