14:3 Now 3 while Jesus 4 was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, 5 a woman came with an alabaster jar 6 of costly aromatic oil 7 from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head.
1 tc Evidently because of the possible offensiveness of designating Jesus a carpenter, several
2 sn The reference to Jesus as the carpenter is probably derogatory, indicating that they knew Jesus only as a common laborer like themselves. The reference to him as the son of Mary (even though Jesus’ father was probably dead by this point) appears to be somewhat derogatory, for a man was not regarded as his mother’s son in Jewish usage unless an insult was intended (cf. Judg 11:1-2; John 6:42; 8:41; 9:29).
3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
4 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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 (pistikh") 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.