Matthew 14:4 kjv — For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

King James Version

"For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her."

— Matthew 14:4, King James Version

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Matthew 14:4 in Other Translations

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Matthew 14 — Context

1

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2

And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

3

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

4

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

5

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6

But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

7

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

Matthew 14:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 14:4 say?
Matthew 14:4 in the King James Version reads: “For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.”
Where is Matthew 14:4 in the Bible?
Matthew 14:4 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 14, verse 4.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 14:4.
What translation should I read Matthew 14:4 in?
Matthew 14:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 14:4?
Matthew 14:4 reads (KJV): “For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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