JHN 12:1-8

Mary Anoints Jesus

1Therefore Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

2Therefore they made him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining with him.

3Therefore Mary, taking a litra of costly pure nard ointment, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one about to betray him, says,

5"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the destitute?"

6But he said this not because he cared about the destitute, but because he was a thief; and holding the money box, he was carrying what was put into it.

7Therefore Jesus said: "Let her be, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.

8For the destitute you always have with you, but me you do not always have."

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, anointing with oil was a common practice, but the use of nard, an expensive imported perfume from India, was reserved for the elite or for extraordinary occasions. A litra of pure nard, worth about a year’s wages for a laborer, would have been a lavish display of honor and devotion, particularly when used to anoint someone’s feet—a gesture typically reserved for guests of high status. Mary’s act of wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair would have been seen as deeply personal and culturally shocking, as women’s hair was typically kept covered in public. Judas’ objection, framed as concern for the poor, reflects the tension between communal responsibility and individual honor in a society shaped by patronage and honor-shame dynamics. The mention of the poor would have evoked images of the destitute, who relied on communal support, contrasting sharply with the extravagance of Mary’s act.

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How other translations render this

JHN 12:1

KJV: Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
BSB: Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
Koinōnos: Therefore Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

JHN 12:2

KJV: There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
BSB: So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.
Koinōnos: Therefore they made him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining with him.

JHN 12:3

KJV: Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
BSB: Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesusʼ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Koinōnos: Therefore Mary, taking a litra of costly pure nard ointment, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

JHN 12:4

KJV: Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
BSB: But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,
Koinōnos: But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one about to betray him, says,

JHN 12:5

KJV: Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
BSB: “Why wasnʼt this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
Koinōnos: Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the destitute?

JHN 12:6

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.
BSB: Judas 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 take from what was put into it.
Koinōnos: But he said this not because he cared about the destitute, but because he was a thief; and holding the money box, he was carrying what was put into it.

JHN 12:7

KJV: Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
BSB: “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.
Koinōnos: Therefore Jesus said: "Let her be, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.

JHN 12:8

KJV: For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
BSB: The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”
Koinōnos: For the destitute you always have with you, but me you do not always have.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 12:3

a litra:The term translated 'a litra' refers to a specific unit of weight, approximately equivalent to a Roman pound, which was about 12 ounces or 327 grams.
pure:The word translated 'pure' here specifically describes the quality of the nard, indicating it was unadulterated and of the highest grade, often used for liquids.

JHN 12:5

to [the] poor?:The word translated 'poor' here refers to someone who is destitute, a beggar, utterly dependent on others for survival, rather than simply someone of low economic status.

JHN 12:6

money bag:The word translated 'money bag' originally referred to a small box or casket, often used for carrying valuables, and later specifically for money.