Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Standing behind at his feet (stasa opisw para touv podav autou). Second aorist active participle from isthmi and intransitive, first aorist esthsa being transitive. The guest removed his sandals before the meal and he reclined on the left side with the feet outward. She was standing beside (para) his feet
weeping (klaiousa). She was drawn irresistibly by gratitude to Jesus and is overcome with emotion before she can use the ointment; her tears (toiv dakrusin, instrumental case of dakru) take the place of the ointment.
Wiped them with the hair of her head (taiv qricin thv kefalhv authv ecemassen). Inchoative imperfect of an old verb ekmassw, to rub out or off, began to wipe off, an act of impulse evidently and of embarrassment. "Among the Jews it was a shameful thing for a woman to let down her hair in public; but she makes this sacrifice" (Plummer). So Mary of Bethany wiped the feet of Jesus with her hair (John 12:3) with a similar sacrifice out of her great love for Jesus. This fact is relied on by some to prove that Mary of Bethany had been a woman of bad character, surely an utter failure to recognize Mary's motive and act.
Kissed (katefilei). Imperfect active of katafilew, to kiss repeatedly (force of kata), and accented by the tense of continued action here. The word in the N.T. occurs here, of the prodigal's father (Luke 15:20), of the kiss of Judas (Mark 14:45; Matthew 26:49), of the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:37). " Kissing the feet was a common mark of deep reverence, especially to leading rabbis" (Plummer).
Anointed them with the ointment (hleifen tw murw). Imperfect active again of aleifw, a very common verb. Xriw has a more religious sense. The anointing came after the burst of emotional excitement.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 26:48
Mark 14:3
Luke 5:2
Luke 8:1
Luke 10:11
Luke 23:27
John 11:2
John 11:2
John 12:2
John 12:3
James 5:17
Revelation 7:17
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