The Alabaster Box of Ointment
The GospelsMeaning: “Alabaster flask of costly perfume”
Costly, broken devotion poured out on Christ.
The flask of costly perfume a woman broke to anoint Jesus in extravagant devotion.
What It Was
A woman came with “an alabaster box of very precious ointment” and poured it on Jesus, breaking the flask (Matthew 26:7; Mark 14:3). When others called it waste, Jesus defended her: she had anointed him beforehand for his burial, and her deed would be told wherever the gospel is preached (Mark 14:8–9).
Biblical Significance & Symbolism
The breaking of the alabaster box is Scripture’s portrait of wholehearted, costly worship — love that does not count the price. Jesus received it as anointing for his burial, binding her devotion forever to his death.
Timeline
A woman anoints Jesus from the alabaster box
Scripture References
4 versesEsther1 verse
Esther 1:6
Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. blue, hangings: or, violet, etc of red: or, of porphyre, and marble and alabaster, and stone of blue colour
Matthew1 verse
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.
Mark1 verse
Mark 14:3
And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. spikenard: or, pure nard, or, liquid nard
Luke1 verse
Luke 7:37
And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
Topics & Symbolism
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Frequently asked about The Alabaster Box of Ointment
What was The Alabaster Box of Ointment in the Bible?
The flask of costly perfume a woman broke to anoint Jesus in extravagant devotion.
What does The Alabaster Box of Ointment symbolize?
Costly, broken devotion poured out on Christ.
What does the name The Alabaster Box of Ointment mean?
The name The Alabaster Box of Ointment means “Alabaster flask of costly perfume”.
What was The Alabaster Box of Ointment made of?
The Alabaster Box of Ointment was made of alabaster; spikenard ointment.
Where is The Alabaster Box of Ointment first mentioned in the Bible?
The Alabaster Box of Ointment is first mentioned in Esther 1:6.
How often is The Alabaster Box of Ointment mentioned in the Bible?
The Alabaster Box of Ointment is mentioned in 4 verses across 4 books: Esther, Matthew, Mark, Luke.
Why did the woman break the alabaster box?
To pour out the costly ointment in devotion to Jesus; he received it as anointing for his burial and praised her lasting act of love (Mark 14:8–9).
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