Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” New Living Translation You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” English Standard Version For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” Berean Standard Bible The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.” Berean Literal Bible For you always have the poor with you, but not always do you have Me." King James Bible For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. New King James Version For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” New American Standard Bible For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” NASB 1995 “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” NASB 1977 “For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me.” Legacy Standard Bible For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” Amplified Bible You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” Christian Standard Bible For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” Holman Christian Standard Bible For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” American Standard Version For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always. Contemporary English Version You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me." English Revised Version For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always. GOD'S WORD® Translation You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you." Good News Translation You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me." International Standard Version because you will always have the destitute with you, but you won't always have me." Majority Standard Bible The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.? NET Bible For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!" New Heart English Bible For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." Webster's Bible Translation For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always. Weymouth New Testament For the poor you always have with you, but you have not me always." World English Bible For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor you always have the poor with yourselves, and you do not always have Me.” Berean Literal Bible For you always have the poor with you, but not always do you have Me." Young's Literal Translation for the poor ye have always with yourselves, and me ye have not always.' Smith's Literal Translation For the poor have ye always with you; and me ye have not always. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor the poor you have always with you; but me you have not always. Catholic Public Domain Version For the poor, you have with you always. But me, you do always not have.” New American Bible You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” New Revised Standard Version You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor you have the poor always with you, but me you have not always. Aramaic Bible in Plain English “For you have the poor with you always, but you do not have me with you always.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentFor the poor you have always with you; but me you have not always. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always. Mace New Testament the poor you will always have with you; but me you will not always have. Weymouth New Testament For the poor you always have with you, but you have not me always." Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Mary Anoints Jesus…7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial. 8 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.” 9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.… Cross References Matthew 26:11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. Mark 14:7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me. Deuteronomy 15:11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land. Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ... Luke 10:38-42 As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. / She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. / But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” ... James 2:15-16 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. / If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 1 John 3:17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? Acts 4:34-35 There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, / and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need. Galatians 2:10 They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. 2 Corinthians 9:9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Isaiah 58:7 Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Proverbs 22:9 A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Psalm 41:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble. Leviticus 19:10 You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God. Treasury of Scripture For the poor always you have with you; but me you have not always. the poor. Deuteronomy 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. but. John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. John 8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. John 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. Jump to Previous Always Poor YourselvesJump to Next Always Poor YourselvesJohn 12 1. Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet.9. The people flock to see Lazarus. 10. The chief priests consult to kill him. 12. Jesus rides into Jerusalem. 20. Greeks desire to see Jesus. 23. He foretells his death. 37. The people are generally blinded; 42. yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him; 44. therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith. The poor you will always have with you This phrase acknowledges the persistent reality of poverty in the world. It echoes Deuteronomy 15:11, where God instructs Israel to be open-handed toward the poor and needy. The statement reflects the socio-economic conditions of the time, where poverty was widespread and systemic. Jesus is not dismissing the importance of caring for the poor; rather, He is emphasizing the perpetual need for compassion and charity. This phrase also highlights the ongoing responsibility of believers to care for the less fortunate, a theme consistent throughout Scripture (Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 25:35-40). but you will not always have Me. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is speaking to His disciples and others present. He is emphasizing His impending departure and the importance of His presence. 2. Mary of Bethany Although not directly mentioned in this verse, she is the one who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, prompting the discussion about the poor. 3. Judas Iscariot He is the disciple who questioned the use of expensive perfume, suggesting it could have been sold to help the poor. His motives were not pure, as he was known to steal from the money bag. 4. Bethany The village where this event takes place, located near Jerusalem. It is the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. 5. The Disciples Present during this event, they are learning from Jesus' teachings and actions. Teaching Points The Priority of Christ's PresenceJesus emphasizes the unique and irreplaceable value of His presence. While social justice and caring for the poor are important, they should not overshadow the worship and adoration due to Christ. Understanding Temporal vs. Eternal The statement highlights the temporal nature of Jesus' earthly ministry compared to the ongoing presence of the poor. Believers are called to balance immediate needs with eternal priorities. Generosity and Motives The contrast between Mary’s genuine act of worship and Judas’ false concern for the poor challenges believers to examine their motives in acts of charity and service. The Call to Serve the Poor While Jesus points out the constant presence of the poor, it is not a dismissal of their needs. Believers are called to serve the poor as an expression of their faith and love for Christ. Worship and Sacrifice Mary’s act of anointing Jesus was a costly sacrifice, demonstrating that true worship often involves giving up something valuable. Believers are encouraged to consider what they might sacrificially offer to honor Christ.(8) This verse occurs word for word in both of the first two Gospels. (See Notes there.)Verse 8. - This verse is omitted in D, but abundantly attested here. It occurs almost verbatim in Matthew and Mark, and cannot be set aside on the authority of this one eccentric manuscript. For the poor ye have always with you (cf. Deuteronomy 15:11). You will always have opportunity of doing to them, as to representatives of me, what is in your heart of compassion (cf. Matthew 25:40-45). But me, as an object of personal, tangible regard and visible attention, deserving thus and ever the affluence and exuberance of your love, ye have not always; and, though I shall be with you always in my Divine power and Spirit, even unto the end of the world, and though I shall always be with you in the person of the poor and needy, yet in the sense in which this expression of love Can be made, I shall be absent. As though he had said, "After this very night, the opportunity to offer me affectionate attention or symbolic homage, to give expression to feelings in accordance with just presentiments as to my mission, will be over forever, and belong to the irrecoverable past - Now or never! She has done this thing, she will have everlasting remembrance thereby." The frankincense of the Wise Men, the ointment of Mary, the homage of the Greeks, were symbols, and can never be repeated. The greatest motive for generous and affectionate interest in the poor is that they represent the Lord; but they are not to be rivals of the Lord himself. Westcott remarks, "The promise of the future record of the act of love is omitted by the one evangelist who gives the name of the woman who showed this devotion to her Master." Moulton, "The very charity that cares for the poor whom we see has been kept alive by faith in and devotion to the crucified Redeemer whom we cannot see." Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Theτοὺς (tous) Article - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. poor πτωχοὺς (ptōchous) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 4434: Poor, destitute, spiritually poor, either in a good sense (humble devout persons) or bad. you will always have ἔχετε (echete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. with μεθ’ (meth’) Preposition Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives. you, ἑαυτῶν (heautōn) Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself. but δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. {you will} not οὐ (ou) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. always πάντοτε (pantote) Adverb Strong's 3842: Always, at all times, ever. From pas and hote; every when, i.e. At all times. have ἔχετε (echete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. Me.” ἐμὲ (eme) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. Links John 12:8 NIVJohn 12:8 NLT John 12:8 ESV John 12:8 NASB John 12:8 KJV John 12:8 BibleApps.com John 12:8 Biblia Paralela John 12:8 Chinese Bible John 12:8 French Bible John 12:8 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: John 12:8 For you always have the poor (Jhn Jo Jn) |
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