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 7:38KJV
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Luke 7:38 (KJV)

What does Luke 7:38 mean?

Luke 7:38 describes a woman expressing deep emotion and respect toward Jesus during a meal. Her tears fall on his feet, and she uses her hair and the ointment she has brought to care for them.

Jesus is reclining at the table, so his feet extend away from it, where the woman can stand behind him. Luke tells the scene as a series of actions rather than as a speech. After the woman brings an alabaster container of ointment in verse 37, her attention turns to Jesus’ feet.

The Greek behind Luke 7:38

  • “wash” — βρέχω (brechō): The word carries the sense of wetting or making something wet. Here, the woman’s tears wet Jesus’ feet; the KJV describes that action as washing.
  • “kissed” — καταφιλέω (kataphileō): The word can carry the sense of kissing warmly or repeatedly. Luke’s word gives a vivid picture of the affection in her gesture.
  • “ointment” — μύρον (myron): This refers to a fragrant oil or perfume. The woman applies the scented substance to Jesus’ feet.

Why Luke 7:38 matters

  • The woman’s actions become part of a conversation about welcome and love. Later, Jesus contrasts her care for his feet with the welcome he received from his host, Simon (verses 44–46).
  • The surrounding passage connects her actions with forgiveness. Jesus speaks of her love in verse 47 and tells her that her sins are forgiven in verse 48.
  • Luke distinguishes the woman from Simon’s judgment of her. Simon calls her a sinner in verse 39, while Jesus directs his attention to what she has done.

Where else these words appear

“wipe” Greek G1591 · used in 5 verses

  • 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 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
  • 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.

“wash” Greek G1026 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
  • 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.
  • James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

“kissed” Greek G2705 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
  • Mark 14:45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
  • Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

“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.
  • John 11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)