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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/14.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/14.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />for John had been saying to him: &#8220It is not lawful for you to have her.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/14.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/14.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/14.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />For John had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For John had been saying to him, &#8220It is not lawful for you to have her.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />for John had said to him, “It is not lawful (morally right) for you to have her [living with you as your wife].”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />since John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />since John had been telling him, &#8220It&#8217s not lawful for you to have her!&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />John had been telling Herod, "It's not right for you to be married to her."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />For some time John the Baptist had told Herod, "It isn't right for you to be married to Herodias!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />John had been telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />because John had been telling him, ?It is not lawful for you to have her.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />because John had repeatedly told him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For John had said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/14.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />because John had persistently said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />for John was saying to him, “It is not lawful to you to have her,”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/14.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />For John had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> for John was saying to him, 'It is not lawful to thee to have her,'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For John said to him: It is not lawful for thee to have her. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For John was telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For John had said to him, It is unlawful to have her as your wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/14.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />For Yohannan had said to him, “It is not lawful that she should be your wife.”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/14.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />For John said to him: It is not lawful for you to have her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/14.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/14.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />For John said unto him, It is unlawful for thee to have her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/14.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />for John had said to him, it is not lawful for thee to have her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/14.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />because John had persistently said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/14.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />For John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/14.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />for John said to Him, It is not lawful for thee to have her: and he would have put him to death,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/14-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=3983" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/14.htm">The Beheading of John</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.">because</a> <a href="/greek/2491.htm" title="2491: Iōannēs (N-NMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.">John</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: elegen (V-IIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">had been telling</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">him,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: Ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/1832.htm" title="1832: exestin (V-PIA-3S) -- It is permitted, lawful, possible. ">“It is not lawful</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: soi (PPro-D2S) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">for you</a> <a href="/greek/2192.htm" title="2192: echein (V-PNA) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">to have</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autēn (PPro-AF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">her.”</a> </span> <span class="reftext">5</span>Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16</a></span><br />You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/20-21.htm">Leviticus 20:21</a></span><br />If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/6-18.htm">Mark 6:18</a></span><br />For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-19.htm">Luke 3:19-20</a></span><br />But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done, / Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-32.htm">Matthew 5:32</a></span><br />But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-9.htm">Matthew 19:9</a></span><br />Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2-3</a></span><br />For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/5-1.htm">1 Corinthians 5:1</a></span><br />It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-10.htm">1 Corinthians 7:10-11</a></span><br />To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a></span><br />A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Malachi 2:14-16</a></span><br />Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/2-24.htm">Genesis 2:24</a></span><br />For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a></span><br />If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. / If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, / and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/12-7.htm">2 Samuel 12:7-9</a></span><br />Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. / I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. / Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/10-10.htm">Ezra 10:10-11</a></span><br />Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel. / Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For John said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16</a></b></br> Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it <i>is</i> thy brother's nakedness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/20-21.htm">Leviticus 20:21</a></b></br> And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it <i>is</i> an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/25-5.htm">Deuteronomy 25:5,6</a></b></br> If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/14-3.htm">John</a> <a href="/matthew/12-12.htm">Lawful</a> <a href="/jeremiah/44-4.htm">Persistently</a> <a href="/matthew/12-12.htm">Right</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/14-5.htm">John</a> <a href="/matthew/19-3.htm">Lawful</a> <a href="/matthew/15-22.htm">Persistently</a> <a href="/matthew/15-7.htm">Right</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 14</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-1.htm">Herod's opinion of Jesus.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-3.htm">Wherefore John Baptist was beheaded.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-13.htm">Jesus departs into a solitary place,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-15.htm">where he feeds five thousand men with five loves and two fishes.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-22.htm">He walks on the sea to his disciples;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-34.htm">and landing at Gennesaret, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">35. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-35.htm">heals the sick who touch of the hem of his garment.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/14.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/14.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>because John had been telling him</b><br>John the Baptist, a prophet and forerunner of Jesus, was known for his boldness in proclaiming God's truth. His role was to prepare the way for the Messiah, calling people to repentance. In this context, John was addressing Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Herod was known for his immoral lifestyle and political ambition. John's repeated confrontation with Herod highlights his commitment to righteousness and his fearless proclamation of God's law, even to those in power. This reflects the prophetic tradition of holding leaders accountable to God's standards, as seen with prophets like Nathan confronting King David.<p><b>“It is not lawful for you to have her.”</b><br>John was referring to Herod's marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. According to Levitical law (<a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16</a>; 20:21), such a union was considered unlawful and incestuous. Herodias had divorced Philip to marry Herod, which was a violation of Jewish law and customs. This situation exemplifies the moral decay and disregard for God's commandments prevalent among the ruling class of the time. John's rebuke is consistent with the biblical theme of upholding God's law against cultural and personal compromise. This confrontation ultimately led to John's imprisonment and execution, illustrating the cost of prophetic truth-telling. John's stance also prefigures the call for believers to stand firm in truth, regardless of the consequences, echoing the teachings of Jesus on the cost of discipleship.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/john_the_baptist.htm">John the Baptist</a></b><br>A prophet and forerunner of Jesus Christ, known for his boldness in speaking God's truth. He was imprisoned and eventually executed for his unwavering stance against sin.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/herod_antipas.htm">Herod Antipas</a></b><br>The tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, known for his immoral lifestyle, including his unlawful marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/herodias.htm">Herodias</a></b><br>The wife of Herod's brother Philip, whom Herod unlawfully married. Herodias held a grudge against John for condemning their marriage.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/prison.htm">Prison</a></b><br>The place where John was held captive due to his outspoken condemnation of Herod's actions.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/event.htm">Event</a></b><br>John's confrontation with Herod over his unlawful marriage, which ultimately led to John's imprisonment and later execution.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_in_truth-telling.htm">Courage in Truth-Telling</a></b><br>John the Baptist exemplifies the courage required to speak God's truth, even when it leads to personal cost. Believers are called to stand firm in their convictions, regardless of societal pressures.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_cost_of_discipleship.htm">The Cost of Discipleship</a></b><br>John's imprisonment and eventual martyrdom remind us that following Christ may involve suffering and sacrifice. True discipleship often requires us to take a stand against sin.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_unrepentant_sin.htm">The Danger of Unrepentant Sin</a></b><br>Herod's unlawful marriage and refusal to heed John's warning illustrate the spiritual peril of unrepentant sin. Believers must be vigilant in confessing and turning away from sin.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets.htm">The Role of Prophets</a></b><br>Prophets in the Bible, like John, serve as God's mouthpieces, calling people to repentance. This role is vital in guiding believers back to God's standards.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/moral_integrity.htm">Moral Integrity</a></b><br>John's unwavering commitment to God's law challenges us to uphold moral integrity in our own lives, even when it is unpopular or risky.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_14.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 14</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_study_of_mariology.htm">What is the study of Mariology?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_gospel_trial_accounts_contradict_law.htm">Why do the Gospel accounts of Jesus' trial contradict Jewish and Roman legal procedures?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_were_joseph_and_mary_historically.htm">Who were Joseph and Mary in historical context?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_foods_are_mentioned_in_the_bible.htm">What foods are mentioned in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/14.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">For John said unto him.</span>--The Jewish historian (<span class= "ital">Ant.</span> xviii. 5, ? 2) states more generally that Antipas was afraid lest some popular outbreak should be the result of the preaching of the Baptist, working on the excitable peasantry of Galilee.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For John said unto him, It is not</span> <span class="cmt_word">lawful</span> (<span class="greek">οὐκ ἔξεστιν</span>, <a href="/matthew/12-2.htm">Matthew 12:2</a>) <span class="cmt_word">for thee to have her.</span> Herod Philip being still alive. Bengel remarks, "Causas matrimoniales non possunt plane abdicare theologi." Was he thinking of Luther's unfortunate advice to Philip of Hesse? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/14-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">because</span><br /><span class="grk">γὰρ</span> <span class="translit">(gar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1063.htm">Strong's 1063: </a> </span><span class="str2">For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">John</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἰωάννης</span> <span class="translit">(Iōannēs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2491.htm">Strong's 2491: </a> </span><span class="str2">Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had been telling</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔλεγεν</span> <span class="translit">(elegen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> </span><span class="str2">Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">him,</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτῷ</span> <span class="translit">(autō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“It is not lawful</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔξεστίν</span> <span class="translit">(exestin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1832.htm">Strong's 1832: </a> </span><span class="str2">It is permitted, lawful, possible. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">for you</span><br /><span class="grk">σοι</span> <span class="translit">(soi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to have</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔχειν</span> <span class="translit">(echein)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2192.htm">Strong's 2192: </a> </span><span class="str2">To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her.”</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτήν</span> <span class="translit">(autēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/14-4.htm">Matthew 14:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/14-4.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 14:4 For John said to him It (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/14-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 14:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 14:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/14-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 14:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 14:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>