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 Living Translation (NLT)“It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

Context of Matthew 26:9

7a 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. 8But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” 10But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.

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 7:20And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done:
• 1 Samuel 15:9But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
• 2 Kings 5:20But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”
• Mark 14:5For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
• John 12:5“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
• 2 Peter 2:15They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

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