Mark Chapter 14, Verse 3
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3: και οντος αυτου εν βηθανια εν τη οικια σιμωνος του λεπρου κατακειμενου αυτου ηλθεν γυνη εχουσα αλαβαστρον μυρου ναρδου πιστικης πολυτελους και συντριψασα το αλαβαστρον κατεχεεν αυτου κατα της κεφαλης
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.
3: And when he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, and
was at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of
precious spikenard. And breaking the alabaster box, she poured it out
upon his head.
Ointment. This word does not convey quite the proper meaning. This was a perfume: it was used only to give a pleasant odour, and was liquid.
Of spikenard. The nard, from which this perfume was made, is a plant of the East Indies, with a small slender stalk, and a heavy, thick root. The best perfume is obtained from the root, though the stalk and fruit are used for that purpose.
And she brake the box. This may mean no more than that she broke the seal of the box. so that it could be poured out. Boxes of perfumes are often sealed, or made fast with wax, to prevent the perfume from escaping. It was not likely that she would break the box itself when it was unnecessary; and when the unguent, being liquid, would have been wasted, when it was very precious. Nor from a broken box or phial, could she easily have poured it on his head.
