After being condemned by the Pharisees for letting a woman "sinner" wash his feet with her tears, and giving a parable.
Luke 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Luke 7:46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
With oil, this head of mine you did not rub down. She, however, with perfume herself rub down these feet of mine.
Honor those whom we welcome into our homes.
The word "anoint" here in Greek is not the "anoint" of the Greek word for "Christ." It is a word associated with the rubbing down of atheletes with oil and grooming the hair. "Rub down" works the best here. Jesus only uses this word in two verses.
The subjective pronoun "she" is used here, emphasizing it, repeating the word already in the subject. It is translated as "this woman" in the KJV and, though correctly translated in the NIV, is not repeated with the verb.
The word "oil" is the common word for oil, but the second means "sweet oil" or "perfume."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "head" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "this" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "woman" should be something more like "she."
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "herself/ itself" after "she/it" for emphasis.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "feet" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "put."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "on" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "head" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW -- Missing Word -- This subject pronoun duplicates information in the verb so it needs a "herself/ itself" after "she/it" for emphasis.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "poured" should be something more like "anoint."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "feet" is not shown in the English translation.
My .-- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine." Usually follows the noun so, "of mine."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
head -- The term translated as "head," it means "head" and "top" but also the completion of a thing (as we say, "bringing it to a head"). It is also a metaphor for life ("losing your head" in Greek doesn't mean an emotional outburst, but being killed).
with -- This word "with" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
oil -- "Oil" is from a noun that means "olive oil", "anointing oil," and "any oily substance." The "with" comes from the form of the word which indicates it as something used to do something, an instrument.
thou -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
didst -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
anoint: - The word translated as "anoint" means putting oil on your skin after washing. This was a traditional Jewish practice to protect the exposed skin of the face and neck from the sun. It was especially important to do on special occasions when it was considered part of good grooming. This word should not be confused with the Greeek "anoint" from which the word "Christ" comes.
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
this -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
woman -- (WW) The word translated as "she/it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. When used as a noun, it is preceded by a definite article, and it means "the same." The forme is the singular subject of the sentence, and it is feminine. However, feminine pronouns refer to feminine nouns, not just feminine people so this word can mean "it" as well as "she." Since Greek active verbs include the singular form of the subject, when the subject is clear, this pronoun can be repetitive, emphasizing the subject. This is how we say "she herself" and "it itself" to emphasize the subject. This is also the adverbial form meaning "there."
hath -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
missing "herself/itself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "she herself."
anointed - The word translated as "anoint" means putting oil on your skin after washing. This was a traditional Jewish practice to protect the exposed skin of the face and neck from the sun. It was especially important to do on special occasions when it was considered part of good grooming. This word should not be confused with the Greeek "anoint" from which the word "Christ" comes.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine." Usually follows the noun so, "of mine." As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." Before an adjective or a particle, it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
feet. -- The word translated as "feet" refers to human feet, birds's talons, and trampling things.
with -- This word "with" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
ointment. - "Ointment" is a noun that means "sweet oil" and "perfume".
You -- This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
did -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
put - (CW) The word translated as "put" means putting oil on your skin after washing. This was a traditional Jewish practice to protect the exposed skin of the face and neck from the sun. It was especially important to do on special occasions when it was considered part of good grooming. This is not the word usually translated as "put."
oil -- "Oil" is from a noun that means "olive oil", "anointing oil," and "any oily substance." The "with" comes from the form of the word which indicates it as something used to do something, an instrument.
on -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
my .-- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine." Usually follows the noun so, "of mine."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
head -- The term translated as "head," it means "head" and "top" but also the completion of a thing (as we say, "bringing it to a head"). It is also a metaphor for life ("losing your head" in Greek doesn't mean an emotional outburst, but being killed).
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
she -- The word translated as "she/it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. Since Greek active verbs include the singular form of the subject, when the subject is clear, this pronoun can be repetitive, emphasizing the subject. This is how we say "she herself" and "it itself" to emphasize the subject.
has -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
missing "herself/itself" -- (MW) The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "she herself."
poured - (WW) The word translated as "poured" means putting oil on your skin after washing. This was a traditional Jewish practice to protect the exposed skin of the face and neck from the sun. It was especially important to do on special occasions when it was considered part of good grooming. The translator changes this word to make it seem better than the same word about translated as "put."
perfume . - "Perfume" is a noun that means "sweet oil" and "perfume".
on -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine." Usually follows the noun so, "of mine." As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." Before an adjective or a particle, it changes the following word to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
feet. -- The word translated as "feet" refers to human feet, birds's talons, and trampling things.
with -- This word "with" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
ἐλαίῳ [5 verses](noun sg masc dat) "Oil" is from elaion, which means "olive oil," "anointing oil," and "any oily substance."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. -
κεφαλήν [12 verses] (noun sg fem acc) "Head" is kephale, which means "head of a man or beast," "an extremity," "the top," "the capital (top) of a pillar," "the coping of a wall," "the source of a rivalry," and, metaphorically the "crowning" or "completion" of a thing.
μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "My" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else
οὐκ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.
ἤλειψας: [2 verses] (verb 2nd sg aor ind act)"Thou didst...anoint" is from aleipho, which means "to anoint the skin with oil [as was done after bathing]", "anointing for gymnastic exercises", "of anointing [the sick]", "to supply oil for gymnasts", "to attend a gymnastic school", "to prepare as if for gymnastics,""to encourage", "to stimulate", "to instigate", "to daub", "to plaster", "to besmear,"and "to stop up ears."
αὐτὴ [42 verses]( adv/adj sg fem nom ) "She/It" is aute, which means is the singular adjective used as the subject pronoun in the feminine. It also means "it" because feminine pronouns refer to things or ideas as much as to people. This is also the adverbial form meaning "there."
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then." It can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then." When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
μύρῳ [2 verses] (noun sg neut dat) "Ointment" is from myron, which means "sweet oil", "unguent", "perfume", and it is a metaphor for anything graceful or charming.
ἤλειψεν [2 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind act )"Anoint" is from aleipho, which means "to anoint the skin with oil [as was done after bathing]", "anointing for gymnastic exercises", "of anointing [the sick]", "to supply oil for gymnasts", "to attend a gymnastic school", "to prepare as if for gymnastics,""to encourage", "to stimulate", "to instigate", "to daub", "to plaster", "to besmear," and "to stop up ears."
τοὺς [821 verses](article pl masc acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.
πόδας. [19 verses](noun pl masc acc) "Feet" is pous, which means a "foot," "a talon [of a bird]," and the concept of "to trample" or "to tred upon."
μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "My" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.
The contrast between honoring the head and the feet.
There are three contrasts here: the oil and the "ointment" (perfume), the head and feet, and the "you" and the "she". As a simple reflection of reality, the head was considered the highest and most honored part of the body, while feet were considered the lowest and least clean part of the body. Fittingly, the head was put towards the beginning of the verse and the feet and the end. Of course, this simply reflected reality. The oil and the perfume were both put toward the beginning as both good things. The "she" was at the beginning and the "you" at the end.