English Standard Version
John 12:5
5"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"
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.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”
Context of John 12:5
3Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6He 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. 7Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.
Read all of John 12John 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 the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, 'Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.'
- Amos 8:5saying, "When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances,
- Malachi 1:10Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.
- Matthew 26:8And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?
- Mark 14:4There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that?
- Luke 6:41Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
- John 6:7Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little."
- Matthew 20:2After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
- Mark 14:5For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her.
- Matthew 26:9For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor."
- Luke 12:33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
- Luke 18:22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and 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
In the dictionaries
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
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