Verse Lens · Concise explanation
John 12:5 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 5. 5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
John 12:5 serves as the fifth turn in Mary Anoints Jesus for Burial, where it poses or answers the exchange's active question: “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor”.
Mary anoints Jesus' feet; Judas objects in the language of the poor
This verse is one part of that explanation in John 12:1-8. The complete section carries the connected meaning and how it should shape life.
Read It With
- John 12:1-8
Read John 12:5 with 12:1-8. In isolation, this contribution—serves as the fifth turn in Mary Anoints Jesus for Burial, where it poses or answers the exchange's active question: “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor”—can be detached from its speaker, question, sign, festival, conflict, or outcome. The complete unit establishes: At Bethany Mary anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume and wipes them with her hair; Judas objects in the language of poverty while the narrator names his theft, and Jesus interprets the act in relation to burial.
What Remains True
John 12:5 serves as the fifth turn in Mary Anoints Jesus for Burial, where it poses or answers the exchange's active question: “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor”. Its enduring force supports this passage-controlled response: Honor courageous care for a threatened person while continuing the scriptural duty toward poor people and guarding shared funds transparently.
Continue in Context
Read the complete section for the connected explanation and how it should shape life. This verse is a doorway into that passage, not a saying that stands alone.
Read John 12:1-8 — Mary Anoints Jesus for BurialSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact KJV wording, paragraph flags, supplied-word markup, and coverage.
Exact location: John 12:1-8, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, sentence relations, and critical-text reading checked independently of the KJV.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT official repository, data/sblgnt/text/John.txt, 12:1-8
Open the John Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — John with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, older-English clarification, material variants, background, and alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible John PDF, John 12:1-8 and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET John PDF ↗