Bible Strands
John 12:7
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the disciples at the moment of the woman’s anointing, directly countering Judas’s complaint about the perfume’s cost. He halts their criticism by declaring that the act serves a specific, appointed purpose.
The words — The imperative ἄφες (aphes) commands “do leave alone,” while ἵνα (ina) and εἰς (eis) introduce the purpose clause “so that for.” These terms structurally bind the woman’s action to a future event rather than a present need.
The thread — Jesus’ defense of the woman appears in Matthew 26:10 and Mark 14:6, where he identifies her action as a beautiful deed directed toward him. Matthew 26:12 explicitly states that the anointing functioned as a preparation of his body for burial.
Why it lands — The text states that the perfume was kept specifically for the day of Jesus’ burial, establishing a direct link between the act and his death. Readers must accept that divine timing dictates the value of devotion, regardless of practical or financial objections.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:12 By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.
- Mark 14:6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
- Matthew 26:10 Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
- Matthew 27:57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus.
- Psalms 109:31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul.
- Zechariah 3:2 And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”
- Mark 15:42 Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),
- Luke 23:50 Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man,
- John 19:38 Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.