Matthew 14:3-4

14:3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, ¹  and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 14:4 because John had repeatedly told ²  him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ³ 

[14:3]  ¹ tc ‡ Most witnesses (א² C D L W Z Θ 0106 Ë^1,13 33 Ï lat) read αὐτόν (auton, “him”) here as a way of clarifying the direct object; various important witnesses lack the word, however (א* B 700 pc ff¹ h q). The original wording most likely lacked it, but it has been included here due to English style. NA²⁷ includes the word in brackets, indicating reservations about its authenticity.

[14:4]  ² tn The imperfect tense verb is here rendered with an iterative force.

[14:4]  ³ sn This marriage of Herod to his brother Philip’s wife was a violation of OT law (Lev 18:16; 20:21). In addition, both Herod Antipas and Herodias had each left marriages to enter into this union.