John 12:4

4 Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who should betray him,

John 12:4 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:4

Then saith one of his disciples
Who had no true love for his master, was an hypocrite, and a covetous person:

Judas Iscariot;
so called, to distinguish him from another Judas, an apostle; (See Gill on Matthew 10:4).

Simon's [son];
this is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions; (See Gill on John 13:2);

which should betray him;
and so he did; this was pre-determined by God, foretold in prophecy, and foreknown by Christ; and is observed here, to show the temper and character of the man.

John 12:4 In-Context

2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those that sat at the table with him.

3 Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

4 Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who should betray him,

5 Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarius and given to the poor?

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag and would take from what was put therein.