SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:9
Entonces el rey se entristeci; mas por el juramento, y por los que estaban juntamente a la mesa, mand que se le diese.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:9
Verse 9. The king was sorry] He knew John to be a righteous man, and at first did many things gladly which John told him it was his duty to perform: Mark vi. 20. Nevertheless, for the oath's sake] The OATHS, orkouv-he had probably sworn again and again-one sin begets many.
And them which sat with him at meat] Who were probably such as himself, and would have considered it a breach of honour if he had not fulfilled his sworn promise: he therefore commanded it to be given!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. And the king was sorry , etc.] As he might be upon many accounts; partly on account of John, whom, notwithstanding his freedom in reproving him, he had a respect; and partly on his own account, his conscience dictating to him that it was an evil action, and would leave a brand of perpetual infamy upon him; as also on account of the people, who were so much affected to John, lest they should make an insurrection, and rebel against him; and likewise, because it was reckoned an ill omen with the Romans, to take away life on that day they received their own; and therefore carefully abstained, on such days, from executions. Nevertheless for his oaths sake ; that he might not be guilty of perjury, chose rather to commit murder; though it would have been no iniquity in him, to have acted contrary to such a rash promise, and wicked oath; which would have been better to have been broke, than kept; and them which sat with him at meat ; lest he should be thought by them fickle and inconstant, and not a man of his word, and who had no regard to an oath: or it may be, they, either to curry favour with Herodias, or out of ill will they might bear to John; or in great respect to the damsel, who had so well pleased them with her dancing; instead of dissuading him from it, pressed him much to perform his promise: and therefore, he commanded it to be given her ; in the form and manner she requested it.
Some have thought, that the whole of this affair was a concerted scheme; and that Herod himself was in it, though he pretended to be sorry and uneasy, having fixed on this season as a convenient time for it; and chose to have it done in this way, and in so public a manner, to lessen the odium of it; or otherwise, it is not easy to account for his extravagant promise, and his punctual performance of it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - The terror and reproach of conscience, which Herod, like other darin offenders, could not shake off, are proofs and warnings of a futur judgment, and of future misery to them. But there may be the terror of convictions, where there is not the truth of conversion. When me pretend to favour the gospel, yet live in evil, we must not favou their self-delusion, but must deliver our consciences as John did. The world may call this rudeness and blind zeal. False professors, or timi Christians, may censure it as want of civility; but the most powerfu enemies can go no further than the Lord sees good to permit. Hero feared that the putting of John to death might raise a rebellion amon the people, which it did not; but he never feared it might stir up his own conscience against him, which it did. Men fear being hanged for what they do not fear being damned for. And times of carnal mirth an jollity are convenient times for carrying on bad designs against God' people. Herod would profusely reward a worthless dance, whil imprisonment and death were the recompence of the man of God who sough the salvation of his soul. But there was real malice to John beneat his consent, or else Herod would have found ways to get clear of his promise. When the under shepherds are smitten, the sheep need not be scattered while they have the Great Shepherd to go to. And it is bette to be drawn to Christ by want and loss, than not to come to him at all.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ελυπηθη 3076 5681 V-API-3S ο 3588 T-NSM βασιλευς 935 N-NSM δια 1223 PREP δε 1161 CONJ τους 3588 T-APM ορκους 3727 N-APM και 2532 CONJ τους 3588 T-APM συνανακειμενους 4873 5740 V-PNP-APM εκελευσεν 2753 5656 V-AAI-3S δοθηναι 1325 5683 V-APN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. The oath's sake (dia touv orkouv). But the A.V. puts the apostrophe in the wrong place. The word is plural, and the Rev. rightly renders for the sake of his oaths. It is implied that Herod in his mad excitement had confirmed his promise with repeated oaths.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:9 {Grieved} (lupeqeis). Not to hurt, for in verse #5 we read that he wanted (qelwn) to put him to death (apokteinai). Herod, however, shrank from so dastardly a deed as this public display of brutality and bloodthirstiness. Men who do wrong always have some flimsy excuses for their sins. A man here orders a judicial murder of the most revolting type "for the sake of his oath" (dia tous horkous). "More like profane swearing than deliberate utterance once for all of a solemn oath" (Bruce). He was probably maudlin with wine and befuddled by the presence of the guests.
