^12:5“Why wasn’t this oil sold for three hundred silver coins¹⁰ and the money¹¹ given to the poor?” ^12:6(Now Judas¹² said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box,¹³ he used to steal what was put into it.)¹⁴

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Footnotes

10 Grk “three hundred denarii.” The denarius was a silver coin worth a standard day’s wage, so the value exceeded what a laborer could earn in a year (taking into account Sabbaths and feast days when no work was done).
11 The words “the money” are not in the Greek text, but are implied (as the proceeds from the sale of the perfumed oil).
12 Grk “he”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
13 Grk “a thief, and having the money box.” Dividing the single Greek sentence improves the English style.
14 This is a parenthetical note by the author. This is one of the indications in the gospels that Judas was of bad character before the betrayal of Jesus. John states that he was a thief and had responsibility for the finances of the group. More than being simply a derogatory note about Judas’ character, the inclusion of the note at this particular point in the narrative may be intended to link the frustrated greed of Judas here with his subsequent decision to betray Jesus for money. The parallel accounts in Matthew and Mark seem to indicate that after this incident Judas went away immediately and made his deal with the Jewish authorities to deliver up Jesus. Losing out on one source of sordid gain, he immediately went out and set up another.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

NLTNew Living Translation

“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (Now he said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.)

KJV 1900King James Version

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

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