John 12:3

3 ¹Mary then took a pound of very costly ²perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

John 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:3

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly,
&c.] Worth three hundred pence, according to Judas's estimation of it. This Mary was the other sister of Lazarus; (See Gill on Matthew 26:7), (See Gill on Mark 14:3), concerning the nature and value of this ointment:

and anointed the feet of Jesus;
as he lay upon the bed or couch, at supper:

and wiped his feet with her hair; (See Gill on Luke 7:38).

And the house was filled with the odour of the ointment;
see ( Song of Solomon 1:3 Song of Solomon 1:12 ) ; ointment of spikenard was very odoriferous: this may be an emblem of the sweet savour of Christ, in the ministration of the Gospel, throughout the whole world.

John 12:3 In-Context

1 Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.

3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said,

5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?"

Cross References

• 1. Luke 7:37; John 11:2
• 2. Mark 14:3

Footnotes

• [a]. I.e. a Roman pound, equaling 12 oz