John 12:4

THE MESSAGE

Judas 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.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said,

King James Version (1611)
Then saith one of his disciples, Iudas Iscariot, Simons sonne, which should betray him,

King James Version
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

English Standard Version
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,

New American Standard Bible
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, said,

New Century Version
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' followers who would later turn against him, was there. Judas said,

Amplified Bible
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who was going to betray Him, said,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said,

Legacy Standard Bible
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was going to betray Him, *said,

Berean Standard Bible
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,

Contemporary English Version
A disciple named Judas Iscariot was there. He was the one who was going to betray Jesus, and he asked,

Complete Jewish Bible
But one of the talmidim, Y'hudah from K'riot, the one who was about to betray him, said,

Darby Translation
One of his disciples therefore, Judas [son] of Simon, Iscariote, who was about to deliver him up, says,

Easy-to-Read Version
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' followers, was there—the one who would later hand Jesus over to his enemies. Judas said,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then said one of his disciples, euen Iudas Iscariot Simons sonne, which should betray him:

George Lamsa Translation
And Judas of Iscariot, one of his disciples, who was about to betray him, said,

Good News Translation
One of Jesus' disciples, Judas Iscariot—the one who was going to betray him—said,

Lexham English Bible
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said,

Literal Translation
Then Simon's son , one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray Him, said,

American Standard Version
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should betray him, saith,

Bible in Basic English
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was to give him up), said,

Hebrew Names Version
Then Yehudah from K'riot, Shim`on's son, one of his talmidim, who would betray him, said,

International Standard Version
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, who was going to betray him, said,

Etheridge Translation
And Jihuda Scarjuta, one of his disciples, he who would betray him said,

Murdock Translation
Then said Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, he that was about to betray him:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then sayde one of his disciples, euen Iudas Iscariot Simons sonne, which shoulde betraye hym.

English Revised Version
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, which should betray him, saith,

World English Bible
Then Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray him,

Weymouth's New Testament
Then said Judas (the Iscariot, one of the Twelve--the one who afterwards betrayed Jesus),

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Judas Scarioth, oon of hise disciplis, that was to bitraye hym,

Update Bible Version
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should betray him, says,

Webster's Bible Translation
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], who was to betray him,

New English Translation
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said,

New King James Version
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said,

New Living Translation
But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said,

New Life Bible
Judas Iscariot was one of the followers. He was about to hand Jesus over to the leaders of the country. He said,

New Revised Standard
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
ButJudas Iscariot, one of his disciples, he that was about to deliver him up, saith -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said:

Revised Standard Version
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then sayde one of his disciples name Iudas Iscariot Simos sonne which afterwarde betrayed him:

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore saith one of his disciples -- Judas Iscariot, of Simon, who is about to deliver him up --

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde one of his disciples, Iudas Iscarioth Symons sonne, which afterwarde betrayed him:

Mace New Testament (1729)
whereupon one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who was to betray him,

Simplified Cowboy Version
But Judas Iscariot, the cowboy who would later double-cross Jesus, said,

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

one: 1 Samuel 17:28, 1 Samuel 17:29, Ecclesiastes 4:4

Judas Iscariot: John 6:70, John 6:71, John 13:2, John 13:26, John 18:2-5, Matthew 10:4, Luke 6:16

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 4:27 - thrust Matthew 26:8 - they Mark 3:19 - Judas Mark 14:4 - there

Cross-References

Genesis 11:27
This is the story of Terah. Terah had Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran had Lot. Haran died before his father, Terah, in the country of his family, Ur of the Chaldees.

Genesis 11:31
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran's son), and Sarai his daughter-in-law (his son Abram's wife) and set out with them from Ur of the Chaldees for the land of Canaan. But when they got as far as Haran, they settled down there.

Hebrews 11:8
By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then saith one of his disciples,.... Who had no true love for his master, was an hypocrite, and a covetous person:

Judas Iscariot; so called, to distinguish him from another Judas, an apostle; :-.

Simon's [son]; this is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions; :-;

which should betray him; and so he did; this was pre-determined by God, foretold in prophecy, and foreknown by Christ; and is observed here, to show the temper and character of the man.

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.