Devine Scripture

John 12:2

What does John 12:2 mean?

A plain-English look at John 12:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 12:2 means

A supper is prepared for Jesus, a natural response of love and honor from a household that had tasted resurrection. Martha serves, true to her practical care, and Lazarus sits at the table as a living testimony that death yields to Jesus. The details are homely and human, yet profound: ordinary hospitality is now freighted with the memory of a miracle. The picture is of shared fellowship and rest before the storm, with each family member acting in character. It underscores that Jesus is not a distant wonder-worker but welcomed as an intimate guest, and that the work of God bears fruit in gratitude and service.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So they made him a meal there, and he was waited on by Martha, and Lazarus was among those who were seated with him at table.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

they made, therefore, to him a supper there, and Martha was ministering, and Lazarus was one of those reclining together (at meat) with him;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they made him a supper there: and Martha served. But Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

There therefore they made him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those at table with him.

Context

After the time marker and location, the scene narrows to a dinner given for Jesus in Bethany. This domestic moment prepares for Mary’s striking act of devotion in the next verse. The presence of Lazarus at table highlights the miracle’s ongoing witness and provides a foil for the controversy to come. Immediately, the narrative will pivot from quiet celebration to public criticism and Jesus’ interpretive defense, setting themes of worship, value, and impending burial that carry through the chapter.

v.1Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead.

v.2This passage

v.3Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 10:38

    Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

  • Mark 14:3

    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.

  • Luke 12:37

    Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.

  • Luke 14:12

    And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.

  • Luke 5:29

    And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.

  • John 11:43

    And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

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