How Many Herods are
mentioned in the Bible?
19 December 2021
When we read the New Testament, the name King Herod appears repeatedly—beginning with the birth of Jesus and continuing into the early history of the Church.
The wise men from the East visit King Herod while searching for the newborn “King of the Jews” (Matthew 2). Years later, just before Jesus’ crucifixion, Pontius Pilate sends Him to Herod, who ruled Galilee (Luke 23:6–7). Still later, the Book of Acts records the dramatic death of another Herod (Acts 12:23).
At first glance, it may seem as though one King Herod lived an extraordinarily long life. Yet the Bible records more than one death of a ruler named Herod. So who exactly were these Herods? Did one of them come back to life—or were there several rulers with the same name?
To answer this, we need a bit of history.
A Little Background: Why So Many Herods?
In ancient Israel, children were often named after relatives or people close to the family. Kings, who typically had multiple wives, could therefore have several sons with the same name, born to different mothers.
As a result, “Herod” is not the name of a single ruler but the name associated with an entire dynasty closely aligned with Roman power.
Herod the Great (Herod I)
Herod the Great ruled Judea from approximately 34 BC to 4 BC. He was a puppet king appointed by Rome and was neither a descendant of King David nor from the traditional royal lineage of Israel.
Herod rose to power largely because of his family’s close relationship with Roman leaders, including Julius Caesar. Eventually, the Roman Senate officially declared him “King of the Jews”—a title Herod proudly embraced.
This explains his fear and anger when the wise men arrived asking:
“Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?”
(Matthew 2:2)
Unwilling to give up his throne, Herod ordered the massacre of the children of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). He is the first Herod mentioned in the Bible.
The Many Wives and Sons of Herod the Great
Herod the Great had at least ten wives and many sons. His reign was marked by suspicion, intrigue, and brutal family politics.
Some notable figures include:
- Antipater II, his firstborn son through Doris
- Alexander and Aristobulus IV, sons of Mariamne I
- Herod Philip, son of Mariamne II
- Archelaus and Herod Antipas, sons of Malthace
- Herod and Herod Philip II (Philip the Tetrarch), sons of Cleopatra of Jerusalem
Several of these sons were executed by Herod himself after he suspected them of plotting against him. Roman historians even noted that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than his son.
The Division of Herod’s Kingdom
Before his death, Herod repeatedly changed his will. Eventually, Rome approved a division of his kingdom among three of his sons:
- Archelaus — Judea, Samaria, and Idumea
- Herod Antipas — Galilee and Perea
- Herod Philip II (Philip the Tetrarch) — territories northeast of Galilee
This division explains why the New Testament refers to different Herods ruling different regions.
Herod in the Gospels
Archelaus
After Herod the Great died, Joseph intended to return to Judea with Mary and Jesus. However:
“When he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.”
(Matthew 2:22)
Joseph instead settled in Galilee.
Herod Antipas — The Second Herod
Herod Antipas is the Herod most familiar from the Gospels. He is responsible for:
- The imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist (Matthew 14)
- Examining Jesus during His trial (Luke 23:7)
Antipas unlawfully married Herodias, who had previously been married to his half-brother Herod Philip. This violated Mosaic Law (Leviticus 20:21).
John the Baptist openly condemned this marriage. Though Antipas feared John and recognized him as a prophet, he eventually ordered his execution after being pressured by Herodias and her daughter Salome.
Herod Antipas later lost his kingdom and was exiled to Spain, where he died.
Herod Agrippa — The Third Herod
The Book of Acts introduces another ruler:
“Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.”
(Acts 12:23)
This Herod is Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great and brother of Herodias. He ruled from 41 AD to 44 AD.
His son, Agrippa II, also appears in the Bible (Acts 25) during Paul’s trial, though he never ruled a kingdom.
So, How Many Herods Are Mentioned in the Bible?
There are three main Herods mentioned in Scripture:
-
Herod the Great (Herod I)
Responsible for the massacre of the innocents (Matthew 2) -
Herod Antipas
Responsible for the death of John the Baptist (Matthew 14) and involved in the trial of Jesus (Luke 23) -
Herod Agrippa I (Herod II)
Struck down by God and died (Acts 12)
Conclusion
Although they shared a name and a thirst for power, the Herods of the Bible were distinct individuals who ruled at different times and in different regions.
Understanding the Herodian dynasty removes confusion from the New Testament and helps us better appreciate the political and historical backdrop against which the Gospel story unfolds.
References
- Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
- Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Book XVIII
- Photo credit: Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels
