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But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
Mark 14:6 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me.
  • KJV And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
  • NKJV But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
  • NASB But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me.
  • NLT But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?

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 her: 'Leave her alone. She has done a good work for me.' He receives her devotion as beautiful and right.

Overview

Jesus rebukes the critics and commends the woman, calling her act a genuinely good work directed toward him. Worship lavished on Christ is never misspent. In a chapter full of betrayal and plotting, Jesus singles out her love for honor, teaching that whole-hearted devotion to him is precisely what God delights to receive.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Titus 3:14And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.
  • Matt 26:10Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
  • Heb 10:24And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
  • Heb 13:21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
  • 2 Tim 2:21So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
  • Titus 2:14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
  • Acts 9:36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
  • Titus 2:7In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
  • Eph 2:10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
  • Job 42:7–8After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has.
  • Col 1:10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
  • 2 Th 2:17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
  • 1 Tim 5:10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
  • Titus 3:8This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.
  • 2 Tim 3:17so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
  • 2 Cor 9:8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
  • John 10:32–33But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
  • 1 Tim 6:18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
  • Isa 54:17No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.
  • 2 Cor 10:18For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
  • 1 Pet 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Mark videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

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

  • VideoWatch teaching on Mark 14:6YouTube · 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 MarkMatthew 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

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 14:6 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.