Strong’s Greek 3046 refers to an ancient weight known as the litra. Although mentioned only twice in the Greek New Testament, the term frames two highly significant moments in the Gospel of John, shedding light on costly devotion to Jesus Christ and the historical reliability of the apostolic record.

Biblical Usage

• John 12:3 – “Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and anointed Jesus’ feet. She wiped His feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
• John 19:39 – “Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.”

In both passages, the litra provides a quantitative backdrop that magnifies the qualitative worth of the acts themselves: Mary’s extravagant worship and Nicodemus’s reverent preparation for burial.

Historical Context

The litra was a well-known Greco-Roman unit of weight circulating throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Its appearance in a Gospel written to a mixed Jewish-Gentile audience reflects John’s care to express measurements his readers would recognize. That precision supports the historical texture of the narrative, showing that the events occurred in space and time under Roman influence.

Profiles in Devotion

1. Mary of Bethany (John 12:3) – Her use of “about a litra” of pure nard underscores the lavish nature of her love. While Judas valued the ointment in monetary terms (John 12:5), John’s use of the weight allows modern readers to grasp both the material cost and the overflowing fragrance of wholehearted worship.
2. Nicodemus (John 19:39) – The evangelist records “about a hundred litras,” equivalent to the’s “seventy-five pounds,” for the burial spices. Such a quantity exceeds normal Jewish burial custom and echoes royal funerary honors (compare 2 Chronicles 16:14). Nicodemus, once a secret inquirer, now openly honors the crucified Lord with kingly homage.

Doctrinal Insights

• Scripture’s Unity – The consistency of weights and measures in the Gospels aligns with Old Testament patterns of specified quantities (for example, Exodus 30:23-24). This continuity illustrates that God’s revelation, from Law to Gospel, is cohesive and trustworthy.
• Christ’s Worth – By setting measurable value on the offerings, John leads readers to contemplate the immeasurable value of Christ Himself (Philippians 3:8). The narrative turns earthly calculations of worth into invitations for spiritual appraisal.

Ministry Applications

• Extravagant Worship – Believers are encouraged to give sacrificially, not calculating loss but rejoicing in Christ’s surpassing glory (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
• Courageous Witness – Nicodemus moves from night-time secrecy to daylight allegiance. Modern disciples are likewise called to public fidelity, regardless of cost (Matthew 10:32-33).
• Stewardship – The precise mention of weights warns against miserliness while commending thoughtful, generous stewardship that balances realism with faith (Proverbs 3:9).

Theological Themes

• Honor and Burial – The spices anticipate resurrection hope; the weighty litra foreshadows the empty tomb’s greater weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
• Aroma of Christ – Both passages evoke fragrance imagery taken up by Paul: “For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15).
• Kingship of Jesus – The magnitude of the burial preparation subtly declares Jesus as King, paralleling royal anointings and entombments of Israel’s history.

Related Old Testament Parallels

• Sacred Anointing Oil (Exodus 30:22-33) – Prescribed weights mirror the intentionality behind Mary’s act.
• Royal Burials (2 Chronicles 16:14; 2 Chronicles 21:19) – Large quantities of spices honor deceased kings, prefiguring Nicodemus’s gesture.

Summary

Though occurring only twice, the litra in the Gospel of John amplifies themes of supreme devotion, royal honor, and the factual reliability of Scripture. It challenges readers to measure their own worship not by minimal compliance but by wholehearted surrender to the incomparable worth of Jesus Christ.