John 12:5 BSB — MannaFest

John 12:5

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

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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

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Commentary

5 voices

Ambrose of Milan

On the Holy Spirit 3.17.128 (397)

O traitor Judas, you value the ointment of his passion at three hundred pence, and you sell his passion at thirty pence. Rich in valuing, cheap in wickedness!

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

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.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

It is possible for the worst of men to lurk under the disguise of the best profession; and there are many who pretend to stand in relation to Christ who really have no kindness for him. Judas was an apostle, a preacher of the gospel, and yet one that discouraged and checked this instance of pious affection and devotion.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

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.

J.C. Ryle

1816–1900

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)

The chapter we have now begun finishes a most important division of John's Gospel. Our Lord's public addresses to the unbelieving Jews of Jerusalem are here brought to an end. After this chapter, John records nothing but what was said in private to the disciples. We see, for one thing, in this passage, what abounding proofs exist of the truth of our Lord's greatest miracles. We read of a supper at Bethany, where Lazarus "sat at the table" among the guests—Lazarus, who had been publicly raised from the dead, after lying four days in the grave.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

12 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
διὰ	dia	Because of	G1223 →
τί	ti	why	G5101 →
τοῦτο	touto	this	G3778 →
τὸ	to	<the>	G3588 →
μύρον	muron	fragrant oil	G3464 →
οὐκ	ouk	not	G3756 →
ἐπράθη	eprathē	was sold	G4097 →
τριακοσίων	triakosiōn	for three hundred	G5145 →
δηναρίων	dēnariōn	denarii	G1220 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
ἐδόθη	edothē	given	G1325 →
πτωχοῖς;	ptōchois	to [the] poor?	G4434 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Luke 12:33
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
leads to
- Matthew 19:21
  Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Acts 4:34–35
  There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales,
- Luke 18:22
  On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
- Acts 2:45
  Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
- Matthew 6:19–21
  Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Through
Luke 6:41
Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
leads to
- John 8:7
  When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”
- James 1:24
  and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
Through
Luke 18:22
On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
leads to
- Luke 12:33
  Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

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About John

The Word Made Flesh — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

John: the study guide →Read chapter 12 →The featured study →

Continue: John 12 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About John

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About John