8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter."
8 Already coached by her mother, she was ready: "Give me, served up on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer."
8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter."
8 At her mother's urging, the girl said, "I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 14:8
Commentary on Matthew 14:1-12
(Read Matthew 14:1-12)
The terror and reproach of conscience, which Herod, like other daring offenders, could not shake off, are proofs and warnings of a future judgment, and of future misery to them. But there may be the terror of convictions, where there is not the truth of conversion. When men pretend to favour the gospel, yet live in evil, we must not favour their self-delusion, but must deliver our consciences as John did. The world may call this rudeness and blind zeal. False professors, or timid Christians, may censure it as want of civility; but the most powerful enemies can go no further than the Lord sees good to permit. Herod feared that the putting of John to death might raise a rebellion among 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 and jollity are convenient times for carrying on bad designs against God's people. Herod would profusely reward a worthless dance, while imprisonment and death were the recompence of the man of God who sought the salvation of his soul. But there was real malice to John beneath 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 better to be drawn to Christ by want and loss, than not to come to him at all.