For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
Parallel translations
- WEB For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor.” They grumbled against her.
- BSB It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
- NKJV For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply.
- NASB For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her.
- NLT “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.
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
They complain the perfume could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and given to the poor, and they scold her. Their criticism cloaks a failure to honor Christ.
Overview
Three hundred denarii was nearly a year's wages, so the objection sounds reasonable and even pious. Yet John notes self-interest behind such talk (John 12:6). Care for the poor is good, but it must not become a pretext for despising worship of Jesus. Their harsh grumbling against the woman reveals hearts that valued neither her nor her Lord rightly.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 20:11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
- John 13:29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
- 1 Cor 10:10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
- Exod 16:7–8And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
- Jude 1:16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
- Phil 2:14Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
- Deut 1:27And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
- Matt 18:28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
- John 12:5–6Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
- Eph 4:28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
- John 6:7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
- Ps 106:25But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
- John 6:43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
- Luke 15:2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 14:5 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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