Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

12 Six days before (A)the Passover, (B)Jesus therefore came to Bethany, (C)where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. (D)Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. (E)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 (F)given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and (G)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. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

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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

The Anointing at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany(A) where Lazarus[a] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.(B) So(C) they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha(D) was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair.(E) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot(F) (who was about to betray Him), said, “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii[b](G) and given to the poor?” He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.(H) He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial.(I) For you always have the poor with you,(J) but you do not always have Me.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:1 Other mss read Lazarus who died
  2. John 12:5 This amount was about a year’s wages for a common worker.