Teks -- Mark 6:27 (NET)

6:27 So the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded John in prison.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Mar 6:27 - A soldier of his guard

A soldier of his guard ( spekoulatora ).

Latin word speculator . A spy, scout, lookout, and often executioner. It was used of the bodyguard of the Roman emperor and so for one of Herod’ s spies. He was used to do errands of this sort and it was soon done. It was a gruesome job, but he soon brought John’ s head to the damsel, apparently in the presence of all, and she took it to her mother. This miserable Tetrarch, the slave of Herodias, was now the slave of his fears. He is haunted by the ghost of John and shudders at the reports of the work of Jesus.

Vincent: Mar 6:27 - Executioner

Mark's favorite straightway. The king is prompt in his response.

Executioner ( σπεκουλάτορα )

One of Mark's Latin words, speculator . A speculator was a guardsman, whose business it was to watch or spy out ( speculari ) . It came gradually to denote one of the armed body-guard of the Roman emperor. Thus Suetonius says of Claudius that he did not dare to attend banquets unless his speculatores with their lances surrounded him. Seneca uses the word in the sense of executioner. " He met the executioners ( speculatoribus ) , declared that he had nothing to say against the execution of the sentence, and then stretched out his neck." Herod imitated the manners of the Roman court, and was attended by a company of speculatores, though it was not their distinctive office to act as executioners. Wyc. renders man-killer, and Tynd. hangman.

JFB: Mar 6:27 - And immediately the king sent an executioner

One of the guards in attendance. The word is Roman, denoting one of the Imperial Guard.

JFB: Mar 6:27 - and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison

After, it would seem, more than twelve months' imprisonment. Blessed martyr! Dark and cheerless was the end reserved for thee: but now thou hast thy Master's benediction, "Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me" (Mat 11:6), and hast found the life thou gavest away (Mat 10:39). But where are they in whose skirts is found thy blood?

TSK: Mar 6:27 - the king // an executioner

the king : Mat 14:10,Mat 14:11

an executioner : or, one of his guard, Σπεκουλατωρ [Strong’ s G4688], in Latin, speculator , from speculor , to look about, spy, properly denotes a sentinel; and as these sentinels kept guard at the palaces of kings, and the residences of Roman governors, so they were employed in other offices besides guarding, and usually performed that of executioners. As, however, we learn from Josephus, that Herod was at this very time engaged in war with Aretas, king of Arabia, in consequence of Herod’ s having divorced his daughter in order to marry Herodias, his brother Philip’ s wife; and as this event occurred at an entertainment given at the castle of Machaerus, while his army was on its march against his father-in-law; we are furnished with an additional reason why a speculator, or sentinel, should have been employed as an executioner; and are thus enabled to discover such a latent and undesigned coincidence as clearly evinces the truth of the evangelical narrative.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Mar 6:14-29

Ver. 14-29. We meet with this history in Mat 14:1-12 , to which I refer the reader, having there taken in the most considerable things in the relation of the same thing by Matthew or Mark. Mark calleth him Herod the king, whom Mark and Luke called tetrarch. Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, but under that title he exercised a regal power within his province. The whole history teacheth us several things.

1. The notion of a faithful minister. He is one that dares to fell the greatest persons of what they do contrary to the plain law of God.

2. It also teacheth us the malice of souls debauched with lust. It was not enough for Herodias to have John in prison, where he could do her no great prejudice, she must also have his head cut off.

3. The ill influence of corrupt persons in princes’ courts. Herod had in his government appeared no cruel, bloody man. Our Saviour in great quiet preached the gospel, and wrought miracles for the confirmation of it, within Herod’ s jurisdiction; in Galilee we find no inquiry made by Herod after him, no calling him in question: and for John the Baptist, he did not only tolerate him, but brought him to his court, reverenced him as a just and holy man, did many things upon his instructions, heard him gladly; but by the influence of Herodias (his courtiers being at least silent in the case) he is prevailed with to put him to death.

4. The arts likewise of these persons are observable; they take the advantage of his jollity on his birthday, when in the excess of mirth it was likely he would be more easy and complying to grant their requests.

5. We may also from hence learn the mischief of rash oaths and general promises, especially when they flow from souls ignorant of the law of God; for had Herod understood any thing of that, he could not have thought that his oath could have been the bond of iniquity, or obliged him to any sinful act.

6. We may also understand the mercy of God to that people who are governed by laws, whose lives and liberties do not depend upon the will of any.

7. Lastly, we may observe how far men may go, and yet be far enough from any saving grace. They may have a reverence for godly ministers, they may hear them gladly, they may do many things. The hypocrite hath some principal lust in which he must be gratified, and cannot bear a reproof as to that.

Lightfoot: Mar 6:27 - An executioner

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,   

[An executioner.] So the Targum of Jonathan upon Gen 39:1; Rab Speculatoraia. See the Aruch, in the word Speculator.

Gill: Mar 6:27 - And immediately the king sent an executioner // and commanded his head to be brought // and he went and beheaded him in the prison

And immediately the king sent an executioner,.... See Gill on Mat 14:10.

and commanded his head to be brought; ordered him to cut off his head in prison, and bring it away forthwith in a charger to him:

and he went and beheaded him in the prison; according to his orders.