Mark 14:8

KJV

She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

KJV (with Strong's)

She hath done {G4160} what {G3739} she {G3778}{G846} could {G2192}: she is come aforehand {G4301} to anoint {G3462} my {G3450} body {G4983} to {G1519} the burying {G1780}.

Complete Jewish Bible

What she could do, she did do -- in advance she poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial.

Berean Standard Bible

She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.

American Standard Version

She hath done what she could; she hath anointed my body beforehand for the burying.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Mark 14:8, Jesus profoundly defends a woman's extravagant act of anointing Him with costly perfume, interpreting her deed as a prescient and deeply significant preparation of His body for burial. This verse unveils Jesus's unique perspective on genuine devotion, valuing the sincere, costly sacrifice of the heart over the pragmatic, worldly calculations of His disciples, and underscores His sovereign awareness of His impending death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This poignant event occurs in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, just two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a time when the chief priests and scribes were actively plotting Jesus's arrest and execution ([Mark 14:1-2](/mark/14-1-2 "Mark 14:1-2 - Plot to Kill Jesus")). Amidst this escalating tension, a woman enters and pours expensive pure nard on Jesus's head. The disciples, particularly Judas Iscariot as noted in the parallel account in [John 12:4-5](/john/12-4-5 "John 12:4-5 - Judas's Objection"), react with indignation, deeming the act a wasteful extravagance that could have benefited the poor. Jesus, however, immediately silences their criticism, offering a divine interpretation of her actions that transcends their earthly understanding, setting the stage for His ultimate sacrifice.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Anointing with oil was a common practice in ancient Israel, used for hospitality ([Luke 7:46](/luke/7-46 "Luke 7:46 - Anointing of Jesus by a Sinful Woman")), for medicinal purposes, and significantly, for preparing bodies for burial ([John 19:40](/john/19-40 "John 19:40 - Jesus's Burial Preparation")). The spikenard mentioned was a highly prized and expensive aromatic oil, imported from India, often costing a year's wages or more, indicating the immense value of the woman's sacrifice. Jewish burial customs typically involved washing and anointing the deceased's body before interment. Jesus's statement, therefore, highlights that this woman's act was a rare, preemptive anointing, as the usual post-mortem rituals would be truncated due to the haste of His crucifixion and Sabbath observance ([Mark 16:1](/mark/16-1 "Mark 16:1 - The Women at the Tomb")).
* **Key Themes:** Mark 14:8 contributes to several overarching themes within the Gospel of Mark. Firstly, it starkly contrasts **genuine devotion versus worldly pragmatism**, showcasing the woman's selfless love against the disciples' utilitarian objections. Secondly, it powerfully illustrates Jesus's **prophetic awareness and sovereignty** over His own death; He knows His time is near and interprets the anointing as a direct preparation for it, a theme echoed in His earlier passion predictions ([Mark 8:31](/mark/8-31 "Mark 8:31 - Jesus Predicts His Death")). Thirdly, the passage underscores the **disciples' recurring misunderstanding** of Jesus's mission and identity, a motif prevalent throughout Mark's narrative, where even those closest to Jesus struggle to grasp the spiritual depth of His kingdom ([Mark 9:32](/mark/9-32 "Mark 9:32 - Disciples' Lack of Understanding")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **done (Greek, _poiéō'_):** This verb signifies to "make or do" in a very wide application, encompassing actions, execution, and performance. In this context, it emphasizes the woman's active, intentional, and complete performance of her act of devotion. Jesus affirms that she fully carried out what she set out to do, valuing the completeness of her offering.
* **could (Greek, _échō'_):** Meaning "to hold" or "to have," this word here denotes ability or capacity. Jesus's phrase "she hath done what she could" means she did what was within her power, what she was capable of doing, implying she gave her utmost. It speaks to the sincerity and totality of her effort, not merely the material value of the gift.
* **aforehand (Greek, _prolambánō'_):** This term means "to take in advance" or "to anticipate." It highlights the preemptive nature of the woman's anointing. She performed an act typically reserved for after death, but she did it beforehand, recognizing, perhaps intuitively, the urgency and unique timing of Jesus's impending burial. This underscores the prophetic significance Jesus attaches to her action.
* **burying (Greek, _entaphiasmós'_):** Derived from a word meaning "preparation for interment," this noun specifically refers to the act of preparing a body for burial. Jesus's use of this word clarifies the ultimate purpose and profound meaning of the woman's anointing, linking it directly to His imminent death and the customary rituals associated with it, which would otherwise be omitted for Him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"She hath done what she could:"** This opening clause is Jesus's emphatic defense and affirmation of the woman's action. It highlights His focus on the heart and intention behind an act of devotion rather than its perceived practicality or monetary value. Jesus commends her for giving her absolute best, indicating that the measure of true worship is not in its quantity but in the totality of one's sincere effort and sacrifice.
* **"she is come aforehand":** This phrase emphasizes the timely and prophetic nature of her act. The woman's anointing was not a mere spontaneous gesture but, in Jesus's interpretation, a divinely orchestrated or intuitively guided action that anticipated a future event. She performed a burial rite *before* His death, signifying its unique importance and Jesus's sovereign control over the timing and circumstances of His passion.
* **"to anoint my body to the burying."** This final clause reveals the profound significance Jesus attributes to the woman's deed. He explicitly states that her anointing was for His burial, transforming a seemingly ordinary act of hospitality into a sacred, prophetic preparation for His death. It underscores His full awareness of His impending suffering and death, and His acceptance of this anointing as a personal, intimate act of worship in light of His ultimate sacrifice.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 14:8 is rich with literary devices that amplify its theological weight. **Symbolism** is central, as the costly ointment represents not only the woman's profound devotion but also the preciousness of Jesus's life and the sacrifice He was about to make. The anointing itself **foreshadows** Jesus's death and burial, serving as a private, intimate preparation for His public crucifixion. There is a strong element of **irony** in the disciples' pragmatic, critical response versus the woman's intuitive, spiritually discerning act; those closest to Jesus fail to grasp the spiritual significance, while an outsider performs a deed of immense prophetic import. This also creates a **contrast** between worldly values (monetary worth, charity) and divine values (heartfelt worship, sacrificial love). Furthermore, Jesus's statement functions as a **prophecy**, confirming His impending death and the specific manner of His burial, validating the woman's act as a pre-burial anointing.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 14:8 offers profound theological insights into the nature of true worship, the value of sacrificial love, and Jesus's sovereign control over His destiny. It teaches that God values the sincere, costly offering of the heart above all else, even if that offering appears wasteful or impractical from a human perspective. The woman's act, though simple, becomes a powerful testament to unreserved devotion, anticipating the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Jesus's acceptance and interpretation of her anointing affirm His identity as the Suffering Servant who willingly lays down His life, and His authority to interpret events in light of His divine mission. This passage underscores that acts of genuine love and worship, offered to Christ, are never wasted but are eternally significant and pleasing to God.

* [John 12:1-8](/john/12-1-8 "John 12:1-8 - Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany")
* [Luke 7:36-50](/luke/7-36-50 "Luke 7:36-50 - Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman")
* [Philippians 4:18](/philippians/4-18 "Philippians 4:18 - A Fragrant Offering to God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 14:8 challenges believers to re-evaluate their understanding of worship, sacrifice, and the true measure of devotion. In a world that often prioritizes efficiency, practicality, and visible returns, Jesus commends an act that was deemed "wasteful" by His own disciples. This prompts us to consider: Are we willing to offer our "best" to Christ, even if it seems extravagant or is misunderstood by others? Do we measure our service by human standards of utility, or by the depth of love and sincerity in our hearts? This passage encourages us to cultivate a radical, unreserved love for Jesus, one that is willing to give costly sacrifice without seeking external validation or fearing criticism. It reminds us that our acts of devotion, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, are deeply valued by our Lord when offered from a pure heart, and they can carry profound spiritual significance in His divine plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "costly" acts of worship or service might Christ be calling me to offer, even if they seem impractical to others?**
* **How does my understanding of "waste" align with or diverge from Jesus's perspective in this passage?**
* **In what ways might I be prone to judging others' acts of devotion based on my own pragmatic or materialistic viewpoints?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart of unreserved devotion that seeks to give its "best" to Jesus, regardless of external recognition?**

### FAQ
**Who was the woman who anointed Jesus, and why is her identity significant?**

Answer: In Mark's Gospel, the woman is unnamed, simply referred to as "a woman." However, the parallel account in [John 12:1-8](/john/12-1-8 "John 12:1-8 - Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany") identifies her as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Her identity as Mary is significant because she is consistently portrayed as one who prioritizes devotion to Jesus, famously choosing to sit at His feet and listen to His teaching over helping her sister Martha with household duties ([Luke 10:38-42](/luke/10-38-42 "Luke 10:38-42 - Mary and Martha")). This consistent characterization reinforces the theme of profound, unreserved devotion that Jesus commends in [Mark 14:8](/mark/14-8 "Mark 14:8 - The Anointing at Bethany").

**Why was this act of anointing so important to Jesus, especially given the disciples' objections?**

Answer: Jesus's defense of the woman's act reveals its profound spiritual and prophetic significance. While the disciples, particularly Judas, saw the anointing as a "waste" of valuable resources that could have been given to the poor ([Mark 14:4-5](/mark/14-4-5 "Mark 14:4-5 - The Disciples' Indignation")), Jesus understood it as a direct, timely, and divinely appointed preparation for His imminent death and burial. Jewish custom involved anointing bodies for burial, but Jesus's burial would be hasty and incomplete due to the circumstances of His crucifixion. Therefore, this woman's act was a unique, preemptive anointing, a final act of devotion to His living body before His ultimate sacrifice. Jesus's acceptance of this act underscored His sovereign awareness of His passion and validated the woman's intuitive understanding of His true mission as the Suffering Servant.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The woman's anointing of Jesus's body for burial in [Mark 14:8](/mark/14-8 "Mark 14:8 - The Anointing at Bethany") finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Christ. Her act, performed "aforehand," prophetically points to the reality of Jesus's impending death and burial, an event central to God's redemptive plan. Jesus, the true Anointed One (Christos), was not merely anointed by human hands for a physical burial, but was divinely appointed and prepared to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. Her costly offering foreshadows the infinitely greater cost of Christ's own life, poured out on the cross as a fragrant offering to God ([Ephesians 5:2](/ephesians/5-2 "Ephesians 5:2 - Christ's Sacrificial Love")). The anointing for burial anticipates the very purpose for which Jesus came: to lay down His life, conquer death, and rise again, thereby securing salvation for all who believe ([1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - The Gospel Message")). Thus, the woman's act becomes a beautiful, albeit partial, reflection of the Father's anointing of His Son for the ultimate redemptive work, culminating in the complete and perfect sacrifice of the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Corinthians 8:12

For if there be first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to that a man hath, [and] not according to that he hath not.

John 12:7

Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

2 Corinthians 8:1

¶ Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2 Corinthians 8:3

For to [their] power, I bear record, yea, and beyond [their] power [they were] willing of themselves;

2 Chronicles 31:20

And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought [that which was] good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

2 Chronicles 31:21

And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did [it] with all his heart, and prospered.

Mark 15:42

¶ And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,