John 12:6

John 12:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
• New International Version (NIV)He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

Context of John 12:6

4But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. 7Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

John 12:6 word by word

εἶπεν δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον ἔχων τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• caredμέλωmelō · to concernG3199
• forπερίperi · aboutG4012
• the poorὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the poorπτωχόςptōchos · poorG4434
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• he wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a thiefκλέπτηςkleptēs · thiefG2812
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• the bagγλωσσόκομονglōssokomon · moneybagG1101
• bareβαστάζωbastazō · to carryG941
• what was put thereinβάλλωballō · to throw: putG906

Cross-references for John 12:6

• John 10:13The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
• Psalms 14:1Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!
• Proverbs 29:7The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all.
• Ezekiel 33:31So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.
• Galatians 2:10Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.
• James 2:2For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes.
• John 10:8All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.
• 2 Kings 5:20But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.”
• Psalms 50:16But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant?
• Matthew 21:13He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”
• 1 Corinthians 6:10or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
• John 13:29Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor.
• 2 Kings 12:14It was paid to the workmen, who used it for the Temple repairs.
• Ezra 8:24I appointed twelve leaders of the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten other priests—
• 2 Corinthians 8:19He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22Stay away from every kind of evil.

Commentaries on John 12:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Not that He cared for the poor - There should be a particular emphasis laid on the word he, as the evangelist studies to show the most determined detestation to his conduct. And bare what was put therein - Or rather, as some eminent critics contend, And stole what was put in it. This seems the proper meaning of Ϛ ; and in this sense it is used, John 20:15; : If thou hast Stolen him away - Ϛ . In the same sense the word is used by Josephus, Ant. b. xii. c…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. 1-50In this part of John’s Gospel, two stories move forward at the same time. First, more and more people begin to praise Jesus. Their excitement reaches a high point when crowds welcome him into Jerusalem with shouts of joy (12:12–13). Second, the religious authorities become more determined to arrest Jesus and put him to death. As public support grows, their opposition grows as well. John's Gospel describes three events that happened only days before…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 12:6

• Anointing
• Bethany
• Covetousness
• Dishonesty
• Hypocrisy
• Jesus, the Christ
• Judas (Jude)
• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Poor
• Theft and Thieves

In the dictionaries

• Bag
• Chief
• Consult
• Costly
• Prince
• Bear; Borne
• Care; Carefulness; Careful
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Judas Iscariot

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