New English Translation
Mark 14:4
4But some who were present indignantly said to one another, “Why this waste of expensive ointment?
Mark 14:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
- New International Version (NIV)Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?
- English Standard Version (ESV)There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that?
- New King James Version (NKJV)But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted?
Context of Mark 14:4
2For they said, “Not during the feast, so there won’t be a riot among the people.” 3Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head. But some who were present indignantly said to one another, “Why this waste of expensive ointment? 5It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!” So they spoke angrily to her. 6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a good service for me.
Read all of Mark 14Mark 14:4 word by word
ἦσαν δέ τινες ἀγανακτοῦντες πρὸς ἑαυτούς εἰς τί ἡ ἀπώλεια αὕτη τοῦ μύρου γέγονεν;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- there wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- someτιςtis · oneG5100
- that had indignationἀγανακτέωaganakteō · be indignantG23
- withinπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- wasteὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- wasteἀπώλειαapōleia · destructionG684
- of the ointmentμύρονmuron · ointmentG3464
- ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
Cross-references for Mark 14:4
- Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.
- Matthew 26:8When the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, “Why this waste?
- John 12:4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said,
- Ecclesiastes 5:4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!
- Malachi 1:12“But you are profaning it by saying that the table of the Lord is common and its offerings despicable.
Commentaries on Mark 14:4
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-11Verses 1-11 See this passage explained in the notes at Mark 14:1 And of unleavened bread - So called because at that feast no other bread was used but that which had been made without leaven or yeast. By craft - By subtlety (Matthew); that is, by some secret plan that would secure possession of him without exciting the opposition of the people. Mark 14:3 Ointment - This word does not convey quite the proper meaning. This was a perfume. It was used only to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Some people (see Matthew 26:8; John 12:4–5) were angry because they thought the expensive perfume had been wasted. The perfume was said to be worth about a year’s wages for an average worker. They argued that the money could have been given to the poor. Giving to the poor was especially important during Passover.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. And there were some that had indignation within themselves and said--Matthew says (Mt 26:8), "But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying," &c. The spokesman, however, was none of the true-hearted Eleven--as we learn from John (Joh 12:4): "Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him." Doubtless the thought stirred first in his breast, and issued from his base lips; and some of the rest, ignorant…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 14:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 14
- 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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