Luke - 7:46



46 You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Luke 7:46.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment.
My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but she with ointment hath anointed my feet.
My head with oil thou didst not anoint, but she has anointed my feet with myrrh.
with oil my head thou didst not anoint, but this woman with ointment did anoint my feet;
My head with oil you did not anoint: but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment.
No oil did you pour even on my head; but she has poured perfume upon my feet.
You put no oil on my head: but she has put perfume on my feet.
You did not anoint even my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

My head with oil - The custom of pouring oil upon the head was universal among the Jews. The oil used was sweet oil or oil of olives, prepared in such a way as to give an agreeable smell. It was also used to render the hair more smooth and elegant. See Ruth 3:3; 2-Samuel 12:20; 2-Samuel 14:2; Psalm 23:5.
With ointment - This "ointment" was a mixture of various aromatics, and was therefore far more costly and precious than the "oil" commonly used for anointing the head. Her conduct, compared with that of Simon, was therefore more striking. "He" did not give even the common oil "for his head" used on such occasions. "She" had applied to "his feet" a far more precious and valuable "unguent." "He" therefore, showed comparatively "little" love. "She" showed "much."

My head with oil thou didst not anoint - Anointing the head with oil was as common among the Jews as washing the face with water is among us. See Ruth 3:3; 2-Samuel 12:20; 2-Samuel 14:2; 2-Kings 4:2; and Psalm 23:5, where the author alludes to the Jewish manner of receiving and entertaining a guest. Thou preparest a table for me; anointest my head with oil; givest me an overflowing cup. See Matthew 5:17.

Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint,.... No not with common oil, so usually done at feasts, see Psalm 23:5
but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment; even "with ointment" "of spices", as the Syriac version renders it. There is, throughout the whole account, an opposition between the conduct of Simon, and this woman: he gave him no common water to wash his feet with, she shed floods of tears, and with them bathed his feet, and then wiped them clean with the hairs of her head; he gave him not the usual salutation by kissing his head or lips, but she kissed his feet, and that over and over again; he did not so much as anoint his head with common oil, when she anointed his feet with costly ointment brought in an alabaster box. These several ceremonies to guests were used by their hosts, in other nations, such as washing, anointing, and kissing (c).
(c) Vid. Apuleii Metamorph. i. 1. prope finem.

with oil . . . not anoint--even common olive oil in contrast with the woman's "ointment" or aromatic balsam. What evidence was thus afforded of any feeling which forgiveness prompts? Our Lord speaks this with delicate politeness, as if hurt at these inattentions of His host, which though not invariably shown to guests, were the customary marks of studied respect and regard. The inference is plain--only one of the debtors was really forgiven, though in the first instance, to give room for the play of withheld feelings, the forgiveness of both is supposed in the parable.

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