The Great, Roman-appointed king of Judea during Jesus' birth.
Herod
Named in 11 verses across 3 books, first in Matthew 2:1.
ἩρώδηςHerod
The name means “son of a hero.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
- People
- Canaan
About Herod Written by AI
Herod, also known as Herod the Great, was the Roman-appointed king of Judea during the time of Jesus' birth. He was an Idumean (Edomite) by birth and was appointed as king by the Roman Senate in 40 BC. Herod was known for his ambitious building projects, including the expansion and renovation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. In the Bible, Herod is portrayed as a cruel and paranoid ruler. When the wise men from the East inquired about the birth of the "king of the Jews," Herod saw this as a threat to his power (Matthew 2:1 to 8). After the wise men failed to report back to him, Herod ordered the massacre of all male children aged two and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding region (Matthew 2:16 to 18). This event, known as the "Massacre of the Innocents," reflects Herod's ruthless nature and his determination to eliminate any perceived threats to his rule. Herod's death is mentioned in Matthew 2:19, which allowed Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to return from Egypt, where they had fled to escape Herod's wrath. (Mat.2; Luke 1:5).
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Where the Bible names him
- Matthew 2:1
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
- Matthew 2:3
When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
- Matthew 2:7
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.
- Matthew 2:12
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.
- Matthew 2:13
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
- Matthew 2:15
where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
- Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.
- Matthew 2:19
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
- Matthew 2:22
But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
- Luke 1:5
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.
- Acts 23:35
he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.