English Standard Version
Matthew 26:7
7a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.
Matthew 26:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
- New International Version (NIV)a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
- New King James Version (NKJV)a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
- New Living Translation (NLT)While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
Context of Matthew 26:7
5But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people." 6Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? 9For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor."
Read all of Matthew 26Matthew 26:7 word by word
προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ γυνὴ ἔχουσα ἀλάβαστρον μύρου βαρυτίμου καὶ κατέχεεν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ἀνακειμένου.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- There came untoπροσέρχομαιproserchomai · to come near/agreeG4334
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- a womanγυνήgunē · womanG1135
- havingἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- an alabaster boxἀλάβαστρονalabastron · jarG211
- ofμύρονmuron · ointmentG3464
- very preciousβαρύτιμοςbarutimos · expensiveG927
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- poured itκαταχέωkatacheō · to pourG2708
- onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- headὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- headκεφαλήkephalē · headG2776
- as he satἀνάκειμαιanakeimai · to reclineG345
Cross-references for Matthew 26:7
- John 12:2So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
- Exodus 30:23"Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane,
- Psalms 133:2It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
- Ecclesiastes 9:8Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.
- Ecclesiastes 10:1Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
- Isaiah 57:9You journeyed to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol.
- Luke 7:37And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,
Commentaries on Matthew 26:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7There came unto him a woman - There is much contention among commentators about the transaction mentioned here, and in John 12:3; some supposing them to be different, others to be the same. Bishop Newcome's view of the subject I have placed at the end of the chapter. Some think that the woman mentioned here was Mary, the sister of Lazarus; others Mary Magdalene; but against the former opinion it is argued that it is not likely, had this been Mary the…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. 7The jar of costly perfume was used for burial customs (see Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56–24:1; John 12:1–7; 19:38–42). It was made from nard, a plant harvested in India. The perfume was worth almost a full year’s wages(John 12:5).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 26:7
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries