Matthew 14:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But she, at her mother’s urging, declared, "Bring me the head of John the Baptist on a platter" (Matthew 14:8). This act was doubly offensive; not only for her dance but also for the reward of murder that accompanied it. Can you not perceive the inhumanity, the insensitivity, and the foolishness of Herod? He swore an oath and granted the young woman the freedom to request anything she desired. Yet when the dreadful outcome became apparent, he was filled with sorrow, as the evangelist notes, despite having initially imprisoned John himself. What is the cause of his grief? Such is the nature of righteousness! It stands out as commendable among those who are wicked. What a rage consumed Herodias!

Why did she specify ‘here’? She was concerned that Herod might not feel remorse later on if he regained clarity. Thus, she urged Herod, saying, ‘Hand it to me here.’

O Herod, what is your intention? Do not hand over the righteous to suffer at the hands of a sinner. Yet he who triumphed over Adam through the rib from which Woman was formed, likewise triumphed over Herod through the bond that marriage represents.

Fearing that Herod might change his mind and rekindle his friendship with her brother Philip, as well as worried that her illegitimate marriage could be annulled, Herodias convinces her daughter to request the head of John during the banquet. This request serves as a grim reward for the trivial act of dancing.

She requested, Give it to me now, during the celebration. According to Mark, she expressed a desire to receive it immediately. Taking advantage of a fortuitous moment, as Mark notes (Mark 6:21): the forthcoming day was critical—specifically, when her daughter approached her inquiring what to ask for. Herodias instructed her to demand the head of John be presented to her at once during the festivities, concerned that Herod might not fully repent after this opportune moment had elapsed, and that some of his associates might not persuade him to grant John his freedom through their appeals.

Previously, Herod had openly expressed his intent to eliminate John, though he had hesitated due to his fear of the public, who regarded John as a prophet. Now, faced with a request to execute John, what caused Herod, who was bound by an oath, to suddenly feel sorrowful? His earlier ambition contradicts his current hesitance; the distress he experiences now stands in stark contrast to his previous feelings. Indeed, prior events followed a certain order, and now their repercussions are evident. The splendor of the law has been obscured by the indulgence stemming from disbelief. Yet individuals, aware of the goodness inherent in the law, choose to shut their eyes in the midst of indulgence, not without trepidation regarding their potential demise. They understand that they should not stray from the magnificence of the commandments; nonetheless, they are led to sin through oaths, fear of authority, the enticing allure of pleasures, and negative influences.

She did not convey any wish to her uncle but quickly exited the banquet hall to speak with her mother, asking, "What should I request?" It is hard to fathom the wicked delight that surged within Herodias at this moment. Her response had long been prepared. The time had arrived for her to satisfy her thirst for the blood of the bold prophet! Swiftly, Herodias took the first platter from the table, placed it in her daughter's hands, and instructed her to approach Herod, proclaiming, “Let the head of John the Baptist be given to you on this dish, right here at the feast!” St. Chrysostom remarks on the horror of such a request, noting the audacity of demanding murder as a favor, unlawfully, amidst a celebration, and without any shame.

To uncover the narrative surrounding the demise of John the Baptist, we must consider several key points: Herodias was the offspring of Aristobulus, who was a son of Herod the Great from his second marriage. Following the wishes of her grandfather, she wed his other son from a third marriage, referred to by Josephus Flavius as Herod (a designation representing the family) and named Philip by the Evangelists. After the death of his father, he led a life of privacy in Jerusalem. While this first husband was still alive, and after they had a daughter named Salome, Herodias chose to leave him for Herod Antipas, another son of Herod the Great from a fourth marriage.

Filled with satisfaction over the impression she created, Salomia stepped out and inquired of her mother, who had not participated in the celebration, what she should request. Without a moment's hesitation, she knew that the most coveted gift for her would be the demise of her relentless accuser. Confident that by obtaining the head of John the Baptist, she would claim not merely a portion, but the entirety of her beloved's kingdom, she resolutely stated, “the head of John the Baptist” (Mark 6:24). Concerned that Antipas' promise to execute John might once again go unfulfilled, she urged her daughter to ask for the immediate death of the prophet and even provided a platter on which to present the severed head. Quickly, and with the platter in her grasp, Salomia entered the banquet, addressing Herod with the demand, “I want you to give me at once on this dish the head of John the Baptist.”

The young girl excitedly approached her mother seeking guidance, while the vengeful Herodias sarcastically uttered, "the head of John the Baptist." Salome, clearly influenced by her mother’s animosity toward the prophet, made this gruesome demand to Herod with chilling indifference.

"Give it to me right here": this demand is immediate, as she seeks to avoid any chance of refusal after her state of drunken pleasure has passed. - "On a platter": this refers to the tray on which the food was arranged and served. One might expect that, after hearing her mother's suggestion, the young woman would be filled with dread and horror; however, she embraces this advice, revealing her corrupted nature once again. Historically, there have been instances where kings and members of royal families requested the heads of those they condemned to death, motivated by two reasons: first, to derive malicious enjoyment from their triumph, and second, to ensure that their command was meticulously executed and that their loathed victim was permanently removed.

Salomia, uncertain about her request, sought guidance from her mother, who anticipated this moment: “She orchestrated the entire situation, out of obedience to her; her daughter was disorderly, dancing, and Herod was ensnared by her” (St. John Chrysostom). When her daughter inquired, “What should I ask for?” the wicked Herodias replied: “the head of John the Baptist.” Spurred on by her mother, Salomia quickly reentered the gathering and demanded of Herod, “I wish for the head of John the Baptist served on a platter.” She was apprehensive that, once the fervor of his passions had subsided, the ruler might regain his composure and revoke his promise; hence, she pressed for her desire to be fulfilled immediately.