Who was Herod?
Cruel ruler of Judea.
Herod was a biblical figure who was best known for his role as the King of Judea. He was born in 73 BC to Antipater the Idumean and Cypros, a Nabatean Arab.
Talk with Herod in the appThe story of Herod
He had nine siblings, including his half-brothers Phasael and Herod Antipas. Herod was appointed by the Roman Senate as the King of Judea in 40 BC. He was known for his ambitious building projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the construction of the port city of Caesarea Maritima.
He also built the fortress of Masada and the city of Herodium. Herod was also known for his cruelty and paranoia. He ordered the execution of his own sons, as well as the massacre of the innocents, in which he ordered the death of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two.
Herod died in 4 BC and was succeeded by his son Archelaus. He is remembered as a powerful ruler who was both ambitious and cruel.
- Name meaning
- Song of the hero
- Name origin
- Greek
- Role
- King
- First mention
- Matthew 2:1
- Appearances in the Bible
- 41 mentions
Family of Herod
- Parents
- Antipater
- Children
- Aristobulus
- Archelaus
- Herod Antipas
- Philip the Tetrarch
- Herod Philip
Herod in the Bible
Chapters that mention Herod
Coloring pages with Herod
Questions about Herod
Who was Herod in the Bible?
Herod was a biblical figure who was best known for his role as the King of Judea. He was born in 73 BC to Antipater the Idumean and Cypros, a Nabatean Arab. He had nine siblings, including his half-brothers Phasael and Herod Antipas. Herod was appointed by the Roman Senate as the King of Judea in 40 BC. He was known for his ambitious building projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the construction of the port city of Caesarea Maritima. He also built the fortress of Masada and the city of Herodium. Herod was also known for his cruelty and paranoia. He ordered the execution of his own sons, as well as the massacre of the innocents, in which he ordered the death of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two. Herod died in 4 BC and was succeeded by his son Archelaus. He is remembered as a powerful ruler who was both ambitious and cruel.
What does the name Herod mean?
The name Herod means “Song of the hero”. Origin: Greek.
Where is Herod first mentioned in the Bible?
Herod is first mentioned in Matthew 2:1.
How many times is Herod mentioned in the Bible?
Number of mentions in the Bible: 41.
Who were the parents of Herod?
Parents: Antipater.
Who were the children of Herod?
Children: Aristobulus, Archelaus, Herod Antipas, Philip the Tetrarch, and Herod Philip.
Have a conversation with Herod
Ask Herod questions, seek wisdom, and explore their story through an AI-powered conversation. Download the BiblePics app to start chatting.
- Ask Herod your own questions
- Biblical Wordle and Bible trivia
- A reading streak, trophies and daily reminders
Scan with your phone camera to get the app
Free on iPhone and Android