John 12:5

Christian Standard Bible ®

“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

Parallel Translations

King James Version (1611)
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and giuen to the poore?

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

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

New American Standard Bible
"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?"

New Century Version
"This perfume was worth an entire year's wages. Why wasn't it sold and the money given to the poor?"

Amplified Bible
"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and [the money] given to the poor?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?"

Legacy Standard Bible
"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"

Berean Standard Bible
"Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"

Contemporary English Version
"Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?"

Complete Jewish Bible
"This perfume is worth a year's wages! Why wasn't it sold and the money given to the poor?"

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

Easy-to-Read Version
"That perfume was worth a full year's pay. It should have been sold, and the money should have been given to the poor people."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Why was not this oyntment sold for three hundreth pence, and giuen to the poore?

George Lamsa Translation
Why was not this oil sold for three hundred pennies, and given to the poor?

Good News Translation
"Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?"

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

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

American Standard Version
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings, and given to the poor?

Bible in Basic English
Why was not this perfume traded for three hundred pence, and the money given to the poor?

Hebrew Names Version
"Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?"

International Standard Version
"Why wasn't this perfume sold for 300 denarii[fn] and the moneythe money">[fn] given to the destitute?"

Etheridge Translation
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred dinoreen, and given to the poor?

Murdock Translation
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Why was not this oyntment solde for three hundred pence, and geuen to the poore?

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

World English Bible
"Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
faith, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Weymouth's New Testament
"Why was not that perfume sold for 300 shillings and the money given to the poor?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
seide, Whi is not this oynement seeld for thre hundrid pens, and is youun to nedi men?

Update Bible Version
Why wasn't this ointment sold for $30,000, and given to the poor?

Webster's Bible Translation
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

New English Translation
"Why wasn't this oil sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?"

New King James Version
"Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii [fn] and given to the poor?"

New Living Translation
"That perfume was worth a year's wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor."

New Life Bible
"Why was not this special perfume sold for much money and given to poor people?"

New Revised Standard
"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Why was, this perfume, not sold for three hundred denaries, and given unto the destitute?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?

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

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
why was not this oyntmet solde for thre hondred pence and geve to the poore?

Young's Literal Translation
`Wherefore was not this ointment sold for three hundred denaries, and given to the poor?'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Why was not this oyntment solde for thre hundreth pens, and geuen to the poore?

Mace New Testament (1729)
said, why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, to be given to the poor?

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Why is she wasting that perfume? We could've sold that and given money to the poor. That cost a year's wages."

Contextual Overview

¹Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. ²So they gave a dinner for him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him. ³Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, ⁵“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” ⁶He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it. ⁷Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial. ⁸For you always have the poor with you, ⁹Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

was: Exodus 5:8, Exodus 5:17, Amos 8:5, Malachi 1:10-13, Matthew 26:8, Mark 14:4, Luke 6:41

three hundred: John 6:7, Matthew 20:2, *marg. Mark 14:5

and given: Matthew 26:9, Luke 12:33, Luke 18:22

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:37 - give Joshua 7:11 - dissembled 2 Kings 5:20 - my master Ezra 4:14 - and it was Psalms 94:18 - My foot John 1:28 - Bethabara John 13:29 - that 1 Timothy 3:3 - not covetous

Cross-References

Genesis 10:19
The Canaanite border went from Sidon going toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and going toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim as far as Lasha.

Genesis 11:31
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.

Genesis 12:5
He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,

Genesis 12:8
From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to the Lord there, and he called on the name of the Lord.

Genesis 12:9
Then Abram journeyed by stages to the Negev.

Genesis 14:14
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan.

Genesis 14:21
Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself.”

Acts 7:4
“Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this land in which you are now living.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 26:3-16.

John 12:2

A supper - At the house of Simon the leper, Matthew 26:6.

Lazarus was ... - The names of Martha and Lazarus are mentioned because it was not in their own house, but in that of Simon. Lazarus is particularly mentioned, since it was so remarkable that one who had been once dead should be enjoying again the endearments of friendship. This shows, also, that his resurrection was no illusion - that he was really restored to the blessings of life and friendship. Calmet thinks that this was about two months after his resurrection, and it is the last that we hear of him. How long he lived is unknown, nor is it recorded that he made any communication about the world of spirits. It is remarkable that none who have been restored to life from the dead have made any communications respecting that world. See Luke 16:31, and the notes at 2 Corinthians 12:4.

John 12:4

Which should betray him - Greek, “who was to betray him” - that is, who would do it.

John 12:5

Three hundred pence - About 40,00, or 8 British pounds, 10 shillings (circa 1880’s).

And given to the poor - The avails or value of it given to the poor.

John 12:6

Had the bag - The word translated “bag” is compounded of two words, meaning “tongue,” and “to keep or preserve.” It was used to denote the bag in which musicians used to keep the tongues or reeds of their pipes when traveling. Hence, it came to mean any bag or purse in which travelers put their money or their most precious articles. The disciples appear to have had such a bag or purse in common, in which they put whatever money they had, and which was designed especially for the poor, Luke 8:3; John 13:29; Acts 2:44. The keeping of this, it seems, was intrusted to Judas; and it is remarkable that the only one among them who appears to have been naturally avaricious should have received this appointment. It shows us that every man is tried according to his native propensity. This is the object of trial - to bring out man’s native character; and every man will find opportunity to do evil according to his native disposition, if he is inclined, to it.

And bare ... - The word translated “bare” means literally “to carry as a burden.” Then it means “to carry away,” as in John 20:15; “If thou hast borne him hence.” Hence, it means to carry away as a thief does, and this is evidently its meaning here. It has this sense often in classic writers. Judas was a thief and stole what was put into the bag. The money he desired to be entrusted to him, that he might secretly enrich himself. It is clear, however, that the disciples did not at this time know that this was his character, or they would have remonstrated against him. They learned it afterward. We may learn here:

1.That it is not a new thing for members of the church to be covetous. Judas was so before them.

2.That such members will be those who complain of the great waste in spreading the gospel.

3.That this deadly, mean, and grovelling passion will work all evil in a church. It brought down the curse of God on the children of Israel in the case of Achan Joshua 7:0, and it betrayed our Lord to death. It has often since brought blighting on the church; and many a time it has betrayed the cause of Christ, and drowned men in destruction and perdition, 1 Timothy 6:9.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 12:5. Three hundred pence — Or denarii: about 9£. 13s. 9d. of our money; reckoning the denarius at 7 3/4d. One of my MSS. of the Vulgate (a MS. of the 14th century) reads, cccc denarii.