Mark 14 · Verse 4

Mark 14:4

And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
Mark 14:4, King James Version

Mark 14:4 in other translations

BSBSome of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume?
WEBBut there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted?
ASVBut there were some that had indignation among themselves, saying, To what purpose hath this waste of the ointment been made?
YLTand there were certain much displeased within themselves, and saying, ‘For what hath this waste of the ointment been made?
DARBYAnd there were some indignant in themselves, and saying, Why has this waste been made of the ointment?
BBEBut some of them were angry among themselves, saying, For what purpose has this oil been wasted?
WebsterAnd there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

What does Mark 14:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. And there were some that had indignation within themselves and said--Matthew says (Mt 26:8), "But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying," &c. The spokesman, however, was none of the true-hearted Eleven--as we learn from John (Joh 12:4): "Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him." Doubtless the thought stirred first in his breast, and issued from his base lips; and some of the rest, ignorant of his true character and feelings, and carried away by his plausible speech, might for the moment feel some chagrin at the apparent waste. Why was this waste of the ointment made?

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 14:1-11

Did Christ pour out his soul unto death for us, and shall we think any thing too precious for him? Do we give him the precious ointment of our best affections? Let us love him with all the heart, though it is common for zeal and affection to be misunderstood and blamed; and remember that charity to the poor will not excuse any from particular acts of piety to the Lord Jesus. Christ commended this woman's pious…

Read the full comment on Mark 14:1-11 →

Mark 14:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἦσανēsanWereG1510
δέdenowG1161
τινεςtinessomeG5100
ἀγανακτοῦντεςaganaktountesindignantG23
πρὸςproswithinG4314
ἑαυτούςhe'autousthemselvesG1438
εἰςeisToG1519
τίtiwhyG5101
ἡhē<the>G3588
ἀπώλειαapōleiawasteG684
αὕτηhautēthisG3778
τοῦtouof theG3588
μύρουmuroufragrant oilG3464
γέγονεν;gegonenhas been made?G1096

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 14:4

  • John 12:4-5

    Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

  • Matthew 26:8-9

    But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:4-8

    When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. …

  • Malachi 1:12-13

    But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:4

    Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
there.
Ec 4:4; Mt 26:8,9; Joh 12:4,5
Why.
Ec 5:4-8; Mal 1:12,13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 14:3

    And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

  • Mark 14:4

    And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

  • Mark 14:5

    For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

Read all of Mark 14

Mark 14:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y hubo algunos que se enojaron dentro de sí, y dijeron: ¿Para qué se ha hecho este desperdicio de ungüento?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et quelques-uns étaient là, qui s’indignaient en eux-mêmes et disaient: À quoi bon la perte de ce parfum?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es waren aber etliche unwillig bei sich selbst und sprachen: Wozu ist dieser Verlust der Salbe geschehen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Erant autem quidam indigne ferentes intra semetipsos, et dicentes: Ut quid perditio ista unguenti facta est?