Mar 14:3 | NET2full | STEP | Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper , reclining at the table , a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard . After breaking open the jar , she poured it on his head .

Mark 14:3

Jesus’ Anointing

3 Now ^{▼▼tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.} while Jesus ^{▼▼tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, ^{▼▼sn See the note on leper in Mark 1:40.} reclining at the table, ^{▼▼sn 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.} a woman came with an alabaster jar ^{▼▼sn A jar made of alabaster stone was normally used for very precious substances like perfumes. It normally had a long neck which was sealed and had to be broken off so the contents could be used.} of costly aromatic oil ^{▼▼tn Μύρον (muron) was usually made of myrrh (from which the English word is derived) but here it is used in the sense of ointment or perfumed oil (L&N 6.205). The adjective πιστικῆς (pistikēs) is difficult with regard to its exact meaning; some have taken it to derive from πίστις (pistis) and relate to the purity of the oil of nard. More probably it is something like a brand name, “pistic nard,” the exact significance of which has not been discovered.} ^{▼▼sn Nard or spikenard is a fragrant oil from the root and spike of the nard plant of northern India. This aromatic oil, if made of something like nard, would have been extremely expensive, costing up to a year’s pay for an average laborer.} from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head.