executioner Summary and Overview

(Mark 6:27). Instead of the Greek word, Mark here uses a Latin word, speculator, which literally means "a scout," "a spy," and at length came to denote one of the armed bodyguard of the emperor. Herod Antipas, in imitation of the emperor, had in attendance on him a company of speculatores. They were sometimes employed as executioners, but this was a mere accident of their office. (See MARK, GOSPEL OF T0002421.)

The post of executioner was one of high dignity. Potiphar was "captain of the executioners." #Ge 37:36| see margin. That the "captain of the guard" himself occasionally performed the duty of an executioner appears from #1Ki 2:25,34|

An officer of high rank in the East; commander of the bodyguard who executed the king's sentence. So Potiphar (Genesis 37:36 margin, Genesis 40:3); his official residence was at the public jail. So Nebuzaradan (Jeremiah 39:9), and Arioch (Daniel 2:14; Mark 6:27). "The king (Herod) sent an executioner," literally, one of his bodyguard; speculator, a military watch or scout, from the vigilance the office required.