Bible Commentaries
Matthew 14

Verse 1

At = In. Greek. en.

time = season.

Herod = Herod Antipas. Son of Herod the Great by Malthace. See App-109 .

tetrarch. The Greek word transliterated = a governor over the fourth part of any region; but the word subsequently lost its strict etymological meaning, and came to denote any petty prince not ruling over an entire country. So called from tetartos = fourth.

heard of the fame. Figure of speech Polyptoton. Greek. ekousen. . akoen.

fame = hearing, or report.

of = concerning. Genitive (of Relation). App-17 .

Verse 2

servants = young men or courtiers. Greek. pais. App-108 .

the dead. With Art. See App-139 .

therefore = on this account. Greek. dia touto.

mighty works. See note on Matthew 13:54 , above.

in. Greek. en.

Verse 3

Herod. One of eleven rulers offended with God's reprovers. See note on Exodus 10:28 .

put: i.e. had him put.

for . . . sake = on account of. Greek. dia .

Philip's = Philip I, son of Herod the Great and Mariamne II. See App-109 .

wife: i.e. widow.

Verse 4

said = used to say.

Verse 5

when he would have put him to death. = wishing ( App-102 .) to kill him.

counted = held. Compare Matthew 21:26 , Matthew 21:46

Verse 6

kept = being celebrated.

the daughter. Salome (Josephus, Antiquities xviii. 5. 4).

Herodias. See App-109 .

before them = in the midst of them: i.e. in public.

Verse 7

with. Greek. meta. App-104 .

Verse 8

before instructed = prompted, or instigated.

of = by. Greek. hupo.

in = upon. Greek. epi .

charger = a wooden trencher, or dish. Greek. pinax ;. Occ only here, Matthew 14:11 .Mark 6:25 , Mark 6:28 and Luke 11:39 ("platter"). The Eng. is from the French chargrer = to load. Then by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Subject) App-6 , put for wh at is laden; hence, used of a horse, as well as a dish.

Verse 9

the oath's = his great or solemn oath.

Verse 11

damsel. Greek. korasion. App-108 .

Verse 12

body. Mark 6:29 reads ptoma = corpse.

Verse 13

departed = withdrew. by = in. Greek. en .

people = multitude.

out of = from. Greek. apo . App-104 .

Verse 14

went forth. From His solitude, Matthew 14:13 .

toward. Greek. epi .

Verse 15

time = hour.

now = already.

Verse 17

And = But.

have here but = have not (Greek. ou , as in Matthew 14:4 ) here [anything] except.

Verse 19

on = upon. Greek. epi .

to = into. Greek. eis .

heaven = the heaven (sing). See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 . brake = after breaking. The bread was made in thin cakes, which had to be broken (not cut) before they could be eaten. Hence the idiom "to break bread" means to eat bread, as in Luke 24:35 ; Acts 27:35 . See notes on Numbers 18:19 , and Isaiah 58:7 . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Adjunct). App-6 .

to = [gave] to. The Ellipsis must be thus supplied from the preceding clause.

Verse 20

filled = satisfied.

baskets. Greek. kophinos. A small wicker hand-basket.

Verse 21

men = males. Greek plural of aner . See App-123 .

Verse 22

straightway = immediately, as in Matthew 14:31 .

a = the.

He sent, &c. This was a miracle in itself.

Verse 24

with = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .

waves = the waves.

Verse 25

the fourth watch. See App-51 .

Verse 26

a spirit = a phantom. Greek. phantasma. Occurs only here and Mark 6:49 .

for = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

Verse 27

it is I = I am [He].

Verse 28

Lord. Greek. Kurios. App-98 .

if, &c. Assuming it as a fact.

Verse 29

to. Greek. pros. App-104 .

Verse 30

he saw the wind boisterous. He looked at the circumstances instead of the Lord. This was the secret of his (and of our) failure.

sink = be overwhelmed in the sea. Greek. katapontizomai. Occurs only here and Matthew 18:6 .

Verse 31

O thou of little faith. See note on Matthew 6:30 .

wherefore = why, or for what. Greek. eis.

doubt = waver, or hesitate. Greek. distazo. Occurs only here and Matthew 28:17 .

Verse 33

the Son of God = God's Son (no Art.) App-98 .

Verse 34

Gennesaret. It was at the northern end of the lake and to the west of the Jordan ( App-169 ). The Talmud identifies it with Chinnereth of the O.T. Josephus says it was about four miles long by two and a half broad.

Verse 35

had knowledge of = having recognized.

Verse 36

hem = border, or fringes. Compare Matthew 9:20 .

made perfectly whole = completely saved or healed. Greek. diasozo = to save throughout. Occurs eight times (Luke 7:3 .Acts 23:24 ; Acts 27:43 , Acts 27:44 ; Acts 28:1 , Acts 28:4 ; 1 Peter 3:20 ). All are interesting and used of bodily saving.