Mark Chapter 6 verse 27 Holy Bible
And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
read chapter 6 in ASV
And straight away the king sent out one of his armed men, and gave him an order to come back with the head: and he went and took off John's head in prison,
read chapter 6 in BBE
And immediately the king, having sent one of the guard, ordered his head to be brought. And he went out and beheaded him in the prison,
read chapter 6 in DARBY
And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
read chapter 6 in KJV
read chapter 6 in WBT
Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
read chapter 6 in WEB
and immediately the king having sent a guardsman, did command his head to be brought,
read chapter 6 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 27. - He sent forth an executioner (σπεκουλάτωρα); literally, a soldier of his guard; one of his body-guard, in constant attendance as messenger or executioner. It is a Roman word from speculari, to watch. St. Jerome relates that when the head of the Baptist was brought, Herodias barbarously thrust the tongue through with a bodkin, as Fulvia is said to have done over and over again, the tongue of Cicero; thus verifying what Cicero had once said while living, that "nothing is more revengeful than a woman." Because they could not bear to hear the truth, therefore they bored through with a bodkin the tongue that had spoken the truth.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(27) An executioner.--St. Mark uses a Latin word, speculator, a word which, originally meaning "watchman" or "sentinel," had come to be applied by Latin writers of the time specifically to soldiers employed, as in this instance, as couriers or messengers (Suet. Caligula, c. 44; Tacit. Hist. xi. 73).