SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:6
Mas celebrndose el día del nacimiento de Herodes, la hija de Herodías danz en medio, y agrad a Herodes.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:6
Verse 6. Herod's birth-day] Either the day in which he was born, or the day on which he began to reign; for both were termed birth-days. See 1 Sam. xiii. 1, and Hos. vii. 5. The kings of Persia were accustomed to reject no petition that was preferred to them during the entertainment. See Herodotus in Calliope, and Esth. v. 3. The daughter-danced] This was Salome, mentioned before. Danced: by a literal rendering of the saltavit of the Vulgate, in my old MS. of the English Bible, the whole of this business seems to be treated with sovereign contempt: for thus says the translator, Shee leped in the myddle.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 6. But when Herods birthday was kept , etc.] The birthdays of princes, both of their coming into the world, and accession to the throne of government, were kept by the Gentiles; as by the Egyptians, ( Genesis 40:20) and by the Persians, and Romans f835 , and other nations, but not by the Jews; who reckon these among the feasts of idolaters. These (say they f836 ) are the feasts of idolaters; the Calends, and the Saturnalia, the time kept in memory of subduing a kingdom (or when a king takes possession of it, the day of his accession), yklm l ayswng wyw , and the birthday of kings (when they are made and crowned, the day of coronation), and the day of birth, and the day of death.
And it is a question, whether this day, that was kept, was the day of Herods natural birth, or of his civil government, being his accession, or coronation day: and it might also be a question, whether it was the then present Herods birthday, or whether it was not his father Herods, was it not that Mark says, ( Mark 6:21) it was his birthday; since it is the latter the poet refers to, as kept by Jews, when he says, At cum Herodis venere dies; and the old Scholiast upon him observes, that Herod reigned over the Jews in Syria, in the times of Augustus; therefore the Herodians kept Herods birthday, as also the sabbath, on which day they set up candles in the windows lighted, and encircled with violets.
This they did, believing him to be the Messiah: and it is further to be observed, that the word here used, is said to be proper to the dead, and not to the living; and that he that uses it of the living, speaks very inaccurately: but however, it was a festival, and a time of great mirth and jollity; and a proper opportunity offered to Herodias, to execute her malicious designs against John the Baptist; for at this time, the daughter of Herodias danced before them : in the original text it is, in the midst, in the middle of the hall; or in the midst of the company, the lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee, for whom Herod made a supper, ( Mark 6:21) and the Syriac renders it akyms dq , before the guests. Music and dancing were usual at such entertainments, they were the common appendages of a feast f839 : the daughter of Herodias, who danced before the company for their diversion, whether alone, or with others, was very probably Salome f840 , whom she had by her former husband; and therefore is called, not the daughter of Herod, but of Herodias: and pleased Herod ; and as Mark adds, and them that sat with him; so that the pleasure he had did not arise merely from the respect and honour shown to him and his birthday, by her appearing with so much cheerfulness on this occasion before him; who had taken her fathers wife from him, and defiled her mother; but from the airs, gestures, and motions of the lady in dancing; which were so extremely fine and regular, that she gave wonderful satisfaction and delight to Herod, and the whole company.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - The terror and reproach of conscience, which Herod, like other darin offenders, could not shake off, are proofs and warnings of a futur judgment, and of future misery to them. But there may be the terror of convictions, where there is not the truth of conversion. When me pretend to favour the gospel, yet live in evil, we must not favou their self-delusion, but must deliver our consciences as John did. The world may call this rudeness and blind zeal. False professors, or timi Christians, may censure it as want of civility; but the most powerfu enemies can go no further than the Lord sees good to permit. Hero feared that the putting of John to death might raise a rebellion amon the people, which it did not; but he never feared it might stir up his own conscience against him, which it did. Men fear being hanged for what they do not fear being damned for. And times of carnal mirth an jollity are convenient times for carrying on bad designs against God' people. Herod would profusely reward a worthless dance, whil imprisonment and death were the recompence of the man of God who sough the salvation of his soul. But there was real malice to John beneat his consent, or else Herod would have found ways to get clear of his promise. When the under shepherds are smitten, the sheep need not be scattered while they have the Great Shepherd to go to. And it is bette to be drawn to Christ by want and loss, than not to come to him at all.
Greek Textus Receptus
γενεσιων 1077 N-GPN δε 1161 CONJ αγομενων 71 5746 V-PPP-GPM του 3588 T-GSM ηρωδου 2264 N-GSM ωρχησατο 3738 5662 V-ADI-3S η 3588 T-NSF θυγατηρ 2364 N-NSF της 3588 T-GSF ηρωδιαδος 2266 N-GSF εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN μεσω 3319 A-DSN και 2532 CONJ ηρεσεν 700 5656 V-AAI-3S τω 3588 T-DSM ηρωδη 2264 N-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. Birthday (genesioiv). Though some explain it as the anniversary of Herod's accession. The custom of celebrating birthdays by festivities was not approved by the strict Jews; but it is claimed that the Herodian princes adopted the custom. The Roman satirist, Persius, alludes to a festival known as "Herod's Day," and pictures a banquet on that occasion."But when Come Herod's day, and on the steaming panes The ranged lamps, festooned with violets, pour The unctuous cloud, while the broad tunny-tail Sprawled o'er the red dish swims, and snowy jars Swell with the wine." Sat. v. 180-183.
Before (en tw mesw). Rev., in the midst. Wyc., leaped in the middle.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:6 {When Herod's birthday came} (genesiois genomenois tou herwidou). Locative of time (cf. #Mr 6:21) without the genitive absolute. The earlier Greeks used the word genesia for funeral commemorations (birthdays of the dead), genethlia being the word for birthday celebrations of living persons. But that distinction has disappeared in the papyri. The word genesia in the papyri (_Fayum Towns_, 114-20, 115-8, 119-30) is always a birthday feast as here in Matthew and Mark. Philo used both words of birthday feasts. Persius, a Roman satirist (_Sat_. V. 180-183), describes a banquet on Herod's Day. {Danced in the midst} ("rchsato en twi mes"i). this was Salome, daughter of Herodias by her first marriage. The root of the verb means some kind of rapid motion. "Leaped in the middle," Wycliff puts it. It was a shameful exhibition of lewd dancing prearranged by Herodias to compass her purpose for John's death. Salome had stooped to the level of an almeh, or common dancer.
