Leave her alone
In this phrase, Jesus is addressing those who criticized Mary for anointing Him with expensive perfume. The Greek word for "leave" is "ἄφες" (aphes), which can also mean "forgive" or "permit." This indicates a command to cease judgment or interference. Jesus' defense of Mary highlights His authority and the importance of her act. Historically, this moment underscores the cultural norms of the time, where women were often marginalized, yet Jesus elevates Mary's actions, showing His counter-cultural respect and honor for women.

Jesus replied
The Greek word for "replied" is "εἶπεν" (eipen), which is a simple past tense verb meaning "said." This indicates a direct and authoritative response from Jesus. In the context of the Gospel of John, Jesus' words often carry deep theological significance, revealing His divine insight and purpose. His reply here is not just a defense of Mary but a profound revelation of His impending death and burial, which He fully understands and embraces.

She was intended to keep this perfume
The phrase "was intended" comes from the Greek "ἵνα" (hina), often translated as "in order that" or "so that," indicating purpose or divine intention. The perfume, "μύρον" (myron), was a costly ointment, symbolizing honor and sacrifice. In the historical context, anointing with perfume was a sign of respect and preparation for burial. Jesus acknowledges that Mary's act was divinely purposed, foreshadowing His death and burial, and aligning with the prophetic tradition of anointing.

to prepare for the day of My burial
The word "prepare" in Greek is "τηρήσῃ" (tērēsē), meaning "to keep" or "to preserve." This suggests that Mary's act was not just spontaneous devotion but a fulfillment of a divine plan. The "day of My burial" refers to Jesus' imminent crucifixion and burial, which He predicts multiple times throughout the Gospels. This phrase connects to the Jewish burial customs of the time, where bodies were anointed with spices and perfumes. Jesus' acknowledgment of His burial signifies His acceptance of His sacrificial role as the Lamb of God, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and foreshadowing His resurrection.

(7) Against the day of my burying hath she kept this.--The majority of the better MSS. read, "that she keep this against the day of My burying." Comp. Matthew 26:12 and Mark 14:8. The thought here differs from that in the earlier Gospels, and the common reading has therefore been adapted to harmonise with it. Taking the better text, the meaning here is, "Let her alone, that she may keep this for the day of My embalmment." She had taken a pound of ointment (John 12:3) and had anointed His feet. This reminds Him of the embalmment of the dead, which had been but lately in that very place, and in the person of one sitting with them, present to their minds. Her act is significant of the future which is approaching. Let them not stay that deed of love. Before the week ends His body will be carried to the sepulchre. The preparations for the grave have already been begun.

Verse 7. - The two readings of the text must here be compared with one another and with the synoptic narrative. The T.R. reads, Let her alone: unto the day of the preparation for my burial she has carefully guarded this precious perfume. This is, in one sense, that very day, and she has found out the solemn fact in a way in which the disciples had as yet failed to do. With this agrees the language of the synoptists," Why trouble ye the woman? she hath wrought a good work on me;... she hath done that which was possible to her (ο{ ἐσχεν ἐποίησεν)" of Mark 14:8. In fact, Mark expressly conveys this thought - "she has anticipated the anointing of my body for the burial." If we have the direct testimony of Mark (i.e. Peter), Christ must have expressed himself thus. Matthew also in different words records the same pathetic and subtle thought: "For in that she poured [cast] this ointment upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial" (John 26:12) Hengstenberg, Godet, and Stier abide by the reading of the T.R.; but the principal manuscripts, in most powerful combination, have led Lachmann, Alford, Tischendorf, and Westcott and Hort to read here, Ἵνα εἰς τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ ἐνταφιασμοῦ τηρήση αὐτό, "In order that she may keep or guard this for the day of my burial." Westcott says that the synoptists imply rather, by the word κατέχεεν, that She had not already consumed the whole of the ointment. Meyer, with this text, translates, "Let her alone, that she may preserve it (this ointment, of which she has just poured some over my feet) for the day of my embalmment." This certainly seems inconsistent with the complaint of the disciples or of Judas, at the apparently superfluous expenditure, and would compel us to restrict the abed to the unused portion. The advocates of the T.R. reading say that it represents the original text, which has been altered by criticism arising from misunderstanding of the idea of the day of burial having ideally arrived; but why did they not alter on the same principle the language of the synoptists? The advocates of Lachmann's text say that it has been altered by copyists, to bring it into accord with the text of the synoptists. Lange justifies the Revised Version, "Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying," and puts it thus: "Permit her to keep it [i.e. to have kept the ointment which she might have used at the burial of Lazarus] for the day of my burial," now ideally present in the outbreak of Judas's devilish malignity. So virtually Luthardt and Baumgarten-Crusius. Godet argues that this is forced and ungrammatical. But there is this advantage in it, that it brings the language into much closer relation with the synoptists. Westcott prefers the idea of Meyer. The older view is to me far mere satisfactory. Edersheim (2:35) adds to this, "Mary may have had that alabaster box from early days, before she had learned to serve Christ. When she understood that decease of which he constantly spake, she may have put it aside, "kept it," "against the day of his burying." And now the decisive hour is come.

Parallel Commentaries ...


“Leave her alone,”
Ἄφες (Aphes)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

replied.
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“She was intended
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

to keep
τηρήσῃ (tērēsē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold.

[this perfume]
αὐτό (auto)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

to prepare for
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

day
ἡμέραν (hēmeran)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

of
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

burial.
ἐνταφιασμοῦ (entaphiasmou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1780: Embalming, preparation of a body for burial. From entaphiazo; preparation for interment.


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NT Gospels: John 12:7 But Jesus said Leave her alone (Jhn Jo Jn)