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John 12:3

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

John 12:3

Verse 3 of 50

Scripture focus

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.

John 12:3 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on John 12:3

Theological / Devotional

Pound. Gr. litra, equivalent to the Latin libra, about 11 1/2 oz. avoirdupois (see p. 50). The word occurs in the NT only here and in ch. 19:39.

Ointment of spikenard. Gr. murou nardou pistikes. The same combination of words is translated “ointment of pure nard” in Mark 14:3, margin. “Pure” is the translation of the adjective pistikos. This word is missing in the KJV translation of John 12:3, and should probably be supplied. However, not all agree that pistikos means “pure,” “genuine.” Some suggest the meaning “liquid.” Others consider pistikos a local name.

For a description of the ointment see on Luke 7:37.

The feet. Matthew (ch. 26:7) and Mark (ch. 14:3) state that the ointment was poured on the head. Doubtless Mary performed both operations, with each gospel writer noting but one. Luke, like John, mentions the anointing of the feet (Luke 7:38).

The odour. The act could not be hidden. The strong odor permeating the room called attention to Mary’s act.

By SdaBc