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John 12:5

Poverty and the vulnerableMoney and wealth

3 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.

4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

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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
“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
KJV
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
WEB
“Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
ASV
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings, and given to the poor?
DARBY
Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?
BLB
“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
ÅB
Hvorfor ble ikke denne salve solgt for tre hundre penninger og gitt til de fattige?
OTB
"Hvorfor ble ikke denne parfymen solgt for tre hundre denarer og pengene gitt til de fattige?"
B1930
Hvorfor blev ikke denne salve solgt for tre hundre penninger og gitt til de fattige?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Luke 12:33

    Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

    Read in context

  • Luke 18:22

    Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

    Read in context

  • Mark 14:4–5

    And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

    Read in context

  • Matthew 26:8–9

    But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

    Read in context

  • Luke 6:41

    And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

    Read in context

  • Malachi 1:10–13

    Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 5:8

    And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

    Read in context

  • Amos 8:5

    Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?

    Read in context