14:8a

She has done what she could: The Greek statement that the Berean Standard Bible translates as She has done what she could is literally “What she had, she did.” This statement implies that the woman did what she was able to do for him. She used what she had to honor Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

This woman has done the thing that she was able to do.
-or-
This woman did the only thing she could do for me (New Century Version)

She: It may be clearer to restate the pronoun She as “This woman.”

14:8b–c

to anoint My body in advance of My burial: This woman anointed Jesus body by pouring her costly perfume on Jesus to honor him. This action was similar to what the Jews did to prepare dead bodies for burial. Jesus knew that he would die two days later, and he accepted the woman’s action as preparation for his burial. She may not have known the full meaning of what she did. In your translation you should not imply that her own purpose was to prepare Jesus for burial. See the examples in the next note.

in advance of My burial: When the Jews prepared someone’s body for burial, they often put perfume or scented oil on it. (See Mark 16:1.)

in advance: The words in advance refer here to the time before Jesus would die and be buried.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

She has already poured perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.
-or-
While I am still alive/living, she has poured perfume on me, preparing me for my burial.
-or-
Just as perfume would be put on me to honor me when I die, now while I am alive, she has put it on me.

burial: Jews were often buried in tombs that were cut from rocks. Poor Jews were buried in graves in the ground. We know that Jesus was buried in a tomb (cave) carved from rock (15:46). It is good to avoid being too specific about how Jesus thought that people would bury him. For example:

to prepare my body for burial

General Comment on 14:8a–c

In some languages it may be more natural to use a different order for the parts of this verse. For example:

8bThis woman poured perfume on my head before I died, 8cto prepare my body for being buried. 8aThat is what she was able to do for me.

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