• Mark 14:3
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 3 Καὶ And ὄντος being αὐτοῦ of him ἐν in Βηθανίᾳ Bethany ἐν in τῇ the οἰκίᾳ house Σίμωνος of Simon τοῦ the λεπροῦ leper κατακειμένου lying down αὐτοῦ of him ἦλθεν came γυνὴ woman ἔχουσα having ἀλάβαστρον alabaster [case] μύρου of perfumed oil νάρδου nard πιστικῆς genuine πολυτελοῦς· very expensive; συντρίψασα having crushed τὴν the ἀλάβαστρον alabaster [case] κατέχεεν she was pouring down αὐτοῦ of him τῆς of the κεφαλῆς. head.

  • Mark 14:3
    The Bible in Living English

    • 3* And while he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, while he was at the table a woman came with an alabaster vial of expensive perfume, nard in pistachio oil. She crushed the vial and poured it over his head.

  • Mark 14:3
    American Standard Version

    • 3 And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure nard very costly; and she brake the cruse, and poured it over his head.

  • Mark 14:3
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 3 And he being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining there came a woman holding an alabaster-jar of perfume, pure spikenard, very costly; and breaking the jar she was pouring down [the perfume] upon his head.

  • Mark 14:3
    King James Version

    • 3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

  • Mark Study Notes—Chapter 14
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 14:3

      while he was at Bethany: The events described at Mr 14:3-9 evidently took place after sunset when Nisan 9 began. That timing is indicated by the parallel account in John, where Jesus is said to arrive at Bethany “six days before the Passover.” (Joh 12:1) He must have arrived about the beginning (at sunset) of the Sabbath on Nisan 8, which was the day before the meal at Simon’s place.​—Joh 12:2-11; see App. A7 and B12.

      Simon the leper: This Simon is mentioned only here and in the parallel account at Mt 26:6. He may have been a former leper whom Jesus healed.​—See study note on Mt 8:2 and Glossary, “Leprosy; Leper.”

      a woman: See study note on Mt 26:7.

      alabaster jar: See Glossary, “Alabaster.”

      perfumed oil: John says that the weight was a pound. Mark’s and John’s accounts specify that it was worth “more than 300 denarii.” (Mr 14:5; Joh 12:3-5) That sum represented about a year’s wages for an ordinary laborer. The source of such perfumed oil is generally thought to be an aromatic plant (Nardostachys jatamansi) found in the Himalayas. Nard was often adulterated, even counterfeited, but both Mark and John say that this oil was genuine nard.​—See Glossary, “Nard.”

      pouring it on his head: According to Matthew and Mark, the woman poured the oil on Jesus’ head. (Mt 26:7) John, who wrote years later, supplied the added detail that she also poured it on his feet. (Joh 12:3) Jesus explains that this loving act, in a figurative sense, prepared him for burial.​—See study note on Mr 14:8.