Mark 14:6 kjv
And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
Mark 14:6 nkjv
But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
Mark 14:6 niv
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
Mark 14:6 esv
But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
Mark 14:6 nlt
But Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?
Mark 14 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
| Matt 26:10 | But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. | Parallel account, Jesus' defense of the woman. |
| John 12:7 | Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.” | Parallel account, emphasizing the anointing for burial. |
| Mark 14:9 | And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her. | The enduring remembrance of her sacrificial act. |
| 1 Pet 3:4 | ...but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit... | Inner beauty and preciousness to God. |
| Phil 4:18 | I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. | Acts of giving as pleasing sacrifices to God. |
| Heb 13:16 | Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. | Good deeds and sharing as acceptable sacrifices. |
| 2 Cor 8:12 | For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. | God values willingness and intention over sheer amount. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | Total devotion and worship as a sacrifice. |
| Matt 25:40 | And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ | Acts done to others are acts done to Christ. |
| 1 Cor 13:3 | If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. | Love as the motive that makes an act truly beautiful. |
| Mark 10:45 | For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | Jesus' mission leading to His burial. |
| Ps 45:7-8 | You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; all your garments are fragrant... | Messianic anointing with fragrant oils. |
| Exod 30:22-33 | The Lord said to Moses, “Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh...and make of them a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend... | Sacred anointing oil for consecration, costly and special. |
| Prov 27:9 | Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. | The delightful and joyful aspect of fragrant oil. |
| Luke 7:46-47 | You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment...Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. | Anointing as an expression of love and gratitude for forgiveness. |
| Acts 9:36 | Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha...full of good works and acts of charity. | Examples of believers known for their good deeds. |
| Eph 2:10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. | Believers are created for good works, showing divine purpose. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | ...to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age... | Investment in eternal things through good deeds, versus earthly wealth. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... | Contrast between earthly and heavenly treasures. |
| Isa 53:5 | But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. | Foreshadowing of Christ's suffering and death, for which His body was prepared. |
| Ps 16:10 | For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. | Prophecy of Messiah's body not decaying, hence the preparation before burial. |
Mark 14 verses
Mark 14 6 Meaning
Mark 14:6 presents Jesus' direct defense of the woman who anointed Him, rebuking those who criticized her act as wasteful. Jesus affirms her deed as "a beautiful thing" (kalon ergon), recognizing its profound spiritual value and declaring its intrinsic goodness and appropriate devotion directed solely toward Him, contrasting sharply with the disciples' judgment based on material concerns.
Mark 14 6 Context
Mark 14:6 occurs within the immediate narrative of Jesus' anointing at Bethany (Mark 14:3-9). This event takes place just two days before the Passover, signifying a crucial moment leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. While reclining at a meal in the house of Simon the leper, an unnamed woman breaks an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment (pure nard) and pours it on Jesus' head. Some present, indignant at what they perceive as "waste" (estimated at over a year's wages), suggest the ointment should have been sold to help the poor. This criticism highlights a common misunderstanding of priorities—valuing material aid over spiritual devotion—which Jesus immediately addresses. The broader chapter context reveals escalating tension: the chief priests and scribes plotting to arrest Jesus, Judas's betrayal, the preparation for the Last Supper, and Jesus' passion predictions, all underlining the anointing's prophetic significance for His impending death and burial.
Mark 14 6 Word analysis
- But (ὁ δέ, ho de): A strong conjunction that marks a contrast or shift in direction. It signals Jesus' authoritative interjection, directly challenging the negative sentiments expressed by those grumbling.
- Jesus (Ἰησοῦς, Iesous): The Son of God, exercising divine wisdom and authority to interpret the woman's action, counteracting the misjudgment of His disciples. His identity gives weight to His commendation.
- said (εἶπεν, eipen): Implies a firm declaration rather than a casual remark, underscoring the importance and finality of His statement regarding the woman's deed.
- “Leave her alone.” (Ἄφετε αὐτήν, Aphate auten): A sharp, emphatic imperative. Aphate means "let go," "allow," or "desist." Jesus commands them to cease their interference, protecting the woman from unwarranted verbal assault and condemnation. It shows Jesus’ care for individuals facing unjustified criticism for acts of devotion.
- “Why” (Τί, Ti): A rhetorical question expressing strong disapproval and challenge to their judgment. It conveys that their criticism is unfounded and misdirected.
- trouble her? (κόπους παρέχετε αὐτῇ, kopous parechete autē): Kopous means "labor," "trouble," "weariness," or "annoyance." Parechete means "to offer," "to provide." Combined, it means "to give trouble," "cause distress," or "inflict annoyance." This emphasizes the negative emotional and psychological burden their verbal attacks placed on the woman, revealing their lack of compassion.
- She has done (ἤργάσατο, ērgasaō): From ergazomai, "to work," "perform," or "accomplish." The perfect tense indicates a completed action with lasting effects or significance. Her act is a finished, profound deed.
- a beautiful thing (καλὸν ἔργον, kalon ergon):
- καλόν (kalon): Often translated as "good," "noble," "fine," or "beautiful." It implies inherent excellence, moral goodness, and aesthetic appeal. It signifies something intrinsically praiseworthy, excellent, and pleasing to the eye or spirit. It contrasts with merely "useful" or "efficient" as conceived by her critics. Her act was not only morally good but also divinely proper and spiritually glorious in its extravagance.
- ἔργον (ergon): "Work," "deed," "action." It is a concrete act, not just an intention.
- to me. (εἰς ἐμέ, eis eme): Emphasizes that her deed was specifically and personally directed towards Jesus. It underscores her intimate devotion and the unique relationship between her and the Messiah. This act of love and reverence for Him transcended ordinary human calculations.
- Words-group analysis:
- "But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why trouble her?": This immediate and authoritative defense reveals Jesus' protective nature and His discernment, which sees past material cost to the deeper spiritual value. It establishes His rejection of their self-righteous critique.
- "She has done a beautiful thing to me.": This declarative statement by Jesus is a profound commendation. It elevates her action from mere human transaction to a divinely acknowledged deed of exceptional beauty, sacrifice, and spiritual insight. It redefines "waste" as worship and self-sacrificing love as paramount.
Mark 14 6 Bonus section
The act described in Mark 14:6 and Jesus' interpretation of it highlight the stark contrast between two kingdoms' value systems: the worldly perspective, which prioritizes financial stewardship and tangible benefit (as understood by the disciples), versus the heavenly perspective, which cherishes radical devotion and costly sacrifice in preparation for divine purposes. Jesus' immediate defense underscores that certain acts of pure, selfless worship, though appearing "wasteful" to human eyes, are eternally significant and infinitely beautiful in God's sight. Her prophetic act of anointing His head also symbolically designated Him as the Anointed One (Messiah/Christ) for His unique mission of death and resurrection, connecting to ancient traditions of anointing priests and kings. This scene serves as a timeless lesson that true devotion to Christ often involves a cost and a love that transcends worldly wisdom, preparing His followers to understand that sometimes the greatest service is direct, sacrificial worship of Him.
Mark 14 6 Commentary
Mark 14:6 unveils Jesus' divine insight into true worship and priorities, contrasting it sharply with the pragmatic, materialistically driven criticisms of the disciples (including Judas, who voiced similar concerns in John's account). While the critics saw extravagance and "waste" that could have served a "good" purpose (a common yet often superficial interpretation of charity), Jesus perceived an act of profound, lavish devotion directed specifically to Him. He affirms that the "beautiful thing" she did was not a matter of efficiency or monetary calculation but one of loving, selfless worship that acknowledged His impending death and burial. This deed was intrinsically good, morally excellent, and spiritually pleasing because it flowed from a heart completely surrendered to Him, foreshadowing His sacrifice. Jesus thus validates selfless acts of costly worship that prioritize His person and mission, even if they appear irrational to human minds, ensuring that such profound devotion would forever be remembered alongside the Gospel message itself.