John 12:3

3 Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus' feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.

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 Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany. Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life, lived there.

2 Dinner was prepared for Jesus in Bethany. Martha served the dinner, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus.

3 Mary took a bottle of very expensive perfume made from pure nard and poured it on Jesus' feet. Then she dried his feet with her hair. The fragrance of the perfume filled the house.

4 One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray him, asked,

5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold for a high price and the money given to the poor?"