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Mark 6:22

ESV For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”
NIV When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, 'Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you.'
NASB and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, 'Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.'
CSB When Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I'll give it to you."
NLT Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. 'Ask me for anything you like,' the king said to the girl, 'and I will give it to you.'
KJV And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

What does Mark 6:22 mean?

Herodias had been married to Philip I, but divorced him to marry Philip's half-brother Antipas. Presumably, her daughter is from her first marriage. The Bible doesn't explain what type of dancing the girl performs, but scholars speculate that Antipas and his guests become sexually excited. If so, the girl provides a good foil for John the Baptist. She shows the men what they want to see but cannot have. She makes Antipas look good in front of his nobles and commanders. She raises his political stature while sending his moral character into a free fall.

John the Baptist does the opposite. He tells Antipas what he does not want to hear: that his marriage to his brother's wife is immoral, and legally defined as incestuous. His accusations smear Antipas' reputation and threaten his political authority. John risks destroying Antipas' rule in an attempt to save his soul.

Antipas responds in a manner consistent with worldly, powerful people. He rewards the dancer and destroys the prophet. In fact, his appreciation for what the girl has offered is so careless it directly causes the death of the man who would save him.

We are all susceptible to this temptation. The world offers many things that look enticing. God presents only those things that will lead to life. When we reject God's offer, we destroy ourselves (Romans 6:23).
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