3And while he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of pure nard ointment of great value. She broke the flask and poured it over his head. [14:4] But there were some who were indignant among themselves: "Why has this ointment been wasted? [14:5] For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the destitute." And they were expressing their strong indignation against her. [14:6] But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you cause her trouble? She has done a beautiful thing to me. [14:7] For the destitute you always have with you, and whenever you want you can do good to them. But me you do not always have. [14:8] She did what she could — she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. [14:9] And truly I say to you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."
MRK 14:3-9
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Judea, the act of anointing with oil carried significant cultural and religious weight. Pure nard, a costly imported oil, was a luxury item, often used in burial rites or as a symbol of honor. The woman’s act of breaking the alabaster flask and pouring it on Jesus’ head would have been seen as an extravagant gesture, akin to a royal anointing. Simon, identified as a leper, was likely a healed leper, as lepers were excluded from communal life and would not host guests. The indignation of those present reflects the honor-shame economy: such a costly act could be viewed as wasteful, especially when the oil’s value (300 denarii) represented nearly a year’s wages for a laborer. Their suggestion to give to the poor aligns with Jewish piety, which emphasized almsgiving as a righteous act. Jesus’ defense of the woman frames her action as a prophetic gesture, anticipating his burial, and elevates her act above utilitarian concerns.
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How other translations render this
MRK 14:3
- KJV
- And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
- BSB
- While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesusʼ head.
- Koinōnos
- And while he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of pure nard ointment of great value. She broke the flask and poured it over his head.
MRK 14:4
- KJV
- And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
- BSB
- Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume?
- Koinōnos
- But there were some who were indignant among themselves: "Why has this ointment been wasted?
MRK 14:5
- KJV
- For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
- BSB
- It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
- Koinōnos
- For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the destitute." And they were expressing their strong indignation against her.
MRK 14:6
- KJV
- And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
- BSB
- But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
- Koinōnos
- But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you cause her trouble? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
MRK 14:7
- KJV
- For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
- BSB
- The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
- Koinōnos
- For the destitute you always have with you, and whenever you want you can do good to them. But me you do not always have.
MRK 14:8
- KJV
- She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
- BSB
- She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.
- Koinōnos
- She did what she could — she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.
MRK 14:9
- KJV
- Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
- BSB
- And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
- Koinōnos
- And truly I say to you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 14:3
- leper,:The word translated 'leper' referred to someone suffering from a severe, chronic skin disease that rendered them ritually unclean and often socially ostracized in the ancient world.
- when is reclining:The phrase 'when is reclining' describes the common practice of dining in the ancient world, where guests would recline on couches around a low table, rather than sitting on chairs.
MRK 14:5
- poor;:The word translated 'poor' here meant a destitute beggar — someone utterly dependent on alms — not merely someone of low economic status.
- they were grumbling:The term translated 'they were grumbling' carries a stronger sense of indignation or even anger, suggesting a deep emotional agitation rather than just mild complaint.