John 12:5

5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^[a] ”

John 12:5 in Other Translations

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

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

5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”

5 "Why wasn't this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces."

5 "Why wasn't this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii and 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 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,

5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. ”

6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

Footnotes

• [a]. Greek "three hundred denarii"