Keraia
John 12

John 12:3

Mary Anoints Jesus · John 12:1–8
Read John 12

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
Therefore Mary, having taken a litra of fragrant oil 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 fragrance of the oil.
Latin
Maria ergo accepit libram unguenti nardi pistici pretiosi, et unxit pedes Jesu, et extersit pedes ejus capillis suis: et domus impleta est ex odore unguenti.

Interlinear

Greek
English
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.

Notes

John 12:3

  • Mary … anointed Jesus' feet. This was not awkward because Jews reclined at formal meals, but it was still a dramatic gesture (compare Matthew 26:6–16; Mark 14:3–9).

  • Nard was a valuable spice from North India. It was sweet, red, and smelled like the perfume made from the gladiola plant. Twelve ounces of nard cost one year's wages (John 12:5).

    According to Mark's Gospel, Mary also anointed the head of Jesus (Mark 14:3). The perfume ran down and made his clothes smell good (Mark 14:8).

  • her hair: Women never took their hair covering off in public (see Luke 7:38). Mary was acting with deep and costly devotion.

John 12:1–50

  • In this part of John’s Gospel, two stories move forward at the same time.

    First, more and more people begin to praise Jesus. Their excitement reaches a high point when crowds welcome him into Jerusalem with shouts of joy (12:12–13).

    Second, the religious authorities become more determined to arrest Jesus and put him to death. As public support grows, their opposition grows as well.

  • John's Gospel describes three events that happened only days before Passover (12:1–11, 12–19, 20–36). Then he explains why most of the people refused to believe and describes the final public message spoken by Jesus (12:37–50).

Events

Measurements

  • a pint: About 12 ounces (340 grams)

Parallels

Matthew 26:6–13 Mark 14:3–9 Luke 7:36–50

People

Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world Mary: Sister of Martha and Lazarus, sat at Jesus' feet

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Feasts and Festivals of Israel John, Gospel of Lazarus Martha Mary Nard, Spikenard Pound Simon Weights and Measures

Topics

Anointing of Jesus, As a Token of Love Anointing was Applied to The Feet Anointing: Ointment For: Most Expensive Anointing: Ointment For: Richly Perfumed Anointing: Symbolical of Jesus Bethany: Jesus Attends a Feast In Jesus, the Christ: Anointed with Precious Ointment (In Bethany) Jesus, the Christ: Goes to Bethany Six Days Before the Passover Love: Love for Jesus: Mary Mary: Sister of Lazarus: Anoints Jesus Oil: The Ointments of the Jews Made of Perfumes Mixed With Ointment: Not Sacred Pound in John the Weight Was Equivalent to About Twelve Ounces Spikenard: A Fragrant Oil From, Used for Anointing The Alabaster Box The Hair of Women: Neglected in Grief