6Now Jesus having been in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, [26:7] a woman came to him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on his head as he was reclining. [26:8] Having seen this, the disciples were indignant, saying, "For what purpose is this waste? [26:9] For this fragrant oil could have been sold for much and given to the destitute." [26:10] Jesus said to them, having known this: "Why do you cause trouble to the woman? For she has done a beautiful work to me. [26:11] For the destitute you always have with you, but me you do not always have. [26:12] For in pouring this fragrant oil on my body, she did it for my burial. [26:13] Jesus said: 'Amen I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be proclaimed in all the world, what this woman did will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.'"
MAT 26:6-13
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Bethany, anointing with costly oil was a significant act, often reserved for honoring guests or preparing bodies for burial. The alabaster flask held expensive perfumed oil, a luxury item typically imported from distant regions like Egypt or Arabia. Simon the leper’s house, likely a modest dwelling, becomes the setting for this act of devotion. The disciples’ indignation reflects a common cultural tension: the value of costly gestures versus practical charity for the poor , who were a visible and pressing concern in Jewish society. Reclining at meals was a Greco-Roman custom adopted by Jews, signaling a formal, communal setting. The woman’s act of pouring oil on Jesus’ head would have been seen as extravagant, even wasteful, by some, but it carried deep symbolic weight, evoking royal or priestly anointing. Jesus’ response reframes her gesture as a profound act of honor, contrasting the transient presence of the poor with the immediacy of his own mission.
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How other translations render this
MAT 26:6
- KJV
- Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
- BSB
- While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
- Koinōnos
- Now Jesus having been in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
MAT 26:7
- 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.
- BSB
- a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.
- Koinōnos
- a woman came to him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on his head as he was reclining.
MAT 26:8
- KJV
- But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
- BSB
- When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?
- Koinōnos
- Having seen this, the disciples were indignant, saying, "For what purpose is this waste?
MAT 26:9
- KJV
- For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
- BSB
- This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”
- Koinōnos
- For this fragrant oil could have been sold for much and given to the destitute.
MAT 26:10
- KJV
- When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
- BSB
- Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
- Koinōnos
- Jesus said to them, having known this: "Why do you cause trouble to the woman? For she has done a beautiful work to me.
MAT 26:11
- KJV
- For ye have the poor always 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.
MAT 26:12
- KJV
- For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
- BSB
- By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.
- Koinōnos
- For in pouring this fragrant oil on my body, she did it for my burial.
MAT 26:13
- KJV
- Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
- BSB
- Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
- Koinōnos
- Jesus said: 'Amen I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be proclaimed in all the world, what this woman did will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.'
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 26:7
- an alabaster flask:The term 'alabaster flask' refers to a specific type of vessel, often made of alabaster stone, designed to hold expensive perfumes or ointments. These flasks typically had a narrow neck that could be sealed to preserve the contents, and were often broken to release the perfume.
- is reclining.:The word translated 'is reclining' describes the common dining posture in the ancient world, where people would recline on couches around a low table, rather than sitting upright in chairs.
MAT 26:8
- of him:The word translated 'of him' here carries a stronger sense of indignation or strong displeasure, indicating a visceral reaction of anger or annoyance at what was happening.
MAT 26:9
- and:The word translated 'poor' here refers to someone who is utterly destitute, dependent on begging for survival, rather than simply someone who is financially struggling.