Matthew 14:5When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
The setting
Herod's palace, likely Tiberias on Sea of Galilee, ~29 AD. Herod weighs killing John against public backlash. Modern-day northern Israel.
The emotion here: documenting political calculation with disgust
The original word
phobeomai (ἐφοβεῖτο) — deep fear, not just concern but genuine terror
Why it matters
John had massive popular support — crowds traveled miles to hear him preach and be baptized
Read with care
What most readers miss in Matthew 14:5
Herod was more afraid of the people than of God — his fear was purely political, not moral
Common misconceptionPeople think Herod respected John spiritually, but he only feared losing political control — there was no genuine reverence involved.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Matthew 14:5
Bible Genome reading
Matthew 14:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Matthew 14:5 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 20% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include fear, public opinion. Notable phrases: would have put him to death; feared the multitude.
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 14:5 mean to you, today?
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