Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Matthew 14:8

προβιβασθεῖσα : not “before instructed,” as in A. V [87], but “brought to this point”; urged on. It should require a good deal of “educating” to bring a young girl to make such a grim request. But she had learnt her lesson well, and asked the Baptist's head, as if she had been asking a favourite dish (ὡς περί τινος ἐδέσματος διαλεγομένη, Chrys., Hom. xlviii.). Kypke cites two instances of the rare use of the word in the sense of instruction. ὧδε here and now, on the spot, ἐξαυτῆς in Mk. That was an essential part of the request. No time must be left for repentance. If not done at once under the influence of wine and the momentary gratification given by the voluptuous dance, it might never be done at all. This implies that the Baptist was at hand, therefore that the feast was at Machaerus, where there was a palace as well as a fortress.

[87] Authorised Version.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Matthew 14:8

Old Testament

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