John 12:5

John 12:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
• New International Version (NIV)“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

Context of John 12:5

3Then 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. 4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it. 7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.

John 12:5 word by word

διὰ τί τοῦτο τὸ μύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς;Read the interlinear

• Whyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• wasn’tοὐou · noG3756
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• perfumeμύρονmuron · ointmentG3464
• soldπιπράσκωpipraskō praō · to sellG4097
• for three hundredτριακόσιοιtriakosioi · three hundredG5145
• denariiδηνάριονdēnarion · denariusG1220
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• to the poorπτωχόςptōchos · poorG4434

Cross-references for John 12:5

• Exodus 5:8But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
• Amos 8:5asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales.
• Malachi 1:10“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
• Matthew 26:8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?
• Mark 14:4Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume?
• Luke 6:41Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
• John 6:7Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.”
• Matthew 20:2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
• Mark 14:5It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
• Matthew 26:9This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”
• Luke 12:33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
• Luke 18:22On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Commentaries on John 12:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Three hundred pence - Or denarii: about 9. 13s. 9d. of our money; reckoning the denarius at 7 3/4d. One of my MSS. of the Vulgate (a MS. of the 14th century) reads, cccc denarii.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2-8Verses 2-8 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5three hundred denarii: Judas may have been exaggerating, but Mary’s sacrifice was certainly very costly.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-11(See on Mt 26:6-13). 1-8. six days before the passover--that is, on the sixth day before it; probably after sunset on Friday evening, or the commencement of the Jewish sabbath preceding the passover.Read the comment

Topics related to John 12:5

• Anointing
• Bethany
• Hypocrisy
• Jesus, the Christ
• Judas (Jude)
• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Ointment
• Parsimony (Stinginess)
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Consult
• Costly
• Prince
• Spikenard
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Judas Iscariot
• King, Christ As
• Martha

Commentaries on John 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings