John 12:3

took Mary a pound S. John alone gives her name and the amount of ointment. The pound of 12 ounces is meant. So large a quantity of a substance so costly is evidence of her over-flowing love. Comp. John 19:39.

ointment of spikenard The Greek expression is a rare one, and occurs elsewhere only Mark 14:3, which S. John very likely had seen: his account has all the independence of that of an eye-witness, but may have been influenced by the Synoptic narratives. The meaning of the Greek is not certain: it may mean (1) -genuine nard," and spikenard was often adulterated; or (2) -drinkable, liquid nard," and unguents were sometimes drunk; or (3) -Pistic nard," -Pistic" being supposed to be a local adjective. But no place from which such an adjective could come appears to be known. Of the other two explanations the first is to be preferred.

very costly Horace offers to give a cask of wine for a very small box of it; -Nardi parvus onyx eliciet cadum." Odesiv. xii. 17.

anointed the feet The two Synoptists mention only the usual (Psalms 23:5) anointing of the head; S. John records the less usual act, which again is evidence of Mary's devotion. The rest of this verse is peculiar to S. John, and shews that he was present.