Mark 6:19

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) Herodias had a quarrel.—Better, as in the margin, had a grudge, or spite, against him.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:14-29 Herod feared John while he lived, and feared him still more when he was dead. Herod did many of those things which John in his preaching taught him; but it is not enough to do many things, we must have respect to all the commandments. Herod respected John, till he touched him in his Herodias. Thus many love good preaching, if it keep far away from their beloved sin. But it is better that sinners persecute ministers now for faithfulness, than curse them eternally for unfaithfulness. The ways of God are unsearchable; but we may be sure he never can be at a loss to repay his servants for what they endure or lose for his sake. Death could not come so as to surprise this holy man; and the triumph of the wicked was short.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this account of the death of John the Baptist fully explained in the notes at Matthew 14:1-12.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him—rather, as in the Margin, "had a grudge against him." Probably she was too proud to speak to him; still less would she quarrel with him.

and would have killed him; but she could not.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 6:14"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him,.... Was angry with him, conceived wrath, and laid up hatred against him, and was an adversary to him; which is the sense of the Oriental versions. She bore him an inward grudge, and lay in wait to take the first opportunity of dispatching him:

and would have killed him, but she could not; being hindered by Herod, who as yet would not suffer it; partly through fear of the people, and partly through the respect he had for John.

Geneva Study Bible

Therefore Herodias {m} had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

(m) Sought all means to hurt him.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 6:19. ἡ δὲ Ἡρ.: the murderous mood is by Mark ascribed to Herodias; in her it would certainly be strongest and unchecked by any other feeling. In Herod, if the mood was there, it was accompanied by worthier impulses (vide on Matthew).—ἐνεῖχεν, had a grudge (χόλον understood, so Fritzsche al.) against him αὐτῷ, dative of disadvantage); or, kept in mind what John had said, treasured up against him, with fixed hate and purpose of revenge.—καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο, and was not able, to compass her end for a while.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

19. had a quarrel] or as it is rendered in the margin, “had an inward grudge” against him. The word here translated “had a quarrel” occurs in Luke 11:53, where we have rendered it, “and the Pharisees began to urge Him vehemently,” and in Genesis 49:23, where the dying Jacob says of Joseph, “The archers sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him.” It denotes literally (1) to “hold” or “keep fast within one;” then (2) to “lay up” or “cherish wrath” against another. Comp. Herod. i. 118, vi. 119. In Tyndale and Cranmer’s Versions it is rendered “laid waite for him,” in the Rhemish, “sought all occasion against him.”

would have killed] The word in the original is much stronger, and denotes that she had a settled wish to kill him. Some Versions read “she sought” or “kept seeking” means to kill him.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 6:19. Ἐνεῖχεν) had an inward grudge towards him.

Mark 6:19

Vincent's Word Studies

Had a quarrel against him (ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ)

There is some dispute about the rendering. The Rev. renders Set herself against him, with no alternative translation in the margin; and in Luke 11:53, Press upon him vehemently, with set themselves against him in the margin. I see no objection to rendering was angry at him, taking ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ with an ellipsis of χόλον, anger. Very literally, had within herself (ἐν) anger against him. So Herodotus, 1:118. Astyages concealing the anger (τόν χόλον) which he felt toward him (οἱ ἐνεῖχε). 6:119, ἐνεῖχε σφῖ δεινὸν χόλον, nourished a fierce anger against them. So Moulton, Grimm, and De Wette.

Desired (ἤθελεν)

Imperfect tense, was desiring all along. Her demand for John's murder was the result of a long-cherished wish.