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 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. 4Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it. 7Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Why wasτίςtis · which?G5101
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ointmentὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ointmentμύρονmuron · ointmentG3464
• soldπιπράσκωpipraskō praō · to sellG4097
• forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• three hundredτριακόσιοιtriakosioi · three hundredG5145
• penceδηνάριονdēnarion · denariusG1220
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• to the poorπτωχόςptōchos · poorG4434

Cross-references for John 12:5

• Exodus 5:8But require the same quota of bricks from them as they were making before; do not reduce it. For they are slackers — 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 so we may sell grain, and the Sabbath, so we may market wheat? We can reduce the measure while increasing the price and cheat with dishonest scales.
• Malachi 1:10“I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Armies, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
• Matthew 26:8When the disciples saw it, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.
• Mark 14:4But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted?
• Luke 6:41“Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye?
• John 6:7Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.”
• Matthew 20:2After agreeing with the workers on one denarius, he sent them into his vineyard for the day.
• Mark 14:5For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.
• Matthew 26:9“This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor.”
• Luke 12:33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
• Luke 18:22When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it 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