Yochanan 12:5

5 Why was this mishcha not sold for three hundred denarii and given to haAniyim (the Poor)?

Yochanan 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.

Yochanan 12:5 In-Context

3 Then Miryam, having taken a pound of mishcha (ointment) of expensive genuine spikenard, anointed the feet of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and wiped off with her hair his feet. And the bais was filled with the aroma of the mishcha.

4 And Yehuda from K’riot, one of the talmidim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, the talmid being about to betray him, says

5 Why was this mishcha not sold for three hundred denarii and given to haAniyim (the Poor)?

6 But he said this not because it mattered to him about haAniyim, but because he was a ganav and he was removing what was put in the aron otzaram (chest of treasury).

7 Therefore Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Let her alone. She kept this for the Yom HaKevurah (Day of Burial) of me [Isa 53:9].