Matthew 26:6-13
Legacy Standard Bible
The Costly Perfume
6 (A)Now when Jesus was in (B)Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7 (C)a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good work to Me. 11 For you always have (D)the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12 For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it (E)to prepare Me for burial. 13 Truly I say to you, (F)wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
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Matthew 26:6-13
New English Translation
Jesus’ Anointing
6 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,[a] 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar[b] of expensive perfumed oil,[c] and she poured it on his head as he was at the table.[d] 8 When[e] the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, “Why this waste? 9 It[f] could have been sold at a high price and the money[g] given to the poor!” 10 When[h] Jesus learned of this, he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She[i] has done a good service for me. 11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me![j] 12 When[k] she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth,[l] wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
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- Matthew 26:6 sn See the note on leper in Matt 8:2.
- Matthew 26:7 sn A jar made of alabaster stone was normally used for very precious substances like perfumes. It normally had a long neck which was sealed and had to be broken off so the contents could be used.
- Matthew 26:7 tn Μύρον (muron) was usually made of myrrh (from which the English word is derived) but here it is used in the sense of ointment or perfumed oil (L&N 6.205).sn Mark specifies that the perfumed oil was Nard or spikenard, which is a fragrant oil from the root and spike of the nard plant of northern India (Mark 14:3). This perfumed oil, if made of something like nard, would have been extremely expensive, costing up to a year’s pay for an average laborer.
- Matthew 26:7 tn Grk “as he was reclining.”sn 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.
- Matthew 26:8 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:9 tn Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:9 tn The words “the money” are not in the Greek text, but are implied (as the proceeds from the sale of the perfumed oil).
- Matthew 26:10 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:10 tn Grk “For she.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:11 tn In the Greek text of this clause, “me” is in emphatic position (the first word in the clause). To convey some impression of the emphasis, an exclamation point is used in the translation.
- Matthew 26:12 tn Grk “For when.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.
- Matthew 26:13 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
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