The Meaning of Matthew 14:5 Explained

Matthew 14:5

KJV: And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

YLT: and, willing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because as a prophet they were holding him.

Darby: And while desiring to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they held him for a prophet.

ASV: And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  when he would  have put  him  to death,  he feared  the multitude,  because  they counted  him  as  a prophet. 

What does Matthew 14:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 14:1-12 - For Righteousness' Sake
In the terror arising from his stricken conscience, Herod made confidants of his slaves, overleaping the barriers of position in his need of some ears into which to pour his fears. He had not finished with John. There is a resurrection of deeds as well as of bodies. The only way to have done with a sinful deed is to confess it and make reparation.
What true nobility John displayed in summoning the king to the bar of eternal justice! He might have said, "It isn't seemly," or, "It isn't politic;" but he puts it on more unassailable ground, which Herod's conscience endorsed: "It is not lawful."Herod was luxurious, sensual, superstitious and weak. He was easily entrapped by the beautiful fiend. To tamper with conscience is like killing the watch-dog while the burglar is breaking in.
How splendid the action of John's disciples! Reverent love and grief made them brave the king's hatred. In hours of lonely bereavement, the best policy is to go and tell Jesus. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 14

1  Herod's opinion of Jesus
3  Wherefore John Baptist was beheaded
13  Jesus departs into a solitary place,
15  where he feeds five thousand men with five loves and two fishes
22  He walks on the sea to his disciples;
34  and landing at Gennesaret,
35  heals the sick who touch of the hem of his garment

What do the individual words in Matthew 14:5 mean?

Although wishing him to kill he feared the multitude because as a prophet they were holding
καὶ θέλων αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι ἐφοβήθη τὸν ὄχλον ὅτι ὡς προφήτην εἶχον

καὶ  Although 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
θέλων  wishing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
ἀποκτεῖναι  to  kill 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀποκτείνω 
Sense: to kill in any way whatever.
ἐφοβήθη  he  feared 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φοβέομαι 
Sense: to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away).
ὄχλον  multitude 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὄχλος  
Sense: a crowd.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
προφήτην  a  prophet 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: προφήτης  
Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things.
εἶχον  they  were  holding 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.