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THE MESSAGE

John 12:3

This verse is not available in the MSG!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Anointing;   Bethany;   Jesus, the Christ;   Love;   Mary;   Ointment;   Pound;   Spikenard;   Thompson Chain Reference - Anointing;   Defender of the Weak;   Guests;   Humble;   Liberality;   Love;   Love-Hatred;   Mary;   Odours, Sweet;   Perfume;   Service;   Social Life;   Spikenard;   Sweet Odours;   Virtues;   Weak;   Womanhood, Crowning Qualities of;   Women;   Work-Workers, Religious;   Young People;   Young Women, Godly;   Youthful Piety;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Anointing;   Hair, the;   Oil;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Alabaster;   Anointing;   Bethany;   Eating, Mode of;   Lazarus;   Mary;   Simon;   Spikenard;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Bethany;   Judas;   Martha;   Oil;   Spices;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fruit;   Priest, Christ as;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hospitality;   Judgment, Last;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Mary;   Ointment;   Pound;   Spikenard;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Anoint;   Banquets;   Jesus Christ;   Mary Magdalene;   Mary, Sister of Lazarus;   Spikenard;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Banquet;   Bethany;   Cosmetics;   Foot;   Hour;   Nard;   Ointment;   Plants in the Bible;   Spices;   Spikenard;   Weights and Measures;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Foot;   John, Gospel of;   Lazarus;   Martha;   Mary;   Ointment;   Spikenard;   Weights and Measures;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Anointing;   Anointing (2);   Complacency;   Example;   Feet (2);   Giving;   Hair (2);   Insight;   Martha ;   Mary;   Metaphors;   Mount of Olives ;   Nard ;   Oil ;   Ointment (2);   Popularity ;   Pound ;   Poverty (2);   Premeditation;   Reverence;   Sisters;   Spikenard ;   Supper (2);   Wealth (2);   Weights and Measures;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Anointing;   Lazarus ;   Martha ;   Mary, Sister of Lazarus and Martha;   Ointment;   Simon ;   Song of Solomon;   Spikenard,;   Weights and Measures;   19 To Accomplish, Finish, Fulfil;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Bethany;   Martha;   Passover;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Hair;   Martha;   Spikenard;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ma'ry, Sister of Lazarus,;   Meals;   Spikenard;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Palace;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Spikenard;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Burial;   Lazarus;   Martha;   Mary;   Odor;   Oil;   Olives, Mount of;   Pound;   Spikenard;   Woman;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Accubation;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Anointing;   Nard;   New Testament;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for February 16;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
King James Version (1611)
Then tooke Mary a pound of ointment, of Spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Iesus, & wiped his feet with her haire: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
King James Version
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
English Standard Version
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
New American Standard Bible
Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
New Century Version
Mary brought in a pint of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus' feet, and then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house.
Amplified Bible
Then 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.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Legacy Standard Bible
Mary then took a litra of perfume of very costly pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Berean Standard Bible
Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Contemporary English Version
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.
Complete Jewish Bible
Miryam took a whole pint of pure oil of spikenard, which is very expensive, poured it on Yeshua's feet and wiped his feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Darby Translation
Mary therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of pure nard of great price, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Easy-to-Read Version
Mary brought in a pint of expensive perfume made of pure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus' feet. Then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then tooke Mary a pound of oyntment of Spikenarde very costly, and anoynted Iesus feete, and wiped his feete with her heare, and the house was filled with the sauour of the oyntment.
George Lamsa Translation
Then Mary took a cruse containing pure and expensive nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Good News Translation
Then Mary took a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it on Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house.
Lexham English Bible
Then Mary took a pound of ointment of very valuable genuine nard and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
Literal Translation
Then taking a pound of ointment of pure, costly spikenard, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped off His feet with her hairs. And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
American Standard Version
Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Bible in Basic English
Then Mary, taking a pound of perfumed oil of great value, put it on the feet of Jesus and made them dry with her hair: and the house became full of the smell of the perfume.
Hebrew Names Version
Miryam, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Yeshua, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
International Standard Version
Mary took a pound of very expensive perfume made of pure nard and anointed Jesus' feet. She wiped his feet with her hair, and the house became filled with the fragrance of the perfume.Luke 10:38-39; John 11:2;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But Mariam took a vase of balsam of the finest nard, great in price, and anointed the feet of Jeshu, and wiped with her hair his feet, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the balsam.
Murdock Translation
And Mary took an alabaster box of perfume of choice spikenard, of great price; and anointed the feet of Jesus; and she wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the odor of the perfume.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then toke Marie a pounde of oyntment of Spike narde, very costly, and annoynted Iesus feete, and wyped his feete with her heere: and the house was fylled with the odoure of the oyntment.
English Revised Version
Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
World English Bible
Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Then Mary, taking a pound of ointment, of very costly spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Weymouth's New Testament
Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took a pound weight of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Marie took a pound of oynement of trewe narde precious, and anoyntide the feet of Jhesu, and wipte hise feet with hir heeris; and the hous was fulfillid of the sauour of the oynement.
Update Bible Version
Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
New English Translation
Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feet dry with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.)
New King James Version
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
New Living Translation
Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
New Life Bible
Mary took a jar of special perfume that cost much money and poured it on the feet of Jesus. She dried His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the smell of the special perfume.
New Revised Standard
Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Mary, therefore, taking a pound of pure nard perfume, very precious, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped, with her hair, his feet; and, the house, was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Revised Standard Version
Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then toke Mary a pounde of oyntmet called Nardus perfecte and precious and anoynted Iesus fete and wipt his fete with her heer and the housse was filled of the savre of the oyntmet.
Young's Literal Translation
Mary, therefore, having taken a pound of ointment of spikenard, of great price, anointed the feet of Jesus and did wipe with her hair his feet, and the house was filled from the fragrance of the ointment.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then toke Mary a pounde of oyntment of pure and costly Nardus, and anoynted Iesus fete, & dryed his fete with hir heer. The house was full of the sauoure of the oyntment.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but Mary taking a pound of the oil of spikenard which was very costly, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair: so that the house was filled with the odour of the perfume.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Then Mary got a bottle of priceless perfume and poured it on Jesus's feet. She wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with a pleasing aroma.

Contextual Overview

1Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus' feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house. 4Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, "Why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces." He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them. 7Jesus 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." 9Word got out among the Jews that he was back in town. The people came to take a look, not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. So the high priests plotted to kill Lazarus because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus on account of him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

took: John 11:2, John 11:28, John 11:32, Matthew 26:6, Matthew 26:7-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 10:38, Luke 10:39

ointment: Psalms 132:2, Song of Solomon 1:12, Song of Solomon 4:10, Song of Solomon 4:13, Song of Solomon 4:14

spikenard: Spikenard is a highly a romatic plant growing in India, whence was made a very valuable unguent or perfume, used at the ancient baths and feasts. It is identified by Sir W. Jones with the sumbul of the Persians and Arabs, and jatamansi of the Hindoos; and he considers it a species of the valerian, of the triandria monogynia class of plants. The root is from three to twelve inches long, fibrous, sending up above the earth between thirty and forty ears or spikes, from which it has its name; stem, lower part perennial, upper part herbaceous, sub-erect, simple, from six to twelve inches long; leaves entire, smooth, fourfold, the inner radical pair petioled and cordate, the rest sessile and lanceolate; pericarp, a single seed crowned with a pappus.

anointed: Mark 14:3, Luke 7:37, Luke 7:38, Luke 7:46

filled: Song of Solomon 1:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 30:35 - perfume Psalms 133:2 - It is like Proverbs 27:9 - Ointment Proverbs 27:16 - the ointment Amos 6:6 - chief Matthew 28:9 - and held Philippians 4:18 - an Revelation 18:13 - cinnamon

Cross-References

Genesis 30:27
Laban said, "If you please, I have learned through divine inquiry that God has blessed me because of you." He went on, "So name your wages. I'll pay you."
Numbers 24:9
By now Balaam realized that God wanted to bless Israel. So he didn't work in any sorcery as he had done earlier. He turned and looked out over the wilderness. As Balaam looked, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came on him, and he spoke his oracle-message: Decree of Balaam son of Beor, yes, decree of a man with 20/20 vision; Decree of a man who hears God speak, who sees what The Strong God shows him, Who falls on his face in worship, who sees what's really going on. What beautiful tents, Jacob, oh, your homes, Israel! Like valleys stretching out in the distance, like gardens planted by rivers, Like sweet herbs planted by the gardener God , like red cedars by pools and springs, Their buckets will brim with water, their seed will spread life everywhere. Their king will tower over Agag and his ilk, their kingdom surpassingly majestic. God brought them out of Egypt, rampaging like a wild ox, Gulping enemies like morsels of meat, crushing their bones, snapping their arrows. Israel crouches like a lion and naps, king-of-the-beasts—who dares disturb him? Whoever blesses you is blessed, whoever curses you is cursed.
Matthew 25:45
"He will answer them, ‘I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'
Galatians 3:28
In Christ's family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ's family, then you are Abraham's famous "descendant," heirs according to the covenant promises.
Ephesians 1:3
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Revelation 7:9
I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing: Salvation to our God on his Throne! Salvation to the Lamb! All who were standing around the Throne—Angels, Elders, Animals—fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, singing: Oh, Yes! The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, The honor and power and strength, To our God forever and ever and ever! Oh, Yes!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly,.... Worth three hundred pence, according to Judas's estimation of it. This Mary was the other sister of Lazarus; :-,

:-, concerning the nature and value of this ointment:

and anointed the feet of Jesus; as he lay upon the bed or couch, at supper:

and wiped his feet with her hair; :-.

And the house was filled with the odour of the ointment; see Song of Solomon 1:3; ointment of spikenard was very odoriferous: this may be an emblem of the sweet savour of Christ, in the ministration of the Gospel, throughout the whole world.

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 12:3. Then took Mary a pound of ointmentMatthew 26:7; Matthew 26:7; see also Clarke "Mark 14:3". It does not seem the most likely that this was the same transaction with that mentioned above. Some think that this was, notwithstanding that before is said to have been at the house of Simon the leper. The arguments, pro and con, are largely stated in the notes at the end of Matthew 26:0, Matthew 26:75; Matthew 26:75. to which I beg leave to refer the reader.


 
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