Mark 14:5

5 For this perfumed oil could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!" And they began to scold her.

Mark 14:5 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 14:5

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred
pence
Which, was to the value of our money nine pounds, seven shillings, and sixpence:

and given to the poor;
which was thought to be a better way of expending it, than by pouring it on the head of Christ:

and they murmured against her:
that she should lavish so much money away in such an imprudent manner; they reproved her for it, expressed much resentment at it, and were very angry with, her upon the account of it; (See Gill on Matthew 26:8), (See Gill on Matthew 26:9).

Mark 14:5 In-Context

3 And [while] he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, [as] he was reclining for a meal, a woman came holding an alabaster flask of very costly perfumed oil of genuine nard. [After] breaking the alabaster flask, she poured [it] out on his head.

4 But some were expressing indignation to one another: "Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil?

5 For this perfumed oil could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!" And they began to scold her.

6 But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you cause trouble for her? She has done a good deed to me.

7 For the poor you always have with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me.

Footnotes

• [a]. The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to scold")