John 12:8

Contemporary English Version

You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me."

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
You will always have those who are poor with you. But you will not always have me."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
The poore all wayes shall ye have with you but me shall ye not all wayes have.

Hebrew Names Version
For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me."

International Standard Version
For you will always have the destitute with you, but you will not always have me."Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:7;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
"For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me."

New Century Version
You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me."

Update Bible Version
For the poor you always have with you; but me you do not always have.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.

English Standard Version
For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

World English Bible
For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Ye have the poor always with you: but me ye have not always.

Weymouth's New Testament
For the poor you always have with you, but you have not me always."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for ye schulen euermore haue pore men with you, but ye schulen not euermore haue me.

English Revised Version
For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.

Berean Standard Bible
The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me."

Amplified Bible
"You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me."

American Standard Version
For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.

Bible in Basic English
The poor you have ever with you, but me you have not for ever.

Complete Jewish Bible
You always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

Darby Translation
for ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always.

Etheridge Translation
In all time the poor you have with you; but me you have not at all time.

Murdock Translation
For the poor are always with you, but I am not with you always.

King James Version (1611)
For the poore alwayes yee haue with you: but me ye haue not alwayes.

New Living Translation
You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

New Life Bible
You will always have poor people with you. You will not always have Me."

New Revised Standard
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

Geneva Bible (1587)
For the poore alwayes yee haue with you, but me ye shall not haue alwayes.

George Lamsa Translation
For you have the poor always with you, but me you have not always.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, the destitute, always, have ye with you, whereas, me, not always, have ye.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always.

Revised Standard Version
The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For the poore alwayes shall ye haue with you: but me haue ye not alwayes.

Good News Translation
You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me."

Christian Standard Bible®
For you always have the poor with you,

King James Version
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

Lexham English Bible
For you have the poor with you always, but you do not always have me."

Literal Translation
For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.

Young's Literal Translation
for the poor ye have always with yourselves, and me ye have not always.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For the poore haue ye allwaye with you, but me haue ye not allwaye.

Mace New Testament (1729)
the poor you will always have with you; but me you will not always have.

New English Translation
For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!"

New King James Version
For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."

Simplified Cowboy Version
The poor will always be around, but I won't."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me."

Legacy Standard Bible
For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me."

Contextual Overview

¹ Six days before Passover Jesus went back to Bethany, where he had raised Lazarus from death. ² A meal had been prepared for Jesus. Martha was doing the serving, and Lazarus himself was there. ³ Mary took a very expensive bottle of perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet. She wiped them with her hair, and the sweet smell of the perfume filled the house. ⁴ A disciple named Judas Iscariot was there. He was the one who was going to betray Jesus, and he asked, ⁵ "Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?" ⁶ Judas did not really care about the poor. He asked this because he carried the moneybag and sometimes would steal from it. ⁷ Jesus replied, "Leave her alone! She has kept this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me." ⁹ A lot of people came when they heard that Jesus was there. They also wanted to see Lazarus, because Jesus had raised him from death. ¹⁰ So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the poor: Deuteronomy 15:11, Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7

but: John 12:35, John 8:21, John 13:33, John 16:5-7, Song of Solomon 5:6, Acts 1:9-11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 25:35 - thy brother Proverbs 14:31 - but Mark 2:20 - be taken Luke 5:35 - when John 21:17 - Feed Acts 9:39 - and showing

Cross-References

Genesis 4:26
Later, Seth had a son and named him Enosh. About this time people started worshiping the Lord .

Genesis 12:12
When the Egyptians see how lovely you are, they will murder me because I am your husband. But they won't kill you.

Genesis 12:14
As soon as Abram and Sarai arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians noticed how beautiful she was.

Genesis 12:15
The king's officials told him about her, and she was taken to his house.

Genesis 12:16
The king was good to Abram because of Sarai, and Abram was given sheep, cattle, donkeys, slaves, and camels.

Genesis 13:4
where he had earlier camped and built an altar. There he worshiped the Lord .

Genesis 21:33
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and worshiped the eternal Lord God.

Genesis 28:19
and he named the place Bethel. Before that it had been named Luz.

Genesis 35:3
Afterwards, we'll go to Bethel. I will build an altar there for God, who answered my prayers when I was in trouble and who has always been at my side.

Joshua 7:2
While Israel was still camped near Jericho, Joshua sent some spies with these instructions: "Go to the town of Ai and find out whatever you can about the region around the town." The spies left and went to Ai, which is east of Bethel and near Beth-Aven.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For the poor always ye have with you,.... And so would not want opportunities of showing a regard to them, which Christ always recommended; nor does he here in the least discourage an industrious and affectionate concern for them: the words seem to be a sort of prophecy, that there would be always poor persons in the churches of Christ, to be taken care of and provided for; :-; and yet the Jews suppose cases, in which the collectors of alms may have no poor to distribute to, and direct what they shall do in such cases l:

but me ye have not always; meaning, with respect to his corporeal presence, which would be quickly withdrawn from them, when there would be no more an opportunity of showing him personal respect, in such a way.

l T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 13. 1. & Bava Metzia, fol. 38. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 8. 2.

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.