CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/12-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/43_Jhn_12_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 12:1 - Mary Anoints Jesus" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/12-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/12-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/12.htm">Chapter 12</a> > Verse 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/11-57.htm" title="John 11:57">◄</a> John 12:1 <a href="/john/12-2.htm" title="John 12:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/12.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/12.htm">New International Version</a> Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/nlt/john/12.htm">New Living Translation</a> Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. <a href="/esv/john/12.htm">English Standard Version</a> Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/bsb/john/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. <a href="/blb/john/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised out from the dead. <a href="/kjv/john/12.htm">King James Bible</a> Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. <a href="/nkjv/john/12.htm">New King James Version</a> Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. <a href="/nasb_/john/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Therefore, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/nasb/john/12.htm">NASB 1995</a> Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/nasb77/john/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/lsb/john/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/amp/john/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom He had raised from the dead. <a href="/csb/john/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/hcsb/john/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/asv/john/12.htm">American Standard Version</a> Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. <a href="/cev/john/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Six days before Passover Jesus went back to Bethany, where he had raised Lazarus from death. <a href="/erv/john/12.htm">English Revised Version</a> Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. <a href="/gwt/john/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany. Lazarus, whom Jesus had brought back to life, lived there. <a href="/gnt/john/12.htm">Good News Translation</a> Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death. <a href="/isv/john/12.htm">International Standard Version</a> Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany, where Lazarus lived, the man whom Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/msb/john/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus who had died, whom He had raised from the dead. <a href="/net/john/12.htm">NET Bible</a> Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom he had raised from the dead. <a href="/nheb/john/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. <a href="/wbt/john/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then Jesus, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. <a href="/wey/john/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Jesus, however, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was whom He had raised from the dead. <a href="/web/john/12.htm">World English Bible</a> Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had died, whom He raised out of the dead; <a href="/blb/john/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised out from the dead. <a href="/ylt/john/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Jesus, therefore, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where was Lazarus, who had died, whom he raised out of the dead; <a href="/slt/john/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Then Jesus, six days before the pascha, came to Bethany, where was Lazarus the dead, whom he raised from the dead.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> JESUS therefore, six days before the pasch, came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life. <a href="/cpdv/john/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Then six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethania, where Lazarus had died, whom Jesus raised up. <a href="/nabre/john/12.htm">New American Bible</a> Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/nrsvce/john/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> SIX days before the passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/12.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> But Yeshua came to Bethany before the six days of the Passover, where Lazar was, whom Yeshua had raised from the grave.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/12.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Then, six days before the passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he had raised from the dead. <a href="/godbey/john/12.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Then Jesus, six days before the passover came into Bethany, where Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, was, <a href="/haweis/john/12.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> JESUS then before the days of the passover came to Bethany, where the deceased Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead. <a href="/mace/john/12.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Six days before the passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, and raised to life again. <a href="/wey/john/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Jesus, however, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was whom He had raised from the dead. <a href="/worrell/john/12.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Jesus, therefore, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. <a href="/worsley/john/12.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Jesus however, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, and whom He raised from the dead. <a href="/parallel/john/12-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=4322" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/12.htm">Mary Anoints Jesus</a> 1<a href="/greek/3767.htm" title="3767: oun (Conj) -- Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly."></a> <a href="/greek/1803.htm" title="1803: hex (Adj-GFP) -- Six. A primary numeral; six.">Six</a> <a href="/greek/2250.htm" title="2250: hēmerōn (N-GFP) -- A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. ">days</a> <a href="/greek/4253.htm" title="4253: pro (Prep) -- A primary preposition; fore, i.e. In front of, prior to.">before</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3957.htm" title="3957: pascha (N-GNS) -- The feast of Passover, the Passover lamb. Of Chaldee origin; the Passover.">Passover,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsous (N-NMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">Jesus</a> <a href="/greek/2064.htm" title="2064: ēlthen (V-AIA-3S) -- To come, go. ">came</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.">to</a> <a href="/greek/963.htm" title="963: Bēthanian (N-AFS) -- Of Chaldee origin; date-house; Beth-any, a place in Palestine.">Bethany,</a> <a href="/greek/3699.htm" title="3699: hopou (Adv) -- Where, whither, in what place. From hos and pou; what(-ever) where, i.e. At whichever spot.">the hometown of</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēn (V-IIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist."></a> <a href="/greek/2976.htm" title="2976: Lazaros (N-NMS) -- Probably of Hebrew origin; Lazarus, the name of two Israelites.">Lazarus,</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hon (RelPro-AMS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">whom</a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsous (N-NMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">He</a> <a href="/greek/1453.htm" title="1453: ēgeiren (V-AIA-3S) -- (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.">had raised</a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: ek (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.">from</a> <a href="/greek/3498.htm" title="3498: nekrōn (Adj-GMP) -- (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.">the dead.</a> 2So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/11-1.htm">John 11:1-2</a> At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. / (Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.) <a href="/matthew/26-6.htm">Matthew 26:6-13</a> While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, / a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table. / When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? ... <a href="/mark/14-3.htm">Mark 14:3-9</a> While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head. / Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume? / It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. ... <a href="/luke/10-38.htm">Luke 10:38-42</a> As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. / She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. / But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” ... <a href="/john/11-43.htm">John 11:43-44</a> After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” / The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them. <a href="/john/11-55.htm">John 11:55-57</a> Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. / They kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts, “What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?” / But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was must report it, so that they could arrest Him. <a href="/john/11-17.htm">John 11:17-19</a> When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb. / Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away, / and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother. <a href="/john/11-45.htm">John 11:45-46</a> Therefore many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him. / But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. <a href="/john/11-25.htm">John 11:25-26</a> Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” <a href="/john/11-5.htm">John 11:5</a> Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. <a href="/john/11-30.htm">John 11:30-31</a> Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him. / When the Jews who were in the house consoling Mary saw how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. <a href="/john/11-20.htm">John 11:20-22</a> So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home. / Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. / But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.” <a href="/john/11-32.htm">John 11:32-33</a> When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” / When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. <a href="/john/11-27.htm">John 11:27</a> “Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” <a href="/john/11-28.htm">John 11:28-29</a> After Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside to tell her, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” / And when Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.six.<a href="/john/11-55.htm">John 11:55</a> And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.Bethany.<a href="/john/11-1.htm">John 11:1,44</a> Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha… <a href="/matthew/21-17.htm">Matthew 21:17</a> And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.<a href="/mark/11-11.htm">Mark 11:11</a> And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/6-25.htm">Arrived</a> <a href="/john/11-18.htm">Bethany</a> <a href="/john/11-44.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/john/11-39.htm">Died</a> <a href="/john/11-38.htm">However</a> <a href="/john/11-57.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/11-14.htm">Lazarus</a> <a href="/john/11-55.htm">Passover</a> <a href="/john/11-41.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/john/4-6.htm">Six</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/20-6.htm">Arrived</a> <a href="/matthew/21-17.htm">Bethany</a> <a href="/john/12-9.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/john/18-14.htm">Died</a> <a href="/john/12-10.htm">However</a> <a href="/john/12-2.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/12-2.htm">Lazarus</a> <a href="/john/13-1.htm">Passover</a> <a href="/john/12-9.htm">Raised</a> <a href="/john/19-14.htm">Six</a><div class="vheading2">John 12</div>1. <a href="/john/12-1.htm">Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet.</a> 9. <a href="/john/12-9.htm">The people flock to see Lazarus.</a> 10. <a href="/john/12-10.htm">The chief priests consult to kill him.</a> 12. <a href="/john/12-12.htm">Jesus rides into Jerusalem.</a> 20. <a href="/john/12-20.htm">Greeks desire to see Jesus.</a> 23. <a href="/john/12-23.htm">He foretells his death.</a> 37. <a href="/john/12-37.htm">The people are generally blinded;</a> 42. <a href="/john/12-42.htm">yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him;</a> 44. <a href="/john/12-44.htm">therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/12.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/12.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Six days before the Passover This phrase situates the events in a specific timeframe, just before the Jewish festival of Passover, which commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. The timing is significant as it marks the beginning of the final week of Jesus' earthly ministry, leading to His crucifixion. Passover is a time of pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and many Jews would be traveling to the city, heightening the anticipation and tension surrounding Jesus' actions and teachings. The Passover lamb, central to the festival, is a type of Christ, the Lamb of God, who would soon be sacrificed for the sins of the world (<a href="/john/1-29.htm">John 1:29</a>).Jesus came to Bethany Bethany is a small village located about two miles east of Jerusalem, on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives. It served as a place of refuge and rest for Jesus during His visits to Jerusalem. The village is significant in Jesus' ministry, as it is the home of His close friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Bethany's proximity to Jerusalem made it a strategic location for Jesus to stay during the Passover week, allowing Him to enter the city each day and return to a place of safety and support.the hometown of Lazarus Lazarus is a key figure in the Gospel of John, particularly known for being raised from the dead by Jesus in <a href="/john/11.htm">John 11</a>. This miracle is one of the most significant signs in John's Gospel, demonstrating Jesus' power over death and foreshadowing His own resurrection. Lazarus' resurrection also serves as a catalyst for the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion, as it intensified the Jewish leaders' desire to kill Him (<a href="/john/11-53.htm">John 11:53</a>). The mention of Lazarus here reminds readers of Jesus' authority and the growing tension between Him and the religious authorities.whom He had raised from the dead This phrase highlights the miraculous power of Jesus and His authority over life and death. The raising of Lazarus is a pivotal event that not only demonstrates Jesus' divine nature but also serves as a testament to His claim of being the "resurrection and the life" (<a href="/john/11-25.htm">John 11:25</a>). This miracle is a precursor to Jesus' own resurrection and is a powerful testament to His identity as the Son of God. It also underscores the theme of belief and unbelief, as many who witnessed the miracle believed in Jesus, while others reported it to the Pharisees, leading to increased opposition against Him.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> Central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who is preparing for His final week leading to the crucifixion. 2. <a href="/topical/b/bethany.htm">Bethany</a> A village near Jerusalem, significant as the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, and a place where Jesus often visited. 3. <a href="/topical/l/lazarus.htm">Lazarus</a> A close friend of Jesus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, demonstrating His power over life and death. 4. <a href="/topical/p/passover.htm">Passover</a> A major Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, symbolizing deliverance and redemption. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_event.htm">The Event</a> Jesus' arrival in Bethany marks the beginning of the events leading up to His crucifixion, highlighting His deliberate journey towards fulfilling His mission.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_sacrifice.htm">Preparation for Sacrifice</a> Jesus' arrival in Bethany six days before Passover signifies His readiness to fulfill His role as the sacrificial Lamb. Believers are called to prepare their hearts for worship and service. <a href="/topical/s/significance_of_bethany.htm">Significance of Bethany</a> Bethany represents a place of refuge and friendship for Jesus. Christians are encouraged to cultivate relationships and communities that support spiritual growth. <a href="/topical/p/power_over_death.htm">Power over Death</a> The mention of Lazarus reminds us of Jesus' authority over life and death, offering hope and assurance of eternal life for believers. <a href="/topical/i/intentionality_in_ministry.htm">Intentionality in Ministry</a> Jesus' deliberate actions leading to the crucifixion teach us the importance of intentionality in our spiritual walk and ministry. <a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_passover.htm">Symbolism of Passover</a> Understanding the Passover's symbolism helps believers appreciate the depth of Jesus' sacrifice and the deliverance it brings.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_12.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 12</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_reform_judaism.htm">What is Bethany's significance in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/bethany's_role_in_the_bible.htm">What is Bethany's significance in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/what's_the_alabaster_box's_theme.htm">What is the main theme of The Alabaster Box?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_matthew's_anointing_differ.htm">In Matthew 26:6–13, why does the anointing scene differ from similar accounts in other Gospels regarding the woman’s identity and purpose of the act? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>XII.(1) Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany.--The whole question of the arrangement of days during this last great week depends upon the conclusion which we adopt with regard to the day on which our Lord was crucified. The discussion of this is reserved for a separate Note, where it may be fully dealt with. (Comp. Excursus F: The Day of the Crucifixion of our Lord.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 1-8. - 1. The feast of love and gratitude. Verse 1. - Jesus therefore, six days before the Passover. Every preliminary of that solemn feast is memorable to our evangelist. The coincidence of the Passover feast and the killing of the Paschal lamb, with the sacrifice of "Christ our Passover," cannot be concealed. [For the grammatical construction with πρὸ, cf. note, <a href="/john/11-18.htm">John 11:18</a>, where a similar use of ἀπό occurs; not, however, a Latinism, as some have supposed, as similar phrases are found in good Greek (see Winer, ' Greek Gram.,' p. 69).] The date from which the calculation is made is complicated with the intricate controversy upon the day of our Lord's death, i.e. whether he suffered on the 14th or 15th of Nisan, and whether a "harmony" is possible or not with the statements of the synoptists, who all three assert that our Lord ate the Passover with his disciples (see Introduction, pp. 92-94.). However this matter be finally settled, if the 14th of Nisan was the day on which the Passover was killed, "between the evenings," the 13th was reckoned as the first day before the Passover, and the sixth day would be the 8th of Nisan. If the weekly sabbath occurred on the 16th, then the 9th also was a sabbath. The Lord would then have reached Bethany on the eve of the sabbath, and have rested on the sabbath itself. The evening of the 9th would be the occasion of the feast, and the 10th would correspond with Palm Sunday. If the Lord were crucified on the 14th, and the weekly sabbath coincided with the Passover-day of convocation, the 15th, then the previous sabbath was on the 8th, and our Lord must have reached Bethany in "the end of the sabbath," and then the feast was on the following day. When Jesus halted at Bethany, the vast crowd of pilgrims advanced into the suburbs of Jerusalem, encamping on the Mount of Olives, and would be ready for the great demonstration of the next day. Westcott, after Bengel, observes that John's Gospel begins and ends with a sacred week (cf. <a href="/john/1-29.htm">John 1:29-35, 43</a>; <a href="/john/2-1.htm">John 2:1</a>). Jesus therefore, sis days before the Passover, came to Bethany. The quiet rest of that last sabbath with the family at Bethany is a thought full of suggestion. Thoma accounts for the triumphal feast and anointing, "six days before the Passover," as answering to the day on which the lamb was separated from other and secular animals, and consecrated for this holy service (<a href="/exodus/12-3.htm">Exodus 12:3-6</a>; <a href="/hebrews/7-26.htm">Hebrews 7:26</a>). The segregation, however, was partial or premature, and the anointing (see below) took place five days before the Passover. It is not said that the day of his arrival at Bethany is the day of the festive welcome. Bethany is described as the place where Lazarus was. The explanatory clause, he who had been dead, is not necessary, as the evangelist limits and explains sufficiently the great motive for his pause and presence at Bethany by adding, whom he (Jesus) raised from the dead. It is extraordinary that some most able expositors should be so unwilling to accept the synchronous statements of the synoptists. Their narrative is not out of harmony with the hypothesis that our Lord passed the previous days with the pilgrim-band from Peraea, and that, taking the head of the procession as it was passing through Jericho., he should thus have distinctly challenged the authorities, and taken up the public position to which they were anxious he should lay claim. By his visit to the house of Zacchaeus he proclaimed the new feature and spirit of his kingdom; by healing the blind man he gave a typical illustration of the work of grace needed by all his disciples; by resting at the home where human love and Divine power had been so wonderfully blended he called the most solemn attention to his supreme claims; by pressing on with urgency up the steep mountain pathway at the head of his disciples he seemed to be ready, in his own words, "to lay down his life, that he might take it again." The οϋν, according to Meyer, is simply the resumption of the narrative, but surely those are right who regard it as a distinct reference to <a href="/john/11-55.htm">John 11:55</a>. The Sanhedrists had given the ἐντολή that if any knew where he was, they should declare it. Christ was resolved, now that his hour was come, to lift the whole responsibility from his friends, and take it upon himself. The other evangelists do not mention the halt. Their purpose was not a chronological one. They give the narrative of the anointing apart from its deepest meanings and consequences, apart from any references to Lazarus (see <a href="/matthew/26-6.htm">Matthew 26:6-12</a>; <a href="/mark/14-1.htm">Mark 14:1-11</a>). There are other subtle omissions from the synoptists, the difficulties of which must be settled as between themselves. Thus, according to <a href="/mark/11-12.htm">Mark 11:12</a> and 20, an interval of a whole day and night took place between the withering of the fig tree and the conversation about it, but Matthew makes the conversation follow immediately upon the miracle. In like manner, John abstains from any reference to the discussions in the temple, to the withering of the fig tree, to the cleansing of the temple, or to the parables which followed. <a href="/commentaries/john/12-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Six ἓξ (hex) Adjective - Genitive Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1803.htm">Strong's 1803: </a> Six. A primary numeral; six. days ἡμερῶν (hēmerōn) Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2250.htm">Strong's 2250: </a> A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. before πρὸ (pro) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_4253.htm">Strong's 4253: </a> A primary preposition; 'fore', i.e. In front of, prior to. the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Passover, πάσχα (pascha) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3957.htm">Strong's 3957: </a> The feast of Passover, the Passover lamb. Of Chaldee origin; the Passover. Jesus Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. came ἦλθεν (ēlthen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2064.htm">Strong's 2064: </a> To come, go. to εἰς (eis) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1519.htm">Strong's 1519: </a> A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. Bethany, Βηθανίαν (Bēthanian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_963.htm">Strong's 963: </a> Of Chaldee origin; date-house; Beth-any, a place in Palestine. [the hometown of] ὅπου (hopou) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3699.htm">Strong's 3699: </a> Where, whither, in what place. From hos and pou; what(-ever) where, i.e. At whichever spot. Lazarus, Λάζαρος (Lazaros) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2976.htm">Strong's 2976: </a> Probably of Hebrew origin; Lazarus, the name of two Israelites. whom ὃν (hon) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> Who, which, what, that. [He] Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. had raised ἤγειρεν (ēgeiren) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1453.htm">Strong's 1453: </a> (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse. from ἐκ (ek) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1537.htm">Strong's 1537: </a> From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. [the] dead. νεκρῶν (nekrōn) Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3498.htm">Strong's 3498: </a> (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/12-1.htm">John 12:1 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/12-1.htm">NT Gospels: John 12:1 Then six days before the Passover Jesus (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/11-57.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 11:57"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 11:57" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/12-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 12:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 12:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>