The term Herodians (Herodianoi, in Greek) is mentioned only three times in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 3:6; 12:13-17). According to these passages the Pharisees associated with the Herodians to jointly entrap the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) in His own words, and together plotted to murder Him.

Although the Pharisees and the Herodians were not on the same socio-political “page,” their common purpose was to create an operational coalition to neutralize the Galilean teacher/healer who was drawing the masses.

In those days, exactly as today, the Jewish people were divided between many sects and groupings, belonging to diversified schools of thought and convictions.

Historically, the Herodians, a political-cultural band that supported King Herod’s dynasty, appear only in the New Testament. Because no other contemporary sources mention them, there are numerous assumptions about their characteristics. From the Gospels it is obvious that they joined efforts with the religious party of the Pharisees, but also with the Sadducees, the Scribes, the Elders and the High Priests, alongside the nationalistic Zealots, in their opposition to the Lord Yeshua.