Mark 14:5

Murdock Translation

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and been given to the poor. And they were indignant at her.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.

King James Version (1611)
For it might haue bene solde for more then three hundred pence, and haue bene giuen to the poore: and they murmured against her.

King James Version
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

English Standard Version
For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her.

New American Standard Bible
"For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they were scolding her.

New Century Version
It was worth a full year's work. It could have been sold and the money given to the poor." And they got very angry with the woman.

Amplified Bible
"For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii [a laborer's wages for almost a year], and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they were scolding her.

Legacy Standard Bible
For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they were scolding her.

Berean Standard Bible
It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her.

Contemporary English Version
We could have sold this perfume for more than three hundred silver coins and given the money to the poor!" So they started saying cruel things to the woman.

Complete Jewish Bible
It could have been sold for a year's wages and given to the poor!" And they scolded her.

Darby Translation
for this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor. And they spoke very angrily at her.

Easy-to-Read Version
It was worth a full year's pay. It could have been sold and the money given to those who are poor." And they told the woman what a bad thing she had done.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For it might haue bene sold for more then three hundreth pence, and bene giuen vnto the poore, and they murmured against her.

George Lamsa Translation
For it could have been sold for more than three hundred pennies and given to the poor. So they annoyed her.

Good News Translation
It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!" And they criticized her harshly.

Lexham English Bible
For this perfumed oil could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!" And they began to scold her.

Literal Translation
For this could be sold for over three hundred denarii, and to be given to the poor. And they were incensed with her.

American Standard Version
For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred shillings, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

Bible in Basic English
We might have got more than three hundred pence for it, and given the money to the poor. And they said things against her among themselves.

Hebrew Names Version
For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." They grumbled against her.

International Standard Version
This perfume could have been sold for more than 300 denarii[fn] and the moneythe money">[fn] given to the destitute." So they got extremely angry with her.

Etheridge Translation
for it could have been sold for more than three hundred dinoreen, and given to the poor. And they were angry with her.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For it myght haue ben solde for more then three hundred pence, and haue ben geuen to the poore. And they grudged agaynst her.

English Revised Version
For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred pence, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

World English Bible
For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." They grumbled against her.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence and given to the poor. And they murmured at her.

Weymouth's New Testament
For that ointment might have been sold for fifteen pounds or more, and the money have been given to the poor." And they were exceedingly angry with her.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For this oynement myyte haue be seld more than for thre hundrid pens, and be youun to pore men. And thei groyneden ayens hir.

Update Bible Version
For this ointment might have been sold for over $30,000, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

Webster's Bible Translation
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

New English Translation
It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!" So they spoke angrily to her.

New King James Version
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.

New Living Translation
"It could have been sold for a year's wages and the money given to the poor!" So they scolded her harshly.

New Life Bible
This perfume could have been sold for much money and given to poor people." They spoke against her.

New Revised Standard
For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For this perfume could have been sold for above three hundred denaries, and given unto the destitute! and they were indignant with her.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred pence and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

Revised Standard Version
For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." And they reproached her.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For it myght have bene soolde for more then thre hundred pens and bene geve vnto the poore. And they grudged agaynste hir.

Young's Literal Translation
for this could have been sold for more than three hundred denaries, and given to the poor;' and they were murmuring at her.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
This oyntment might haue bene solde for more then thre hundreth pens, & bene geue to ye poore. And they grudged agaynst her.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for we could have sold it for above two hundred denarys, and given them to the poor: and they inveighed against her.

Simplified Cowboy Version
That could have been sold for three hundred silver pieces and the money could have taken care of many poor people!" Then they all started giving the woman a hard time and scolding her.

Contextual Overview

¹ And after two days, was the passover of unleavened cakes. And the chief priests and the Scribes sought how they might take him by stratagem, and kill him. ² But they said: Not on the festival, lest there be commotion among the people. ³ And when he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he reclined, a woman came having an alabaster box of precious ointment of spikenard, of great price; and she opened and poured upon the head of Jesus. ⁴ And there were certain of the disciples, who were dissatisfied among themselves, and said: Why was this waste of the ointment? ⁵ For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and been given to the poor. And they were indignant at her. ⁶ But Jesus said: Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath done an excellent act towards me. ⁷ For the poor ye have always with you; and when ye please, ye can do them kind offices: but I am not always with you. ⁸ What was in her power, she hath done; and by anticipation, hath perfumed my body, as if for burial. ⁹ Verily I say to you, That wherever this my gospel shall be proclaimed, in all the world, this also which she hath done shall be told in memory of her. ¹⁰ And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, in order to betray Jesus to them.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

pence: Matthew 18:28, *marg. John 6:7

have been given: John 12:5, John 12:6, John 13:29, Ephesians 4:28

And they: Exodus 16:7, Exodus 16:8, Deuteronomy 1:27, Psalms 106:25, Matthew 20:11, Luke 15:2, John 6:43, 1 Corinthians 10:10, Philippians 2:14, Jude 1:16

Reciprocal: Malachi 1:13 - Behold Matthew 26:9 - General Luke 3:11 - He that hath two

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence,.... Which, was to the value of our money nine pounds, seven shillings, and sixpence:

and given to the poor; which was thought to be a better way of expending it, than by pouring it on the head of Christ:

and they murmured against her: that she should lavish so much money away in such an imprudent manner; they reproved her for it, expressed much resentment at it, and were very angry with, her upon the account of it; :-,

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 26:1-16.

Mark 14:1

And of unleavened bread - So called because at that feast no other bread was used but that which had been made without leaven or yeast.

By craft - By subtlety (Matthew); that is, by some secret plan that would secure possession of him without exciting the opposition of the people.

Mark 14:3

Ointment - This word does not convey quite the proper meaning. This was a perfume. It was used only to give a pleasant odor, and was liquid.

Of spikenard - The “nard,” from which this perfume was made, is a plant of the East Indies, with a small, slender stalk, and a heavy, thick root. The best perfume is obtained from the root, though the stalk and fruit are used for that purpose.

And she brake the box - This may mean no more than that she broke the “seal” of the box, so that it could be poured out. Boxes of perfumes are often sealed or made fast with wax, to prevent the perfume from escaping. It was not likely that she would break the box itself when it was unnecessary, and when the unguent, being liquid, would have been wasted; nor from a broken box or vial could she easily have “poured it” on his head.

Mark 14:5

Three hundred pence - About forty dollars (or 9 British pounds). See the notes at Matthew 26:7.

Mark 14:8

She hath done what she could - She has showed the highest attachment in her power; and it was, as it is now, a sufficient argument against there being any “real” waste, that it was done for the honor of Christ. See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 26:1-16.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Mark 14:5. It might have been sold — το μυρον, This ointment, is added by ABCDKL, thirty-five others, AEthiopic, Armenian, Gothic, all the Itala except one. Griesbach has received it into the text. The sum mentioned here would amount to nearly 10£ sterling.