Herod

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(heroic). (1) Herod the Great, tetrarch of Judea, B. C. 41; King of Judea, B. C. 41-4; liberal, yet tyrannical and cruel. Issued murderous edict against children of Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16). (2) Herod Antipas, son of former; tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. B. C. 4-A. D. 39; murderer of John the Baptist (Matt. 14:1; Luke 3:19; 23:7-15; Acts 13:1). (3) Herod Philip, son of Herod the Great. Married Herodias (Matt. 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19). Lived and died in private life. (4) Herod Philip II., son of Herod the Great, and tetrarch of Batanea, Ituraea, B. C. 4-A. D. 34 (Luke 3:1). (5) Herod Agrippa I., grandson of Herod the Great; tetrarch of Galilee; king of his grandfather’s realm, A. D., 37-44 (Acts 12:1-19). (6) Herod Agrippa II., son of former, and king of consolidated tetrarchies, A. D. 50-100 (Acts 25:13-27; 26:1-28).

“Herod the Great” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

He was the son of Antipater an Idumaean, who was a proselyte to Judaism. His father having aided Caesar in his war with Egypt was rewarded by being made procurator of all Judaea, and he made his son Herod, then only fifteen years of age, governor of Galilee. On the death of Julius Caesar the country was in anarchy; but eventually Herod contrived to ingratiate himself with Antony and Octavian, and was appointed KING OF JUDAEA. He began his reign (B.C. 37) with blood: there were a few left of the Asmonaean house, descendants of the Maccabees; these were put to death and their adherents, and the whole of the Sanhedrim except two.
Herod had married Mariamne, daughter of Alexandra, who had a son named Aristobulus, a descendant of the Maccabees. Herod, being afraid of Rome to which Alexandra had appealed, made Aristobulus high priest; but when he witnessed the joy of the people his jealousy was aroused, and he caused the young man to be drowned, while bathing with his comrades, through their pretended rough play. Herod honored his funeral, but none were deceived, and on Alexandra appealing to Cleopatra and Antony, he was summoned to appear. He left orders with his uncle Joseph that if he were put to death, Mariamne was to be killed. Herod succeeded in satisfying Antony; and indeed he had Coele-syria added to his dominions. On his return, his sister Salome poisoned his mind with suspicions of his wife’s infidelity with Joseph, who had unwisely betrayed the orders of Herod. He was however reconciled with his wife, but Joseph was put to death and Alexandra imprisoned.
On Octavian becoming emperor, Herod contrived to secure his favor. Herod’s domestic life was however greatly embittered by his renewed suspicions against his wife (who had again discovered that during his absence orders had been given to put her to death if he lost his life). He seemed to think her guilty and she was sacrificed to his jealousy; but as soon as his beautiful wife was slain he was filled with the deepest remorse. Her mother also was put to death. [For Herod’s other wives, see HEROD, FAMILY OF.]
Though Herod was nominally attached to Judaism he tried to introduce into Jerusalem Grecian and Roman games. These things were great eye-sores to the strict Jews, but a great many were won over to these follies.
The year B.C. 25 was one of famine in Judaea, and Herod sacrificed his gold and silver plate to purchase corn from Egypt to feed the people, and he gave them seed for the next year, by which he gained popularity.
Herod also ingratiated himself with the Jews by his costly enterprise of rebuilding the temple. To allay their suspicions, he procured the material before he demolished any part. The new edifice was a stately one of white marble.
New fears destroyed the peace of Herod. On the return of his two sons by Mariamne, now grown to manhood, they were hailed with enthusiasm by the people. He feared they would avenge their mother’s death, therefore after trivial charges they were both strangled. This was followed by Antipater, another son, being put to death, who was proved to be guilty of plotting to have his father poisoned.
Herod’s body was greatly diseased: the increasing torments had even caused him to attempt suicide. He ordered that the heads of the chief families in Judaea should be shut up in the Hippodrome at Jericho, to be put to death as soon as he expired, that there might be mourning at his death! This cruel order was not carried out.
His anxieties were heightened by the visit of the Magi to Jerusalem, inquiring for the child who had been born KING OF THE JEWS. Herod cunningly sought to find out what child was to have this honor, that he might at once cut him off. Being thwarted by the Magi he ordered the massacre of all the infants in the district; but God had sent away His Son from his power (Matt. 2:1-22). Herod died B.C. 4. This was the first earthly “power” that had anything to do with the Lord Jesus. We know from Revelation 12:1-5 that Satan was really the actor through Herod; but he was defeated then and will be again and again until his final doom.

“Herod, Family of” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

Numbered individuals appear in Scripture.
No. 1 is mentioned as “Herod the king” (Matt. 2:1-22; Luke 1:5).
No. 2. Philip (Matt. 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19).
No. 3. Herod the Tetrarch (Matt. 14:1-6; Luke 3:1-19; Luke 9:7; Acts 13:1); the king (Matt. 14:9); King Herod (Mark 6:14-22); Herod (Luke 13:31; Luke 23:7-15).
No. 4. Archelaus (Matt. 2:22).
No. 5. Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis (Luke 3:1).
No. 6. Herod the king (Acts 12:1-21).
No. 7. Herodias (Matt. 14:3-6; Mark 6:17-22; Luke 3:19).
No. 8. King Agrippa (Acts 25:13; Acts 26:1-32).
No. 9. Berenice (Acts 25:13; Acts 26:30).
No. 10. Drusilla (Acts 24:24).

“Herod Agrippa I” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

Grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus and Berenice. He was appointed by the emperor Caligula to the government of Ituraea and Abilene, with the title of king. Eventually he had the government of Judaea and Samaria given to him by Claudius. He was an observer of the law of Moses, and added to the extent of Jerusalem by a wall on the north of the city. It was he who put to death James the son of Zebedee to please the Jews, and imprisoned Peter, who was miraculously delivered. His miserable end is recorded in Acts 12.

“Herod Antipas” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

Son of Herod the Great by Malthace a Samaritan. He succeeded his father in the tetrarchy of Galilee and Perma. This was he whom the Lord called “that fox.” He heard John the Baptist “gladly,” yet put him to death. He was present at Jerusalem when the Lord was before Pilate, and by the courtesy of Pilate they settled their difference; but he treated the Lord with brutal indignity. He had married a daughter of Aretas king of Arabia, but subsequently induced Herodias the wife of Philip, his own half-brother, to leave her husband and live with him. This led to the death of John the Baptist by her desire, as recorded in scripture; and also to his being attacked and defeated with great loss by Aretas. Prompted by Herodias, he sought from the emperor Caligula the title of king (which did not belong to him though so called in Mark 6:14), but this ambition led to his perpetual banishment, A.D. 39. Herodias voluntarily accompanied him.

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Greek:
Ἡρώδης
Transliteration:
Herodes
Phonic:
hay-ro’-dace
Meaning:
compound of ἥρως (a "hero") and 1491; heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings
KJV Usage:
Herod

Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

heroic

Potts’ Bible Proper Names:

Son of a hero; mount of pride:―name of four Jewish kings, Matt. 2:1. {Herois filius}