John 12:1-8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 12
The Anointing at Bethany.(A) 1 [a]Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.(B) 2 They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.(C) 3 Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus[b] and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.(D) 4 Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 5 “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages[c] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.(E) 7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.[d] 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”(F)
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- 12:1–8 This is probably the same scene of anointing found in Mk 14:3–9 (see note there) and Mt 26:6–13. The anointing by a penitent woman in Lk 7:36–38 is different. Details from these various episodes have become interchanged.
- 12:3 The feet of Jesus: so Mk 14:3; but in Mt 26:6, Mary anoints Jesus’ head as a sign of regal, messianic anointing.
- 12:5 Days’ wages: literally, “denarii.” A denarius is a day’s wage in Mt 20:2; see note on Jn 6:7.
- 12:7 Jesus’ response reflects the rabbinical discussion of what was the greatest act of mercy, almsgiving or burying the dead. Those who favored proper burial of the dead thought it an essential condition for sharing in the resurrection.
John 12:1-8
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
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) 2 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. 3 Then Mary took about half a litre of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair.(E) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot(F) (who was about to betray him), said, 5 ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii[b](G) and given to the poor? ’ 6 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.
7 Jesus answered, ‘Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial.(I) 8 For you always have the poor with you,(J) but you do not always have me.’
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John 12:1-8
New King James Version
The Anointing at Bethany(A)
12 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, (B)where Lazarus was [a]who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 (C)There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then (D)Mary took a pound of very costly oil of (E)spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
4 But one of His disciples, (F)Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for [b]three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and (G)had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; [c]she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For (H)the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
