Herod

In the New Testament, "Herod" refers not to a single person but to Herod the Great and members of his family. Because several different figures are all called "Herod" in the text, each must be identified by the period and the events described.

Biblical Record

Herod the Great

Herod the Great was a king who ruled Judea with Roman approval. He is known for greatly expanding the Temple in Jerusalem. In Matthew 2, he learns from the wise men from the east that the "King of the Jews" has been born. He then orders the killing of all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding region, and Joseph's family flees to Egypt. Luke 1:5 also refers to his reign.

Archelaus

A son of Herod the Great, Archelaus inherited the region of Judea. Fearing him, Joseph went to Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 2:22-23).

Herod Antipas

A son of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas was a tetrarch (a ruler granted a portion of a kingdom) over Galilee and other territories. He married Herodias, who had been his brother's wife, and when John the Baptist rebuked him for this, he imprisoned John and later had him beheaded (Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 14:1-12). Jesus called him "that fox" (Luke 13:32). During Jesus' trial, Pontius Pilate sent Jesus to him (Luke 23:6-12).

Philip the Tetrarch

A son of Herod the Great, Philip was tetrarch of the region northeast of Galilee (Luke 3:1). The place name Caesarea Philippi is understood to be associated with him.

Herod Agrippa I

A grandson of Herod the Great, Herod Agrippa I is the "Herod the king" of Acts 12. He killed James with the sword and imprisoned Peter. Acts records that while he was receiving the acclaim of the people at Caesarea, the angel of the Lord struck him, and he died (Acts 12:20-23).

Herod Agrippa II

The son of Agrippa I, he appears as "King Agrippa" in Acts 25-26, where he and Bernice heard the defense of Paul.

Significance in Scripture

In the Gospels and Acts, the Herodian family appears as a worldly power that threatens Jesus and the church. Matthew's account of the slaughter of the infants is often read alongside the birth narrative of Moses, in which Pharaoh ordered the killing of Hebrew male infants. Matthew cites Jeremiah 31:15 in connection with this event (Matthew 2:17-18).

Interpretation and Issues

• The death of Herod the Great is commonly dated to around 4 BC, though other views exist. This question is bound up with discussions of the year of Jesus' birth.
• The slaughter of the infants in Bethlehem is not confirmed by any sources outside the Bible. For this reason, scholars are divided on the historicity of the event.
• The daughter of Herodias who danced at the scene leading to John the Baptist's execution is not named in the Bible. The name commonly given to her, "Salome," comes from the writings of the first-century Jewish historian Josephus.
• The liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and other traditions includes a day commemorating the infants of Bethlehem on December 28. Most Korean Protestant denominations do not observe this day.

In Korean Churches

Around Christmas, Herod the Great is a common role, alongside the wise men, in Sunday school Christmas plays. Sermons often contrast the wise men, who came to worship, with Herod, who sought to kill the child. Antipas, who put John to death because of his oath and his concern for his reputation (Mark 6:26), is also frequently cited as an example. Agrippa II, who heard Paul's defense yet did not commit himself (Acts 26:28), likewise appears often in preaching. However, Acts 26:28 is rendered with somewhat different meanings in different translations.