(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

JOHN 11:2KJV
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John 11:2 (KJV)

What does John 11:2 mean?

John 11:2 identifies Mary as the woman who anointed the Lord Jesus with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, and notes that her brother Lazarus was the one who was sick. This verse connects Mary to a specific, well-known act of devotion and clarifies which Mary is being mentioned in the story.

John, the writer, is giving readers a reminder about Mary’s identity before telling the story of Lazarus’s illness and resurrection. The verse points back to an event that will be described later in John’s Gospel (John 12), helping readers keep track of the people involved. This detail sets the stage for understanding the relationships and emotional weight of the events that follow.

The Greek behind John 11:2

  • The word for "anointed" (ἠλείψεν, ēleipsen) means to pour or rub oil or ointment on someone, often as an act of honor or devotion. This highlights Mary’s deep respect and love for Jesus.
  • The word for "ointment" (μύρῳ, myrō) refers to a costly, fragrant oil used for special occasions, emphasizing the value of Mary’s gift.
  • The word for "wiped" (ἐξέμαξεν, exemaxen) means to dry or clean by wiping, showing the personal and humble nature of Mary’s action as she used her own hair.

Why John 11:2 matters

  • John 11:2 helps readers distinguish this Mary from other women named Mary in the Gospels, making it clear which person is involved in the story of Lazarus.
  • By mentioning Mary’s act of anointing Jesus before it is narrated in John 12, the verse signals the importance of her relationship with Jesus and foreshadows a key moment in his ministry.
  • This background detail prepares readers to understand the emotional connections and significance of the events in the rest of John 11, especially the reactions of Mary and her sister Martha to Lazarus’s illness and death.

Where else these words appear

“wiped” Greek G1591 · used in 5 verses

  • Luke 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
  • Luke 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
  • John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

“anointed” Greek G218 · used in 8 verses

  • Matthew 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
  • Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
  • Luke 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

“ointment” Greek G3464 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
  • Mark 14:4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
  • Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

“hair” Greek G2359 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
  • Luke 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
  • John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.