Mark 14:3
What does Mark 14:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 14:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 14:3 means
In Bethany at Simon the leper’s house, a woman breaks an alabaster jar and pours very costly pure nard over Jesus’ head. Her act is deliberate, public, and sacrificial. Breaking the vessel shows total devotion; nothing is held back. The setting—Simon once marked by disease—highlights Jesus’ ministry to the outcast. The woman’s love discerns what others miss: Jesus is worthy of extravagant honor even as danger looms. Her action interprets His coming death as something to be honored, not avoided. She gives while others plot; she anoints while others calculate; she sees Jesus’ worth while others will sell Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, seated at table, there came a woman with a bottle of perfumed oil of great price; and when the bottle was broken she put the perfume on his head.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he, being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, at his reclining (at meat), there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment, of spikenard, very precious, and having broken the alabaster box, did pour on his head;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, and was at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of precious spikenard. And breaking the alabaster box, she poured it out upon his head.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when he was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he lay at table, there came a woman having an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly; and having broken the alabaster flask, she poured it out upon his head.
Context
Following the leaders’ secret plan, Mark shifts to an open display of love. The scene takes place in Bethany, near Jerusalem, among friends. This will soon be contrasted with sharp criticism from onlookers and with Judas’ betrayal. The anointing anticipates Jesus’ burial and frames the rest of the chapter’s events—Last Supper, Gethsemane, arrest, trial—under the heading of a purposeful sacrifice. The dinner setting also recalls recent meals in Mark, signaling covenant fellowship now moving toward the Passover meal that Jesus will transform.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 11:2
And it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
- Luke 7:37
And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment,
- Song of Solomon 4:13
Thy shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits; Henna with spikenard plants,
- Matthew 26:6
Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
- John 12:1
Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead.
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