Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Parallel translations
- WEB Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
- 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.
- NKJV Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
- NASB Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
- NLT Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Mary anoints Jesus' feet with costly nard and wipes them with her hair, filling the house with fragrance. Her act is extravagant worship.
Overview
Mary lavishes precious ointment on Jesus, an act of humble, sacrificial devotion symbolized by wiping his feet with her hair. The costly gift expresses wholehearted love and, as Jesus will explain, anticipates his burial. Her worship stands in stark contrast to Judas's greed in the verses that follow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Mark 14:3–9While 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 Jesus’ head.
- John 11:2(Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.)
- Luke 10:38–39As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
- Matt 26:6–13While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
- Luke 7:37–38When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
- John 11:32When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
- John 11:28After Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside to tell her, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.”
- Luke 7:46You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
- Song 4:13–14Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest of fruits, with henna and nard,
- Song 1:3The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
- Song 1:12While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
- Song 4:10How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices.
- Ps 132:2how he swore an oath to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
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Original language
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