John 12:5

5 "This perfume is worth a year's wages! Why wasn't it sold and the money 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 Miryam took a whole pint of pure oil of spikenard, which is very expensive, poured it on Yeshua's feet and wiped his feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of the talmidim, Y'hudah from K'riot, the one who was about to betray him, said,

5 "This perfume is worth a year's wages! Why wasn't it sold and the money given to the poor?"

6 Now he said this not out of concern for the poor, but because he was a thief -- he was in charge of the common purse and used to steal from it.

7 Yeshua said, "Leave her alone! She kept this for the day of my burial.