Who was Herod in the Bible?
Tetrarch, in the New Testament era
Antipas was the son of Herod the Great and ruled as tetrarch of Galilee and Perea during the time of Jesus' ministry. Herod appears in 38 verses across 4 books of the Bible.
The Bible uses the name Herod for 3 different people. All 3 are below, each with its own passages.
Herod Antipas
Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great and ruled as tetrarch of Galilee and Perea during the time of Jesus' ministry. He is mentioned in the Gospels in connection with the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist (Mat.14.3,6; Mrk.6.17-29; Luk.3.19-20). Herod Antipas had married Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, which John the Baptist condemned as unlawful. In retaliation, Herodias's daughter danced for Herod Antipas and requested the head of John the Baptist as a reward. Herod, though reluctant, fulfilled her request and had John beheaded. During Jesus' ministry, Herod Antipas heard about Jesus' miracles and teachings and was perplexed, thinking that John the Baptist had risen from the dead (Mat.14.1-2; Mrk.6.14-16; Luk.9.7-9). Later, during Jesus' trial, Pontius Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, who was in Jerusalem at the time (Luk.23.7-12). Herod Antipas questioned Jesus, hoping to see a miracle, but Jesus remained silent. Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus, dressed him in an elegant robe, and sent him back to Pilate. This encounter between Herod Antipas and Jesus is unique to the Gospel of Luke.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Herod the Great
Herod, also known as Herod the Great, was the Roman-appointed king of Judea during the time of Jesus' birth. He was an Idumean (Edomite) by birth and was appointed as king by the Roman Senate in 40 BC. Herod was known for his ambitious building projects, including the expansion and renovation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. In the Bible, Herod is portrayed as a cruel and paranoid ruler. When the wise men from the East inquired about the birth of the "king of the Jews," Herod saw this as a threat to his power (Mat.2.1-8). After the wise men failed to report back to him, Herod ordered the massacre of all male children aged two and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding region (Mat.2.16-18). This event, known as the "Massacre of the Innocents," reflects Herod's ruthless nature and his determination to eliminate any perceived threats to his rule. Herod's death is mentioned in Mat.2.19, which allowed Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to return from Egypt, where they had fled to escape Herod's wrath. (Mat.2; Luk.1.5).
10 verses: Acts 23:35, Luke 1:5, Matthew 2:3, Matthew 2:7, Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 2:15, Matthew 2:16, Matthew 2:19, Matthew 2:22
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Herod Agrippa I
Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled as king over Judea, Samaria, and other regions from 41 to 44 AD. In the book of Acts, he is portrayed as a persecutor of the early Christian church. Herod Agrippa I had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword (Act.12.1-2). Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter as well, intending to bring him out for public trial after the Passover (Act.12.3-4). However, an angel miraculously freed Peter from prison (Act.12.6-11). When Herod Agrippa I discovered Peter's escape, he had the guards executed (Act.12.19). Later, Herod Agrippa I was involved in a dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon (Act.12.20). On the appointed day, he delivered a public address to them, and the people shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man!" (Act.12.21-22). Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died (Act.12.23). (Act.12.1-23).
6 verses: Acts 12:1, Acts 12:6, Acts 12:11, Acts 12:19, Acts 12:20, Acts 12:21
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Where does Herod appear in the Bible?
Herod is referenced in 38 verses across 4 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Acts 4:27
- Luke 3:19
- Luke 8:3
- Luke 9:7
- Luke 9:9
- Luke 13:31
- Luke 23:7
- Luke 23:8
- Luke 23:11
- Luke 23:12
- Luke 23:15
- Matthew 14:1
- Matthew 14:3
- Matthew 14:6
- Mark 6:14
- Mark 6:16
- Mark 6:17
- Mark 6:18
- Mark 6:20
- Mark 6:21
- Mark 6:22
- Mark 8:15
Showing the first 22 of 38.
Open all 38 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Herod.
Common questions
How many people in the Bible are called Herod?
Herod refers to 3 different people in the Bible: Herod Antipas; Herod the Great; Herod Agrippa I.
How many times does the Bible mention Herod?
Herod appears in 38 verses across 4 books, most often in Luke, which accounts for 11 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Herod?
Luke, Matthew, Mark, Acts.
Where can I read every verse about Herod?
This page lists 22 of them. Protos carries all 38, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
