John 12

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 12 of 21

¹ Therefore six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, the one having died, whom He raised from the dead.

² Then they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving. But Lazarus was one of the ones reclining with Him.

³ Then taking a pound of ointment of genuine, very costly spikenard, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped off His feet with her hair . And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

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Chapter Summary

1 Jesus excuses Mary’s anointing His feet. 10 The high priests consult to kill Lazarus. 12 Christ rides triumphantly into Jerusalem.

Key Greek Words

μύρον ointment G3464

δοξάζω glorify G1392

κόκκος grain G2848

ψυχή life, soul G5590

φῶς light G5457

πιστεύω believe G4100

People & Context

Jesus

Anointed at Bethany, rides into Jerusalem, and foretells His death by the grain of wheat

Mary

Anoints Jesus' feet with costly spikenard and wipes them with her hair

Judas Iscariot

Disciple and thief who objects to the costly ointment

Lazarus

Raised from the dead; reclines at supper as the chief priests plot to kill him

Martha

Serves at the supper in Bethany

Philip

Disciple from Bethsaida whom the inquiring Greeks approach

Timeline

Anointing at Bethany

Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus' feet with very costly spikenard ointment and wipes them with her hair, prefiguring His burial.

John 12:1-8

Triumphal Entry

Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey's colt as crowds wave palm branches and hail Him as the King of Israel.

John 12:12-19

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