12:3a
Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard: Mary is the name of the sister of Martha and Lazarus. See 11:1–2, and spell the name the same way in both places. The verb took here indicates that she got this perfume and brought it into the room where the dinner was. It was her own perfume, and the verb does not indicate that she took it from someone else. For example:
Mary brought a pound of very costly perfume, pure oil of nard (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Mary brought in a pint of very expensive perfume (New Century Version)
about a pint: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as pint refers to the Roman “pound,” which was about three hundred (300) grams or twelve (12) ounces. Perfume at that time was sold by weight. Today liquids like perfume are usually sold by the size of the container. So you may want to refer to the size of the container in your translation, like the USB does. Use a measurement that is natural in your language. For example:
half a liter
-or-
a pound (New Revised Standard Version)
expensive perfume, made of pure nard: This expression describes the substance that Mary brought to Jesus. This substance was probably liquid, an oil that had a nice smell.
expensive perfume: The word expensive indicates that the perfume cost a lot of money. It was rare and expensive. Here are some other ways to say this phrase:
costly perfume (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
valuable perfume
-or-
perfume that was bought/sold for much money
made of pure nard: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as made of pure nard is more literally “pure nard.” Nard is a perfume taken from the nard or spikenard plant that grows in India. Use a phrase that is natural for describing such a perfume. For example:
made from a plant called nard
-or-
Mary brought a half liter of pure nard which was a very expensive perfume.
-or-
pure oil of nard (Revised English Bible)
12:3b
she anointed Jesus’ feet: The word anointed means “put oil on someone.” Mary poured all the perfume over Jesus’ feet. She did this to honor him and show that she was devoted to him. Here is another way to translate this phrase:
poured it on Jesus’ feet (Contemporary English Version)
and wiped them with her hair: This phrase means that Mary used her hair like a towel to wipe the extra perfume from Jesus’ feet. Doing this showed that she was humble and how much she honored Jesus.
them: This pronoun refers to Jesus’ feet.
12:3c
And the house: This phrase refers to the house where Jesus and the others were eating.
was filled with the fragrance of the perfume: This expression means that the fragrance (nice, sweet smell) of the perfume could be smelled everywhere in the house. The verb was filled is passive. There are at least two ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
the fragrance of the perfume could be smelled throughout the house
• Use an active verb. For example:
the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house (New Century Version)
-or-
all the people in the house could smell the fragrance
fragrance: The word fragrance here means “the good smell” or “the sweet smell.”
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