Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.
- KJV Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
- 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.
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 pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
- Mark 14:6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me.
- Matt 26:10However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.
- Matt 27:57–60When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple came.
- John 19:38–42After these things, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body.
- Mark 15:42–47When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
- Luke 23:50Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
- Ps 109:31For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.
- Zech 3:2Yahweh said to Satan, “Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this a burning stick 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
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.