Lance Carson
Mary's perfume was worth a small fortune. In John 12:3, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with a pound of ointment made of pure nard, a substance so expensive that it was usually reserved for kings and dignitaries. The cost of this perfume, estimated to be worth a year's salary or wage, approximately $40-$50K in today's money, caused outrage among Jesus' disciples, with Judas Iscariot suggesting that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worth in today's money | $40,000–$50,000 |
| Minimum value | 300 pence |
| Maximum value | 1313 pence |
| Wage rate in the Roman province during the Biblical period | 32 dollars–$32 |
| Value in days of salary | 300 days |
| Value in year's salary | 1 |
| Value in pieces of Athenian tetradrachm silver coin (using 365 days' wages) | 91 |
| Value in pieces of Athenian tetradrachm silver coin (using 300 days' wages) | 75 |
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What You'll Learn
Mary's perfume was worth a year's wages
Mary's perfume was an expensive gift, worth a year's wages for a worker in the Roman province during the Biblical period. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, questioned why the perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor, stating that it was worth 300 denarii, or a year's salary. In today's terms, Mary's perfume would be valued at approximately $40,000 to $50,000.
Mary's gift of a pound of ointment of spikenard, or nard, was a precious and costly offering. Spikenard was a rare and expensive substance, typically reserved for kings and nobility. The process of transforming it into perfume was lengthy and costly, and the additional cost of transporting it from India made it even more expensive. Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with this precious ointment was seen as a waste by some, but it deeply affected Jesus, who honoured her for her extravagance.
The value of Mary's perfume can be estimated by examining the cost of the raw materials and the labour involved in its production. Spikenard was a rare and valuable commodity, and the process of extracting the oil from the plant was complex and time-consuming. Additionally, the use of alabaster jars to store the perfume added to its cost. Alabaster, a precious stone found in Israel, was used to preserve the purity and scent of the perfume and was sealed with wax to prevent moisture absorption.
The value of a year's wages underscores the magnitude of Mary's gift. In a time when wages were meagre and resources scarce, Mary's sacrifice reflects her deep devotion and love for Jesus. Her willingness to offer such a costly gift reveals her priorities and the value she placed on honouring Jesus. This act of worship, though questioned by some, demonstrates a level of generosity and sacrifice that is truly remarkable.
The story of Mary's perfume serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of generosity and sacrifice in our own lives. It challenges us to examine our priorities and consider how we can honour the things we value most. While the monetary value of Mary's gift may be estimated, the true worth of her offering lies in the heart behind the gift and the impact it had on Jesus and those around him.
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It was made from pure nard
Nard, also known as spikenard, is a class of aromatic amber-coloured essential oil derived from Nardostachys jatamansi, a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family that grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. The oil has been used for centuries as a perfume, traditional medicine, or in religious ceremonies across a wide territory from India to Europe.
Spikenard was so expensive that few people could afford to buy it, and most had to settle for one of the many cheap imitations available. The process of turning the substance into perfume was lengthy and costly, and the cost of transporting spikenard from India to other parts of the world also contributed to its high price.
In the Bible, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard. This was an extremely expensive gift, worth a labourer's income for an entire year. In today's terms, this would be approximately $40-$50K.
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, indignantly asked why the perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. However, Jesus honoured Mary for her gift, saying, "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." Mary's gift revealed that Jesus was her highest priority.
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Nard was a costly substance from India
Nard, also known as spikenard, is a class of aromatic amber-coloured essential oil derived from the Nardostachys jatamansi plant, a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family that grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. The oil has been used for centuries as a perfume, traditional medicine, or in religious ceremonies across a wide territory from India to Europe. In ancient Rome, nardus was used to flavour wine, and it was the main ingredient of a perfume called unguentum nardinum.
Nard oil is extracted from the roots of the plant and has a strong, earthy fragrance often associated with luxury. The process of turning the substance into perfume is lengthy and costly. The plant's rhizomes are crushed and distilled to obtain the precious essential oil, which is thick and pale yellow. The high cost of nard can also be attributed to its purity and concentration, which sets it apart from other perfumes of its time. It was undiluted, ensuring that its scent remained potent and long-lasting.
The name "nard" comes from the Latin "nardus," derived from the Ancient Greek "nardos," which may have its origins in the Sanskrit "nalada," meaning "Indian spikenard." The transportation of spikenard from India to other parts of the world would have added to its high cost. In biblical times, the plant used to produce nard was unrelated to the American Spikenard, which grows in the Appalachian Mountains.
In the Bible, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with a pound of ointment of expensive spikenard, filling the house with a sweet aroma. The cost of the perfume is estimated to have been over a year's salary, which in today's terms would be approximately $40,000 to $50,000. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, protests that the perfume should have been sold, and the money given to the poor. However, Jesus honours Mary for her gift, saying that she bought it for his burial.
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Judas received 30 pieces of silver for betraying Jesus
Mary's gift of perfume to Jesus was extremely valuable. The Bible records that Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, was outraged at Mary's act, asking why the perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. According to John 12:5, Judas said: "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"
A denarius was worth a day's wage for labourers, so Judas was implying that Mary's perfume was worth 300 days of salary, or nearly a year's income. This was a substantial sum, and Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with such expensive perfume was seen as an extravagant expression of her love and honour for him.
Now, turning to Judas, it is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew that he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. This amount was agreed upon between Judas and the chief priests and temple guard officers, as mentioned in Matthew 26:14-15: "Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver."
The value of these 30 pieces of silver is not explicitly stated in the Bible, but it is believed to be the price paid for a slave's death and burial according to Mosaic Law (Exodus 21:32). In Hebrew culture, this amount was not considered a large sum. Donald Wiseman, a scholar, suggests that the silver pieces could have been tetradrachms of Tyre (also known as Tyrian shekels), staters from Antioch, or Ptolemaic tetradrachms, all of which had different weights and percentages of silver. Based on these variations, the 30 pieces of silver would be worth approximately $91 to $441 in present-day value.
The phrase "30 pieces of silver" has become synonymous with betrayal and selling out in literature and common speech. It is often used to describe a person who compromises trust, friendship, or loyalty for personal gain.
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The perfume was worth 300 denarii
Mary's perfume was worth 300 denarii, which was about a year's wages for a labourer at the time. A denarius was the average daily wage for a labourer in Jesus' time. This means that a labourer working six days a week for 50 weeks would earn approximately 300 denarii in a year.
In today's currency, 300 denarii would be equivalent to about $100. However, when compared to the average yearly salary in the US, it would be like Mary poured a $50,000 bottle of perfume on Jesus' feet.
The perfume was made of pure nard, a costly and precious substance. Nard was often kept in alabaster jars to preserve its scent and protect it from moisture. It was so valuable that some of Mary's companions, including Judas Iscariot, objected to its use, suggesting that it should have been sold and the money given to the poor.
However, Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with such expensive perfume symbolises the extravagant love and devotion she had for him. It is a reminder that sacrifices made for God are given to the One whose worth far outweighs all riches.
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Frequently asked questions
Mary's perfume was worth a year's wage, or 300 denarii, which was a day's wage for labourers.
300 denarii would have been worth between $32,000 and $40,000 in today's money.
The perfume was made from nard, which was costly to produce and transport from India.
Nard was usually reserved for kings and nobility.
Mary used the perfume to anoint Jesus' feet.
