Father: Aristobulus

Spouses: Philip and Herod Antipas

Daughter: Salome

First mention: Matthew 14:3

Final mention: Luke 3:19

Meaning of her name: "Seed of a hero"

Frequency of her name: Referred to six times

Biblical books mentioning her: Three books (Matthew, Mark, Luke)

Occupation: Queen

Important fact about her life: She persuaded her husband Herod Antipas, through her daughter, to behead John the Baptist.

Copyright 1999, used by permission from Dr. H.L. Willmington.

Herodias' father was Aristobulus. She was the granddaughter of Herod the Great and the sister of Herod Agrippa I. She was married first to Philip and then to Philip's brother, Herod Antipas. John the Baptist rebuked both Herod Antipas and Herodias for their marriage, and thus began Herodias' hatred for John the Baptist. Because of this hatred, she looked for an opportunity to destroy him. But she was not able to because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that John was a righteous and holy man. According to the Gospel of Mark in the Bible, the opportunity finally came during Herod's birthday party.

"Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

"The king said to the girl, 'Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you.' And he promised her with an oath, 'Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.'"

"She went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask for?'"

"'The head of John the Baptist,' she answered."

"At once the girl hurried into the king with the request: 'I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.'"

"The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother."