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Friday, September 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Complete Jewish Bible

Mark 14:5

It could have been sold for a year's wages and given to the poor!" And they scolded her.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Frugality;   Jesus, the Christ;   Mary;   Ointment;   Penny;   Presumption;   Women;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Murmuring;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Anger;   Priest, Christ as;   Remember, Remembrance;   Wealth;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Penny;   Simon;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Spikenard;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Banquet;   Mark, the Gospel of;   Martha;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - John, Gospel of;   Lazarus;   Mary;   Mss;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Anger (2);   Anointing (2);   Consciousness;   Liberty (2);   Mark, Gospel According to;   Martha ;   Mary;   Money (2);   Mount of Olives ;   Murmur, Murmuring ;   Nard ;   Poverty (2);   Premeditation;   Preparation ;   Simple, Simplicity ;   Sisters;   Struggles of Soul;   Trade and Commerce;   Trinity (2);   Waste;   Wealth (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Mary, Sister of Lazarus and Martha;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Chamber;   Passover;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Spikenard;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Money;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bethany;   Judas Iscariot;   Martha;   Mary;   Oil;   Olives, Mount of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - New Testament;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.
King James Version (1611)
For it might haue bene solde for more then three hundred pence, and haue bene giuen to the poore: and they murmured against her.
King James Version
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
English Standard Version
For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her.
New American Standard Bible
"For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they were scolding her.
New Century Version
It was worth a full year's work. It could have been sold and the money given to the poor." And they got very angry with the woman.
Amplified Bible
"For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii [a laborer's wages for almost a year], and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they were scolding her.
Legacy Standard Bible
For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they were scolding her.
Berean Standard Bible
It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her.
Contemporary English Version
We could have sold this perfume for more than three hundred silver coins and given the money to the poor!" So they started saying cruel things to the woman.
Darby Translation
for this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor. And they spoke very angrily at her.
Easy-to-Read Version
It was worth a full year's pay. It could have been sold and the money given to those who are poor." And they told the woman what a bad thing she had done.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For it might haue bene sold for more then three hundreth pence, and bene giuen vnto the poore, and they murmured against her.
George Lamsa Translation
For it could have been sold for more than three hundred pennies and given to the poor. So they annoyed her.
Good News Translation
It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!" And they criticized her harshly.
Lexham English Bible
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.
Literal Translation
For this could be sold for over three hundred denarii, and to be given to the poor. And they were incensed with her.
American Standard Version
For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred shillings, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
Bible in Basic English
We might have got more than three hundred pence for it, and given the money to the poor. And they said things against her among themselves.
Hebrew Names Version
For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." They grumbled against her.
International Standard Version
This perfume could have been sold for more than 300 denarii[fn] and the moneythe money">[fn] given to the destitute." So they got extremely angry with her.
Etheridge Translation
for it could have been sold for more than three hundred dinoreen, and given to the poor. And they were angry with her.
Murdock Translation
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and been given to the poor. And they were indignant at her.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For it myght haue ben solde for more then three hundred pence, and haue ben geuen to the poore. And they grudged agaynst her.
English Revised Version
For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred pence, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
World English Bible
For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." They grumbled against her.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence and given to the poor. And they murmured at her.
Weymouth's New Testament
For that ointment might have been sold for fifteen pounds or more, and the money have been given to the poor." And they were exceedingly angry with her.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For this oynement myyte haue be seld more than for thre hundrid pens, and be youun to pore men. And thei groyneden ayens hir.
Update Bible Version
For this ointment might have been sold for over $30,000, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
Webster's Bible Translation
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
New English Translation
It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!" So they spoke angrily to her.
New King James Version
For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply.
New Living Translation
"It could have been sold for a year's wages and the money given to the poor!" So they scolded her harshly.
New Life Bible
This perfume could have been sold for much money and given to poor people." They spoke against her.
New Revised Standard
For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For this perfume could have been sold for above three hundred denaries, and given unto the destitute! and they were indignant with her.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred pence and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
Revised Standard Version
For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." And they reproached her.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For it myght have bene soolde for more then thre hundred pens and bene geve vnto the poore. And they grudged agaynste hir.
Young's Literal Translation
for this could have been sold for more than three hundred denaries, and given to the poor;' and they were murmuring at her.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
This oyntment might haue bene solde for more then thre hundreth pens, & bene geue to ye poore. And they grudged agaynst her.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for we could have sold it for above two hundred denarys, and given them to the poor: and they inveighed against her.
Simplified Cowboy Version
That could have been sold for three hundred silver pieces and the money could have taken care of many poor people!" Then they all started giving the woman a hard time and scolding her.

Contextual Overview

1 It was now two days before Pesach (that is, the festival of Matzah), and the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers were trying to find some way to arrest Yeshua surreptitiously and have him put to death; 2 for they said, "Not during the festival, or the people will riot." 3 While he was in Beit-Anyah in the home of Shim‘on (a man who had had tzara‘at), and as he was eating, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfume, pure oil of nard, very costly. She broke the jar and poured the perfume over Yeshua's head. 4 But some there angrily said to themselves, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for a year's wages and given to the poor!" And they scolded her. 6 But he said, "Let her be. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7 For you will always have the poor with you; and whenever you want to, you can help them. But you will not always have me. 8 What she could do, she did do — in advance she poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial. 9 Yes! I tell you that wherever in the whole world this Good News is proclaimed, what she has done will be told in her memory." 10 Then Y'hudah from K'riot, who was one of the Twelve, went to the head cohanim in order to betray Yeshua to them.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

pence: Matthew 18:28, *marg. John 6:7

have been given: John 12:5, John 12:6, John 13:29, Ephesians 4:28

And they: Exodus 16:7, Exodus 16:8, Deuteronomy 1:27, Psalms 106:25, Matthew 20:11, Luke 15:2, John 6:43, 1 Corinthians 10:10, Philippians 2:14, Jude 1:16

Reciprocal: Malachi 1:13 - Behold Matthew 26:9 - General Luke 3:11 - He that hath two

Cross-References

Genesis 14:10
Now the Siddim Valley was full of clay pits; and when the kings of S'dom and ‘Amora fled, some fell into them; while the rest fled to the hills.
Genesis 14:11
The victors took all the possessions of S'dom and ‘Amora and all their food supply; then they left.
Genesis 14:20
and blessed be El ‘Elyon, who handed your enemies over to you." Avram gave him a tenth of everything.
Genesis 14:23
that I will not take so much as a thread or a sandal thong of anything that is yours; so that you won't be able to say, ‘I made Avram rich.'
Genesis 15:20
the Hitti, the P'rizi, the Refa'im,
Deuteronomy 1:4
This was after he had defeated Sichon, king of the Emori, who lived in Heshbon, and ‘Og, king of Bashan, who lived in ‘Ashtarot, at Edre‘i.
Deuteronomy 3:11
‘Og king of Bashan was the last survivor of the Refa'im. His bed was made of iron; it is still in Rabbah with the people of ‘Amon. It was nine cubits long and four cubits wide, using the normal cubit [thirteen-and-a-half by six feet].
Deuteronomy 3:20
(Maftir) until Adonai allows your brothers to rest, as he has allowed you; and they too take possession of the land Adonai your God is giving them on the west side of the Yarden. At that point you will return, each man to his own possession which I have given you.'
Deuteronomy 3:22
Don't be afraid of them, because Adonai your God will fight on your behalf.' Haftarah D'varim: Yesha‘yahu (Isaiah) 1:1–27 B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah D'varim: Yochanan (John) 15:1–11; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 3:7–4:11 "Then I pleaded with Adonai , ‘Adonai Elohim , you have begun to reveal your greatness to your servant, and your strong hand — for what other god is there in heaven or on earth that can do the works and mighty deeds that you do? Please! Let me go across and see the good land on the other side of the Yarden, that wonderful hill-country and the L'vanon!' But Adonai was angry with me on account of you, and he didn't listen to me. Adonai said to me, ‘Enough from you! Don't say another word to me about this matter! Climb up to the top of Pisgah and look out to the west, north, south and east. Look with your eyes — but you will not go across this Yarden. However, commission Y'hoshua, encourage him and strengthen him; for he will lead this people across and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.' So we stayed in the valley across from Beit-P‘or.
Joshua 12:4
There was also the territory of ‘Og king of Bashan, who belonged to the remnant of the Refa'im. He lived at ‘Ashtarot and at Edre‘i;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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; :-,

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 26:1-16.

Mark 14:1

And of unleavened bread - So called because at that feast no other bread was used but that which had been made without leaven or yeast.

By craft - By subtlety (Matthew); that is, by some secret plan that would secure possession of him without exciting the opposition of the people.

Mark 14:3

Ointment - This word does not convey quite the proper meaning. This was a perfume. It was used only to give a pleasant odor, and was liquid.

Of spikenard - The “nard,” from which this perfume was made, is a plant of the East Indies, with a small, slender stalk, and a heavy, thick root. The best perfume is obtained from the root, though the stalk and fruit are used for that purpose.

And she brake the box - This may mean no more than that she broke the “seal” of the box, so that it could be poured out. Boxes of perfumes are often sealed or made fast with wax, to prevent the perfume from escaping. It was not likely that she would break the box itself when it was unnecessary, and when the unguent, being liquid, would have been wasted; nor from a broken box or vial could she easily have “poured it” on his head.

Mark 14:5

Three hundred pence - About forty dollars (or 9 British pounds). See the notes at Matthew 26:7.

Mark 14:8

She hath done what she could - She has showed the highest attachment in her power; and it was, as it is now, a sufficient argument against there being any “real” waste, that it was done for the honor of Christ. See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 26:1-16.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Mark 14:5. It might have been sold — το μυρον, This ointment, is added by ABCDKL, thirty-five others, AEthiopic, Armenian, Gothic, all the Itala except one. Griesbach has received it into the text. The sum mentioned here would amount to nearly 10£ sterling.


 
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