Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 6:27

"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," — Mark 6:27 (ASV)

Herod was in a quandary, but “because of his oaths and his dinner guests,” he could hardly refuse the girl. Reluctantly he ordered an executioner to be sent to the prison to decapitate John. John’s head was brought to Herod, who presented it to Salome, who gave it to her mother.