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New Living Translation

Mark 14:5

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

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.
Complete Jewish Bible
It could have been sold for a year's wages and given to the poor!" And they scolded her.
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 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 Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 "But not during the Passover celebration," they agreed, "or the people may riot." 3 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. 4 Some of those at the table were indignant. "Why waste such expensive perfume?" they asked. 5 "It could have been sold for a year's wages and the money given to the poor!" So they scolded her harshly. 6 But Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed." 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus 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
As it happened, the valley of the Dead Sea was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains.
Genesis 14:11
The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and headed for home, taking with them all the spoils of war and the food supplies.
Genesis 14:20
And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.
Genesis 14:23
that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.'
Genesis 15:20
Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,
Deuteronomy 1:4
This took place after he had defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated King Og of Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth.
Deuteronomy 3:11
(King Og of Bashan was the last survivor of the giant Rephaites. His bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide. It can still be seen in the Ammonite city of Rabbah.)
Deuteronomy 3:20
When the Lord has given security to the rest of the Israelites, as he has to you, and when they occupy the land the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan River, then you may all return here to the land I have given you.'
Deuteronomy 3:22
Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.'
Joshua 12:4
King Og of Bashan, the last of the Rephaites, lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei.

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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