9:7 Now Herod 1 the tetrarch 2 heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, 3 because some people were saying that John 4 had been raised from the dead, 9:8 while others were saying that Elijah 5 had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. 6
1 sn Herod refers here to Herod Antipas. See the note on Herod Antipas in 3:1.
2 sn See the note on tetrarch in 3:1.
3 tn Or “was very confused.” See L&N 32.10 where this verse is given as an example of the usage.
4 sn John refers to John the Baptist, whom Herod had beheaded (v. 9).
5 sn The appearance of Elijah would mean that the end time had come. According to 2 Kgs 2:11, Elijah was still alive. In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.
6 sn The phrase had risen could be understood to mean “had been resurrected,” but this is only a possible option, not a necessary one, since the phrase could merely mean that a figure had appeared on the scene who mirrored an earlier historical figure. The three options of vv. 7-8 will be repeated in v. 19.