Matthew 26:7

a woman came to him with an alabaster jar ¹  of expensive perfumed oil, ²  and she poured it on his head as he was at the table. ³ 

Ex 30:23-33; Ps 133:2; Ec 9:8; Ec 10:1; So 1:3; Isa 57:9; Lu 7:37,38,46; Joh 12:2,3

¹ sn A jar made of alabaster stone was normally used for very precious substances like perfumes. It normally had a long neck which was sealed and had to be broken off so the contents could be used.

² tn Μύρον (muron) was usually made of myrrh (from which the English word is derived) but here it is used in the sense of ointment or perfumed oil (L&N 6.205).

sn Nard or spikenard is a fragrant oil from the root and spike of the nard plant of northern India. This perfumed oil, if made of something like nard, would have been extremely expensive, costing up to a year’s pay for an average laborer.

³ tn Grk “as he was reclining at table.”

sn 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.