Mark 6:20 — Did Herod “Do Many Things” or Remain “Greatly Perplexed”?

“When he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” — Mark 6:20

Herod fears John, protects him, and listens gladly—yet ultimately orders his death. In the middle of that contradiction, the Textus Receptus says Herod “did many things.” The critical text says he “was greatly perplexed.” The verbs differ by only a few letters in Greek and both make sense of his divided response.

Perplexity gives a psychologically polished portrait. Herod is fascinated by the prophet but trapped by lust, pride, and political display. Luke 9:7 uses a related verb for Herod’s confusion about Jesus, which may support the reading—or may have influenced it.

Partial reform is not repentance

“Did many things” is morally sharper. John’s preaching produced visible action, perhaps changes in administration or personal conduct, while Herod refused the command that touched his unlawful marriage. He could obey in many safer matters and still silence the preacher who named the one sin he would not surrender.

This reading fits a recurring biblical danger. A hearer may receive the word with pleasure, perform selected duties, and remain unconverted at the point where obedience costs most. Herod’s many acts do not purchase innocence for keeping Herodias or murdering John.

Critics call “did many things” banal and prefer the unusual adverbial use “was much perplexed.” Literary taste cannot decide the text. The broad Greek and versional support for epoiei is substantial, and the similar shape of the verbs permits ordinary transcriptional confusion. Memory of Luke supplies a specific route from doing to perplexity.

The rival does not absolve Herod. Confusion can itself expose a will that refuses clear truth. But “he did many things” explains why Mark also says he heard John gladly: the preaching seemed fruitful until the ruler’s cherished transgression was threatened.

The Greek adverb polla can modify either verb naturally enough to permit both readings. This is not a case where one side has impossible grammar. The decision rests on the shapes of epoiei and ēporei, their distribution, and narrative fit. Treating the critical reading as psychologically superior risks replacing textual method with a reviewer’s preference for a more sophisticated character portrait.

The received verb should stand because it gives the episode its most searching irony. Herod was not a man untouched by John. He feared him, protected him, listened to him, and acted on much that he heard. Nevertheless, at a banquet he valued his oath and reputation above righteousness. Many reforms could not replace the repentance he withheld.

Sources and further reading

• F. H. A. Scrivener, ed., The New Testament in the Original Greek according to the Text Followed in the Authorised Version (Cambridge, 1894).
• Michael W. Holmes, ed., The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010), text and apparatus.
• Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, 2nd ed., notes on the stated passage.
• Mark 6:14–29; Luke 3:18–20; 9:7–9.