Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume;(A) she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.(B) And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,(C) objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b] He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,(D) he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:3 Or about 0.5 liter
  2. John 12:5 Greek three hundred denarii

(A)Mary then took a [a]pound of very expensive (B)perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But (C)Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to [b]betray Him, *said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred [c]denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he (D)kept the money box, he used to [d]steal from (E)what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it [e]for (F)the day of My burial.

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:3 I.e., a Roman pound, about 12 oz. or 340 gm
  2. John 12:4 Or hand Him over
  3. John 12:5 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  4. John 12:6 Lit pilfer
  5. John 12:7 Or in view of

(A)Mary therefore took a pound[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and (B)given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and (C)having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[c] for the day of my burial.

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:3 Greek litra; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams
  2. John 12:5 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  3. John 12:7 Or Leave her alone; she intended to keep it