a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.
Parallel translations
- KJV There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
- BSB a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.
- NKJV a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
- NASB a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table.
- NLT While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
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
A woman pours very expensive ointment on Jesus's head as He reclines at table. Her lavish act expresses wholehearted devotion to Him.
Overview
Anointing the head was a gesture of honor, and the costly perfume signified an extravagant offering. John's Gospel identifies her as Mary of Bethany. Her sacrificial gift, given to Jesus alone, stands as a model of worship that holds nothing back, and Jesus will interpret it as a preparation for His burial.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- John 12:2–3So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.
- Luke 7:46You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
- Luke 7:37–38Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment.
- Eccl 9:8Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil.
- Song 1:3Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins love you.
- Isa 57:9You went to the king with oil, and increased your perfumes, and sent your ambassadors far off, and degraded yourself even to Sheol.
- Ps 133:2It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that came down on the edge of his robes;
- Exod 30:23–33“Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and of fragrant cane, two hundred and fifty;
- Eccl 10:1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 26:7 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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