OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 12:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-bweight

λίτραν μύρου

˓a˒_pound ˱of˲_ointment

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express this in terms of modern measurements, either in the text or a footnote. A litra is about one third of a kilogram or three quarters of a pound. If your language does not measure liquids by weight, you may refer to its volume equivalent, which would be about half a liter. You might also refer to the container that could hold that amount. Alternate translation: [about half a liter of perfume] or [a one-half liter bottle of perfume]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

μύρου

˱of˲_ointment

Here, perfumed oil refers to a liquid made from the oils of pleasant-smelling plants and flowers. This oil was put on a person’s skin or hair in order for that person to smell pleasant. If your readers would not be familiar with this oil, you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [of scented liquid]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου

˱of˲_ointment ˱of˲_nard genuine precious

John is using of to describe perfumed oil that is made from very precious pure nard. If this use of the possessive of would be confusing in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [of perfumed oil made from very precious pure nard]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου

˱of˲_nard genuine precious

The perfumed oil was made from the oil of a nard plant, which is sometimes called “spikenard.” The oil is extracted from the roots of this plant. If your readers would not be familiar with nard plants, you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [of very precious scented plants]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου

¬the the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡ Οὖν Μαρία λαβοῦσα λίτραν μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου ἤλειψεν τούς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ καί ἐξέμαξεν ταῖς θριξίν αὐτῆς τούς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἡ δέ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Now the fragrance of the perfumed oil filled the house]