Mark 14:4-6
New English Translation
4 But some who were present indignantly said to one another, “Why this waste of expensive[a] ointment? 5 It[b] could have been sold for more than 300 silver coins[c] and the money[d] given to the poor!” So[e] they spoke angrily to her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a good service for me.
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- Mark 14:4 tn The word “expensive” is not in the Greek text but has been included to suggest a connection to the lengthy phrase “costly aromatic oil from pure nard” occurring earlier in v. 3. The author of Mark shortened this long phrase to just one word in Greek when repeated here, and the phrase “expensive ointment” used in the translation is intended as an abbreviated paraphrase.
- Mark 14:5 tn Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.
- Mark 14:5 tn Grk “three hundred denarii.” One denarius was the standard day’s wage, so the value exceeded what a laborer could earn in a year (taking in to account Sabbaths and feast days when no work was done).
- Mark 14:5 tn The words “the money” are not in the Greek text, but are implied (as the proceeds from the sale of the perfumed oil).
- Mark 14:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
Mark 14:4-6
New International Version
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
Footnotes
- Mark 14:5 Greek than three hundred denarii
Mark 14:4-6
New King James Version
4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred (A)denarii and given to the poor.” And they (B)criticized[a] her sharply.
6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
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- Mark 14:5 scolded
Mark 14:4-6
English Standard Version
4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii[a] and (A)given to the poor.” And they (B)scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
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- Mark 14:5 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
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