Herodians

The Herodians were a body of individuals associated with and loyal to the tetrarch Herod Antipas. Herod, under Roman support, ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 bc–ad 39. Allegiance to Herod Antipas was a minority position during his reign as many people were in opposition to his rule.

As representatives of Herod, Herodians may have functioned as informants to the tetrarch, monitoring what was occurring in Galilee. Herod Antipas imprisoned John the Baptist merely on the suspicion that John, by drawing large crowds, might become the focus of some future uprising (Mark 6:14–29). Thus, the Herodians suspicion of Jesus in the Gospels is unsurprising.

Details about the Herodians are sparse. The Jewish historian Josephus refers to the group in his work Jewish War (Josephus, Jewish War 1.16.6) and the word “Herodian” occurs in Scripture only a few times.

The Gospel of Mark refers to the Herodians in connection with two incidents: the healing of the man with the withered hand (Mark 3:1–6), and the question asked of Jesus about the Roman tribute to Caesar (Mark 12:13–17; compare Matt 22:16). In the account of the healing, the Herodians plot to kill Jesus. In the second encounter between Jesus and the Herodians, they try to incriminate Him about the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar. In each encounter, the Herodians are negatively portrayed.

In Mark, the Herodians always appear along with the Pharisees—a surprising association for several reasons. The Pharisees opposed Hellenism (the blending of Greek and non-Greek culture), which was supported by the Herodians. Additionally, the Herodians would not have been as strict as the Pharisees in their obedience to the Law. The connection between these two groups suggests that Jesus was a common enemy. If the Pharisees wished to have Jesus put to death, they would have needed the cooperation of Herod Antipas, who held the power to inflict (or at least influence) capital punishment. Mark seems to depict the collaboration of the Pharisees, a religious group, and the Herodians, a political group, as instrumental in the facilitation of Jesus’ unjust execution.

David Seal

Further Reading

Herodian Dynasty CLBD

Herod Antipas CLBD

Hellenism CLBD

Major Groups in Jesus’ Time Table

Pharisees EDB

Hellenism EDB