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Matthew 26:7

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 26:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head, as he sat at meat.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head, as he sat at meat.
Matthew 26:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 26

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4and they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him.
5But they said, Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among people.
6Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
7there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head, as he sat at meat.
8But when the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
9For this [ointment] might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
10But Jesus perceiving it said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
← Matthew 26:6Matthew 26:8 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“There came unto him a woman, etc.] By some thought to be the same that is spoken of in (<420737>Luke 7:37), and by most, to be Mary, the sister of Lazarus, (<431203>John 12:3), which may be true; for it is possible that one and the same woman, might perform a like action at different times; for to neither of the above, at the same time, will the following agree: not to the former, for though that was done in the house of one Simon, yet not Simon the leper, but Simon the Pharisee; who though he had a particular respect for Christ, which few of that sect had, yet appeared to be then of a Pharisaical spirit; that was done in Galilee, this near Jerusalem in Bethany; the woman there anointed the…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“26:7 The jar of expensive perfume was a burial ointment (see Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56–24:1; John 12:1-7; 19:38-42) made of nard, which was harvested in India. The value of this jar of perfume was nearly a year’s wages (John 12:5).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“came: Joh 12:2, Joh 12:3 very: Exo 30:23-33; Psa 133:2; Ecc 9:8, Ecc 10:1; Sol 1:3; Isa 57:9; Luk 7:37, Luk 7:38, Luk 7:46 Matthew 26:8”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification