John 12:7

Amplified Bible

So Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep [the rest of] it for the day of My burial.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial.

King James Version (1611)
Then said Iesus, Let her alone, against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

King James Version
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

English Standard Version
Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.

New Century Version
Jesus answered, "Leave her alone. It was right for her to save this perfume for today, the day for me to be prepared for burial.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.

Berean Standard Bible
"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "She was intended to keep this perfume to prepare for the day of My burial.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus replied, "Leave her alone! She has kept this perfume for the day of my burial.

Complete Jewish Bible
Yeshua said, "Leave her alone! She kept this for the day of my burial.

Darby Translation
Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to have kept this for the day of my preparation for burial;

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus answered, "Don't stop her. It was right for her to save this perfume for today—the day for me to be prepared for burial.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then said Iesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying she kept it.

George Lamsa Translation
Jesus then said, Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial.

Good News Translation
But Jesus said, "Leave her alone! Let her keep what she has for the day of my burial.

Lexham English Bible
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my preparation for burial.

Literal Translation
Then Jesus said, Allow her, for she has kept it for the day of My burial.

American Standard Version
Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying.

Bible in Basic English
Then Jesus said, Let her be. Let her keep what she has for the day of my death.

Hebrew Names Version
But Yeshua said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.

International Standard Version
Then Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.

Etheridge Translation
But Jeshu said, Let her alone. For the day of my burial had she kept it.

Murdock Translation
But Jesus said: Let her alone; she hath kept it for the day of my burial.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then sayde Iesus: Let her alone, agaynst the day of my burying hath she kept this.

English Revised Version
Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying.

World English Bible
But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Then Jesus said, Let her alone; against the day of my burial hath she kept this.

Weymouth's New Testament
But Jesus interposed. "Do not blame her," He said, "allow her to have kept it for the time of my preparation for burial.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Jhesus seide, Suffre ye hir, that in to the day of my biriyng sche kepe that;

Update Bible Version
Jesus therefore said, Allow her to keep it against the day of my burying.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burial hath she kept this.

New English Translation
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial.

New King James Version
But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept [fn] this for the day of My burial.

New Living Translation
Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial.

New Life Bible
Jesus said, "Let her alone. She has kept it for the time when I will be buried.

New Revised Standard
Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Jesus, therefore, said - Let her alone, that, for the day of my burial, she may observe it;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Jesus therefore said: Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial.

Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then sayde Iesus: Let her alone agaynst the daye of my buryinge she kept it.

Young's Literal Translation
Jesus, therefore, said, `Suffer her; for the day of my embalming she hath kept it,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde Iesus: Let her alone, this hath she kepte agaynst the daye of my buryenge.

Mace New Testament (1729)
then said Jesus, let her alone: against the day of my burial hath she kept this.

THE MESSAGE
Jesus said, "Let her alone. She's anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don't always have me."

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Let her alone," Jesus said. "She's preparing my body for the day of my death.

Contextual Overview

¹Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom He had raised from the dead. ²So they gave a supper for Him there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. ³Then Mary took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who was going to betray Him, said, ⁵"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and [the money] given to the poor?" ⁶Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor [for he had never cared about them], but because he was a thief; and since he had the money box [serving as treasurer for the twelve disciples], he used to pilfer what was put into it. ⁷So Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep [the rest of] it for the day of My burial.⁸"You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me." ⁹A large crowd of Jews learned that He was there [at Bethany]; and they came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. ¹⁰So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus also,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Let: Psalms 109:31, Zechariah 3:2, Matthew 26:10, Mark 14:6

against: John 19:38-42, Matthew 26:12, Matthew 27:57-60, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50

Reciprocal: Genesis 50:2 - embalmed 2 Kings 4:27 - Let her alone Mark 14:7 - ye have Mark 14:8 - she is John 19:39 - a

Cross-References

Genesis 8:20
And Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every [ceremonially] clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Genesis 12:8
Then he moved on from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving].

Genesis 12:9
Then Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev (the South country of Judah).

Genesis 12:12
so when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me [to acquire you], but they will let you live.

Genesis 13:4
where he had first built an altar; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD [in prayer].

Genesis 13:15
for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever.

Genesis 13:18
Then Abram broke camp and moved his tent, and came and settled by the [grove of the great] terebinths (oak trees) of Mamre [the Amorite], which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to [honor] the LORD.

Genesis 15:18
On the same day the LORD made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates—

Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me].

Genesis 17:3
Then Abram fell on his face [in worship], and God spoke with him, saying,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then said Jesus, let her alone,.... Do not disturb her in what she does, or hinder her, or blame her for it:

against the day of my burial hath she kept this; this ointment, which she now poured on Christ; it was usual to embalm the dead with ointments and spices: Christ suggests, that the time of his death and burial were nigh, and that this woman had kept this ointment till now, for such a purpose; and whereas she would not be able to make use of it at the time of his interment, she had embalmed his body with it now, beforehand; though without any knowledge of his death, or any such intention and design in her, but the Holy Ghost so directing her: for this is not to be understood of her keeping any part of it till that time, which it does not appear she did.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 26:3-16.

John 12:2

A supper - At the house of Simon the leper, Matthew 26:6.

Lazarus was ... - The names of Martha and Lazarus are mentioned because it was not in their own house, but in that of Simon. Lazarus is particularly mentioned, since it was so remarkable that one who had been once dead should be enjoying again the endearments of friendship. This shows, also, that his resurrection was no illusion - that he was really restored to the blessings of life and friendship. Calmet thinks that this was about two months after his resurrection, and it is the last that we hear of him. How long he lived is unknown, nor is it recorded that he made any communication about the world of spirits. It is remarkable that none who have been restored to life from the dead have made any communications respecting that world. See Luke 16:31, and the notes at 2 Corinthians 12:4.

John 12:4

Which should betray him - Greek, “who was to betray him” - that is, who would do it.

John 12:5

Three hundred pence - About 40,00, or 8 British pounds, 10 shillings (circa 1880’s).

And given to the poor - The avails or value of it given to the poor.

John 12:6

Had the bag - The word translated “bag” is compounded of two words, meaning “tongue,” and “to keep or preserve.” It was used to denote the bag in which musicians used to keep the tongues or reeds of their pipes when traveling. Hence, it came to mean any bag or purse in which travelers put their money or their most precious articles. The disciples appear to have had such a bag or purse in common, in which they put whatever money they had, and which was designed especially for the poor, Luke 8:3; John 13:29; Acts 2:44. The keeping of this, it seems, was intrusted to Judas; and it is remarkable that the only one among them who appears to have been naturally avaricious should have received this appointment. It shows us that every man is tried according to his native propensity. This is the object of trial - to bring out man’s native character; and every man will find opportunity to do evil according to his native disposition, if he is inclined, to it.

And bare ... - The word translated “bare” means literally “to carry as a burden.” Then it means “to carry away,” as in John 20:15; “If thou hast borne him hence.” Hence, it means to carry away as a thief does, and this is evidently its meaning here. It has this sense often in classic writers. Judas was a thief and stole what was put into the bag. The money he desired to be entrusted to him, that he might secretly enrich himself. It is clear, however, that the disciples did not at this time know that this was his character, or they would have remonstrated against him. They learned it afterward. We may learn here:

1.That it is not a new thing for members of the church to be covetous. Judas was so before them.

2.That such members will be those who complain of the great waste in spreading the gospel.

3.That this deadly, mean, and grovelling passion will work all evil in a church. It brought down the curse of God on the children of Israel in the case of Achan Joshua 7:0, and it betrayed our Lord to death. It has often since brought blighting on the church; and many a time it has betrayed the cause of Christ, and drowned men in destruction and perdition, 1 Timothy 6:9.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 12:7. Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. — Several MSS. and versions read thus: - Αφες αυτην, ἱνα εις την ἡμεραντου ενταφιασμου μου τηρησῃ - Let her alone, THAT she may keep it to the day of my embalming. This is the reading of BDLQ, four others, Arabic, Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian, later Syriac in the margin, Slavonic, Vulgate, all the Itala but one; Nonnus, Ambrosius, Gaudentius, and Augustin. This reading, which has the approbation of Mill, Bengel, Griesbach, Pearce, and others, intimates that only a part of the ointment was then used, and that the rest was kept till the time that the women came to embalm the body of Jesus: Luke 24:1. See the notes on Matthew 26:12; Matthew 26:13.