Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 6:19

ἡ δὲ Ἡρῳδιὰς ἐνεῖχεν αὐτῷ. Antipas would have been content with imprisoning John, but Herodias nursed enmity against him. Neither “therefore” (A.V.) nor “and” (R.V.) gives the force of δέ, which marks a contrast between what Herod himself did (Mark 6:17) and what Herodias did. The only parallel in Bibl. Grk to this intrans. use of ἐνέχω is the accidental iambus ἐνεῖχον αὐτῷ κύριοι τοξευμάτων (Genesis 49:23), where Vulg. has inviderunt illi, although elsewhere Jerome has irascebantur adversus eum. Here Vulg. has insidiabatur, whence the “laid wait” of earlier versions. Beza has imminebat. It may be doubted whether ἔχθραν, or χόλον (which Hdt. expresses i. 118, vi. 119, viii. 27) is to be understood. But ἐπέχων, sc. τὸν νοῦν (Luke 14:7; &c.), suggests that here there is some forgotten ellipse. The provincialism, “to have it in for a man” or “with a man,” i.e. to be on bad terms with him, is parallel. “Had an inward grudge” (A.V. marg.) is near the mark. The imperfects (Mark 6:18-20) are quite in place; the rebukes of John, the resentment and malignity of Herodias, and the fears of Antipas were continual, just as in the case of Elijah, Jezebel, and Ahab.

καὶ οὐκ ἐδύνατο. We might have expected ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐδύνατο. This adversative use of καί is perhaps Hebraistic. Cf. Mark 12:12.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 6:19

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