Matthew 14:1At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,
The setting
Galilee, ~29 AD. Herod Antipas in his fortress palace receives intelligence reports about Jesus's growing influence. Modern-day northern Israel.
The emotion here: recording political tension with knowing foreshadow
The original word
akouō (ἤκουσεν) — to hear with understanding and concern, not casual listening
Why it matters
Herod Antipas ruled only a quarter of his father's kingdom, hence 'tetrarch' meaning 'ruler of a fourth'
Read with care
What most readers miss in Matthew 14:1
The word 'report' suggests official intelligence gathering — Herod was actively monitoring Jesus
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just background information, but Matthew is showing how Jesus's fame was creating political ripples that would affect His ministry
The thread continues
Verses that echo Matthew 14:1
Bible Genome reading
Matthew 14:1 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Matthew 14:1 comes from the book of Matthew, written during the gospel period. The setting is a royal palace. These words are attributed to Matthew. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 15% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include authority, awareness. Notable phrases: Herod the tetrarch; heard the report concerning Jesus.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Matthew 14:1 mean to you, today?
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