Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.
- BSB “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.
- NKJV But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.
- NASB Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.
- NLT Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial.
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
Jesus defends Mary, saying she has kept the ointment for the day of his burial. He receives her act as preparation for his death.
Overview
Jesus rebukes the criticism and honors Mary's deed, interpreting it in light of his approaching burial. Whether or not Mary fully grasped its meaning, Jesus invests her devotion with prophetic significance. The verse keeps the cross in view even amid a scene of honor and fellowship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Matt 26:12For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
- Mark 14:6And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
- Matt 26:10When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
- Matt 27:57–60When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
- John 19:38–42And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
- Mark 15:42–47And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
- Luke 23:50And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
- Ps 109:31For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
- Zech 3:2And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
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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 12:7 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
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