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Selected Verse: John 12:3 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 12:3 |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
spikenard--or pure nard, a celebrated aromatic (Sol 1:12).
anointed the feet of Jesus--and "poured it on His head" (Mat 26:7; Mar 14:3). The only use of this was to refresh and exhilarate--a grateful compliment in the East, amidst the closeness of a heated atmosphere, with many guests at a feast. Such was the form in which Mary's love to Christ, at so much cost to herself, poured itself out. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
Mary
As Martha stands for service, and Lazarus for communion, so Mary shows us the worship of a grateful heart. Others before her had come to his feet to have their need met; she came to give Him His due. Though two of the evangelists record her act, John alone gives her name.
feet of
(See Scofield) - (Mat 26:7). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
A pound (λίτραν)
Only here and Joh 19:39. Matthew and Mark, ἀλάβαστρον, a flask.
Of spikenard (νάρδου πιστικῆς)
So Mark. See on Mar 14:3.
Very precious (πολυτίμου)
Literally, of much value. Matthew has βαρυτίμου, of weighty value.
Anointed
See on Joh 11:2.
Feet
The Synoptists mention only the pouring on the head. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Then Mary, taking a pound of ointment - There were two persons who poured ointment on Christ. One toward the beginning of his ministry, at or near Nain, Luk 7:37, &c. The other six days before his last passover, at Bethany; the account of whom is given here, as well as by St. Matthew and Mark. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Then took Mary a pound of ointment - See the note on Mat 26:7; see also Mar 14:3. It does not seem the most likely that this was the same transaction with that mentioned above. Some think that this was, notwithstanding that before is said to have been at the house of Simon the leper. The arguments, pro and con, are largely stated in the notes at the end of Matthew 26 (note), to which I beg leave to refer the reader. |
3 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.
7 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.
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
7 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.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 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.
39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
3 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.
7 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.