John 12:6

John 12:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
• New International Version (NIV)He 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 help himself to what was put into it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

Context of John 12:6

4But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” Judas 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. 8The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”

John 12:6 word by word

εἶπεν δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον ἔχων τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν.¶Read the interlinear

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• did not sayεἶπονepō · to sayG2036
• did not sayοὐou · noG3756
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• caredμέλωmelō · to concernG3199
• aboutπερίperi · aboutG4012
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• poorπτωχόςptōchos · poorG4434
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• he wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a thiefκλέπτηςkleptēs · thiefG2812
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• As keeperἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• money bagγλωσσόκομονglōssokomon · moneybagG1101
• he used to takeβαστάζωbastazō · to carryG941
• was put intoβάλλωballō · to throw: putG906

Cross-references for John 12:6

• John 10:13The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.
• Psalms 14:1The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.
• Proverbs 29:7The righteous consider the cause of the poor, but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.
• Ezekiel 33:31So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
• Galatians 2:10They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
• James 2:2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
• John 10:8All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
• 2 Kings 5:20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, by not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
• Psalms 50:16To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
• Matthew 21:13And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
• 1 Corinthians 6:10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
• John 13:29Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
• 2 Kings 12:14Instead, it was paid to those doing the work, and with it they repaired the house of the LORD.
• Ezra 8:24Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers,
• 2 Corinthians 8:19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22Abstain from every form of evil.

Commentaries on John 12:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Not that He cared for the poor - There should be a particular emphasis laid on the word he, as the evangelist studies to show the most determined detestation to his conduct. And bare what was put therein - Or rather, as some eminent critics contend, And stole what was put in it. This seems the proper meaning of Ϛ ; and in this sense it is used, John 20:15; : If thou hast Stolen him away - Ϛ . In the same sense the word is used by Josephus, Ant. b. xii. c…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. 1-50In 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…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 12:6

• Anointing
• Bethany
• Covetousness
• Dishonesty
• Hypocrisy
• Jesus, the Christ
• Judas (Jude)
• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Poor
• Theft and Thieves

In the dictionaries

• Bag
• Chief
• Consult
• Costly
• Prince
• Bear; Borne
• Care; Carefulness; Careful
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Judas Iscariot

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