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But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,
John 12:4 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said,
  • KJV Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
  • BSB But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,
  • NASB But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, *said,
  • NLT But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said,

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

Judas Iscariot, the betrayer-to-be, objects to the anointing. His criticism masks a corrupt heart.

Overview

John identifies the objector as Judas, already marked as the one who will betray Jesus. His complaint appears charitable but springs from hidden motives. The verse contrasts false piety with Mary's genuine devotion and foreshadows the treachery to come.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Matt 10:4Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
  • John 18:2–5Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.
  • 1 Sam 17:28–29Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.”
  • John 13:2During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
  • John 6:70–71Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
  • Eccl 4:4Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
  • John 13:26Jesus therefore answered, “It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
  • Luke 6:16Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (7)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 12:4YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.

How John 12:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.