Matthew 14:5 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

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

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

He wanted to execute John, but he was scared of what the people would do because they saw John as a legit prophet.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Sometimes even powerful people are held back by what everyone else thinks.

📚 Historical Context

In the time of Jesus, Herod Antipas was a ruler in Galilee who had imprisoned John the Baptist for publicly criticizing his unlawful marriage to Herodias. Herod wanted to execute John but held back out of fear that the crowds, who revered John as a genuine prophet, might rebel against him. This event reflects the broader tensions between political authority and religious figures in first-century Judea.

Explore Similar Verses

Deuteronomy 18:20

But if a prophet dares to speak a message claiming it's from me when I never told him to say it, or if he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.

Matthew 23:34

So here's what I'm doing, I'm sending you prophets, wise teachers, and religious scholars. But you're going to kill some of them, even crucify them. Others you'll beat up in your own churches and chase from town to town.

Luke 20:6

But if we say it was just from people, the crowd will literally stone us to death, because they're all convinced that John was a real prophet.

Ask the AI Assistant

Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.

Share or Save

📚 Historical Context

Explore Similar Verses

Ask the AI Assistant

Translation & Methodology Sources