John 12:3

Love for others Gratitude Praise and worship Money and wealth

¹ Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

² So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.

Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,

⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
KJV: Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
WEB: Therefore Mary took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
ASV: Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
DARBY: Mary therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of pure nard of great price, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
BLB: Therefore Mary, having taken a litra of fragrant oil of pure nard, of great price, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

ÅB: Maria tok da et pund ekte, såre kostelig nardus-salve og salvet Jesu føtter, og tørket hans føtter med sitt hår; og huset ble fylt av salvens duft.
OTB: Maria tok en pund meget kostbar parfyme laget av ren nardus, salvet Jesu føtter og tørket dem med sitt hår. Huset ble fylt med duften av parfymen.
B1930: Maria tok da et pund ekte, såre kostelig nardus-salve og salvet Jesu føtter, og tørket hans føtter med sitt hår; og huset blev fylt av salvens duft.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Mark 14:3–9
While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.
Read in context
John 11:2
(Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.)
Read in context
Luke 10:38–39
As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
Read in context
Luke 7:37–38
When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
Read in context
Matthew 26:6–13
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
Read in context
John 11:32
When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Read in context
John 11:28
After Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside to tell her, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.”
Read in context
Luke 7:46
You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
Read in context