What was an Alabaster Jar?

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An alabaster jar was used in the ancient world as a container for oil and spikenard, which was an ointment or perfume. When Mary came to the house of Simon the leper, she broke the flask and poured the costly spikenard on the head of Jesus.

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.

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The Alabaster Flask