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Luke 9:7
ESV Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,
NIV Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead,
NASB Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,
CSB Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was going on. He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead,
NLT When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.
KJV Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
NKJV Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

What does Luke 9:7 mean?

Herod the tetrarch is Herod Antipas, one of many sons of Herod the Great. He rules over two disconnected territories: Galilee, north of Samaria and west of the Sea and the Jordan River; and Perea, east of Judea and Samaria. John is John the Baptist. John had publicly shamed Antipas for marrying his brother's wife Herodias. In return, Herodias used her daughter to trick Antipas into beheading John (Matthew 14:3–12). Antipas thinks Jesus is the resurrected John the Baptist (Matthew 14:2). The thought that a man he killed has returned with great power must terrify him.

Luke and Mark place Antipas's confusion after Jesus sends out the Twelve to perform miracles and preach the coming kingdom of God (Luke 9:1–6; Mark 6:7–16). It's not clear if this event is what drew Antipas's attention. It's possible Antipas's curiosity grew as Jesus expanded His own ministry—especially when Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain. Her neighbors spread the news throughout the Jewish territories, calling Jesus "a great prophet" (Luke 7:11–17).

Luke and Matthew call Antipas a "tetrarch." This is his official designation, as he "rules" at the pleasure of the controlling Roman Empire. After Herod the Great died, his kingdom was divided into four regions. Antipas rules two areas which are considered part of the same tetrarchy. Mark calls Antipas "king" (Mark 6:14) and "herod" does mean "king," but by this time "Herod" is a family name. Antipas calls himself king partly because his wife Herodias wants to be a queen, but Caesar Augustus never gives Antipas that rank. Eventually, the couple's political aggressiveness lands them in exile.
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