Definition: For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Mark 6:18. It’s a really important and somewhat surprising part of the story about Jesus and the disciples. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, John warned Herod that it was wrong for him to marry Herod’s brother. Let's unpack that a little bit: “John had said…”: This tells us that John is speaking as someone who previously told Herod something important. “…unto Herod”: Shepard is referring to King Herod, the ruler of Judea at the time. “It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.” This is the core of the verse. It means that it was against God's rules and laws – a moral prohibition – for Herod to marry his brother’s wife. Why is this important? This story highlights several key themes: God’s Law: It shows us that God has rules and commandments, and disobeying them can have consequences. Moral Responsibility: John's warning demonstrates the importance of being honest and responsible with your actions. It means he was prioritizing a moral principle over his own desires. Jesus’ Message: This story is often seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ teachings about love, compassion, and obeying God’s laws. It suggests Jesus is coming to challenge the ways people live. In short, it's a warning about a potentially harmful situation – Herod’s desire for a wife that was forbidden by God’s rules. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the context of this story in more detail? Connect it to a broader theme in the Bible?