John 12:5

5 "{Why} was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"

John 12:5 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:5

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence
Meaning Roman pence, one of which is, of the value of our money, seven pence halfpenny; so that three hundred pence amount to nine pounds seven shillings and six pence:

and given to the poor?
this was his pretence, and with which he covered himself; his uneasiness was, because it was not sold, and the money put into his hands, as appears by what follows.

John 12:5 In-Context

3 Then Mary took a pound of ointment of very valuable genuine nard [and] anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said,

5 "{Why} was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"

6 (Now he said this not because {he was concerned} about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, he used to steal what was put into [it].)

7 So Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my preparation for burial.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "because of what"