SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:21
Y venido un día oportuno, en que Herodes, en la fiesta de su nacimiento, daba una cena a sus príncipes y tribunos, y a los principales de Galilea;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Mark 6:21
Verse 21. Lords] megistasin, probably governors of particular districts. High captains] ciliarcoiv; literally, chiefs or captains over a thousand men, military chiefs.
Chief estates] prwtoiv; probably such as might be called nobles by title only, having no office civil or military; probably magistrates. See KYPKE an the place.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. And when a convenient day was come , etc..] For Herodias; who had long sought and watched for an opportunity of avenging herself on John, and such a time Herod's birthday proved; though some think, that this phrase is the same with bwj wy , a good day; often used by the Jews for a festival, any one of their feast days; there is a tract in their Misna which bears this name; and that such a day was this. But not one of the festivals of the Jews was this, as either their passover, or pentecost, or feast of tabernacles, which Herod had no regard to; but his own birthday, which he kept as a festival, in eating, and drinking, and dancing; and so was a very opportune and seasonable time for Herodias to take the advantage of Herod when in a good humour, amidst his company, and in his cups, to solicit that, which she had often done without success: and so it was now, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee : this birthday, was either the day of his natural, or civil birth; the day when he was born into the world, or of his accession to the throne; (see Gill on Matthew 14:6), when he made a grand entertainment in the evening for his nobles, and the officers of the army, the captains of thousands, and the principal men, those of the first rank and quality in Galilee, of which he was Tetrarch.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-29 - Herod feared John while he lived, and feared him still more when he wa dead. Herod did many of those things which John in his preaching taugh him; but it is not enough to do many things, we must have respect to all the commandments. Herod respected John, till he touched him in his Herodias. Thus many love good preaching, if it keep far away from their beloved sin. But it is better that sinners persecute ministers now for faithfulness, than curse them eternally for unfaithfulness. The ways of God are unsearchable; but we may be sure he never can be at a loss to repay his servants for what they endure or lose for his sake. Deat could not come so as to surprise this holy man; and the triumph of the wicked was short.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ γενομενης 1096 5637 V-2ADP-GSF ημερας 2250 N-GSF ευκαιρου 2121 A-GSF οτε 3753 ADV ηρωδης 2264 N-NSM τοις 3588 T-DPN γενεσιοις 1077 N-DPN αυτου 846 P-GSM δειπνον 1173 N-ASN εποιει 4160 5707 V-IAI-3S τοις 3588 T-DPM μεγιστασιν 3175 N-DPM αυτου 846 P-GSM και 2532 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM χιλιαρχοις 5506 N-DPM και 2532 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM πρωτοις 4413 A-DPM της 3588 T-GSF γαλιλαιας 1056 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
21. Convenient (eukairon). Mark only. Convenient for Herodias' purpose. " Opportune for the insidious woman, who hoped, through wine, lust, and the concurrence of sycophants, to be able easily to overcome the wavering mind of her husband " (Grotius in Meyer).Birthday. See on Matt. xiv. 6. The notice of the banquet and of the rank of the guests is peculiar to Mark.
Lords (megistasin). Only here, and Apoc. vi. 15; xviii. 3. A late word, from megav, great.
High captains (ciliarcoiv). Lit., commanders of a thousand men. Answering to a Roman military tribune. Both civil and military dignitaries were present, with other distinguished men of the district (chief men).
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:21 {When a convenient day was come} (genomenes hemeras eukairou). Genitive absolute. A day well appointed eu, well, kairos, time) for the purpose, the day for which she had long waited. She had her plans all laid to spring a trap for her husband Herod Antipas and to make him do her will with the Baptist. Herod was not to know that he was the mere catspaw of Herodias till it was all over. See on Mt 14:6 for discussion of Herod's birthday (genesiois, locative case or associative instrumental of time). {Made a supper} (deipnon epoiesen). Banquet. {To his lords} (tois megistasin autou). From megistan (that from megas, great), common in the LXX and later Greek. Cf. #Re 6:15; 18:23. In the papyri. The grandees, magnates, nobles, the chief men of civil life. {The high captains} (tois ciliarcois). Military tribunes, commanders of a thousand men. {The chief men of Galilee} (tois prwtois tes galilaias). The first men of social importance and prominence. A notable gathering that included these three groups at the banquet on Herod's birthday.
