While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- 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.
- ESV a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at 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.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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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