Matthew 26:9

Matthew 26:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
• New International Version (NIV)“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor."
• New King James Version (NKJV)For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

Context of Matthew 26:9

7While Jesus was eating a meal there, a woman came into the house. She brought a small stone jar with her. The jar contained expensive oil with a very nice smell. She poured the oil over Jesus' head while he sat there. 8Jesus' disciples saw what the woman had done. They became angry and they said, ‘This woman should not have wasted the oil. She could have sold it for a lot of money. Then she could have given the money to poor people.’ 10Jesus knew what his disciples were saying. So he said to them, ‘Do not cause trouble for her. She has done a good thing to me. 11You will always have poor people with you. But you will not always have me with you.

Matthew 26:9 word by word

ἐδύνατο γὰρ τοῦτο πραθῆναι πολλοῦ καὶ δοθῆναι πτωχοῖς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ointmentὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ointmentμύρονmuron · ointmentG3464
• mightδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• have been soldπιπράσκωpipraskō praō · to sellG4097
• for muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• to the poorπτωχόςptōchos · poorG4434

Cross-references for Matthew 26:9

• Joshua 7:20Achan replied, ‘It is true! I have done a bad thing against the Lord, Israel's God. This is what I have done.
• 1 Samuel 15:9But Saul and the army let King Agag live. Also, they did not kill the best sheep, lambs, cows and fat calves. They kept all the good things and they did not agree to destroy them. But they killed everything that was weak and useless.
• 2 Kings 5:20Elisha's servant, Gehazi, thought, ‘My master did not accept the gifts that Naaman offered to him. He made it too easy for that Syrian man. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him. I will accept a gift from him.’
• Mark 14:5She could have sold it and she could have given the money to poor people. She could have sold it for more than 300 coins. A man would have to work for a year to get that much money.’ So they spoke angrily to the woman.
• John 12:5Judas said, ‘We could have sold this oil for 300 coins. That is as much money as someone would get for a year's work. Then we could have given that money to poor people.’
• 2 Peter 2:15These false teachers have left the way which is good and right. Like Balaam, Beor's son, they have gone the wrong way. Balaam wanted money so much that he did wrong things to get it.

Commentaries on Matthew 26:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9And given to the poor - How often does charity serve as a cloak for covetousness! God is sometimes robbed of his right under the pretense of devoting what is withheld to some charitable purpose, to which there was no intention ever to give it.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-13Verses 6-13 The pouring ointment upon the head of Christ was a token of the highest respect. Where there is true love in the heart to Jesus Christ, nothing will be thought too good to bestow upon him. The more Christ's servants and their services are cavilled at, the more he manifests his acceptance. This act of faith and love was so remarkable, that it would be reported, as a memorial of Mary's faith and love, to all future ages, and in all places where…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-13A similar anointing happened earlier in Galilee (Luke 7:36–50). Matthew includes this event here (compare John 12:1–8) to highlight different responses to Jesus. While the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill Jesus (Matthew 26:3–5) and Judas was preparing to betray him (26:14–16), the woman honored Jesus with her actions.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 26:9

• Anointing
• Bethany
• Jesus, the Christ
• Love
• Mary
• Parsimony (Stinginess)
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• Adjure
• Blood
• Covenant
• Cup
• Curse
• Friend
• Guilty
• Heavy
• Hymn
• Kingdom

Commentaries on Matthew 26

• 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