Herod Philip was son of Herod the Great and half-brother of Herod Antipas and Herod Archelaus .

Philip inherited the northeast part of his father's kingdom and is mentioned briefly in the Bible by Luke (3,1): Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis.

Philip also appears in the Bible in connection with the execution of John the Baptist. John reproaches Herod Antipas for marrying Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip. There is some confusion between Herod Philip, the son of Mariamne II, and Philip the tetrarch who was the son of Cleopatra of Jerusalem.