Matthew 14:4

Verse 4 of 36. The 14th of 28 chapters in Matthew, in The Gospels.

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

3For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

7Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.

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Matthew 14:4 in the World English Bible

For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Read Matthew 14:4 in the WEB

Matthew Henry on Matthew 14:4

John's faithfulness in reproving Herod, v. 3, 4. Herod was one of John's hearers (Mark vi. 20), and therefore John might be the more bold with him. Note, Ministers, who are reprovers by office, are especially obliged to reprove those that are under their charge, and not to suffer sin upon them; they have the fairest opportunity of dealing with them, and with them may expect the most favourable acceptance.

Read Matthew Henry on Matthew 14:1–12: The Death of John the Baptist.

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King James Version. Public domain. Set as prose throughout, including the poetry, because the text is published to us without its lines.