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Person

Simon

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Simon the leper was a man in Bethany who hosted a meal for Jesus, during which a woman anointed Jesus with expensive perfume.

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Simon the leper is mentioned in Mat.26.6 and Mrk.14.3 as a man living in Bethany who hosted a meal for Jesus. The Gospel of Luke also mentions a similar event, but the host is called Simon the Pharisee (Luk.7.40,43,44).

During the meal at Simon's house, a woman (identified as Mary of Bethany in Jhn.12.1-8) brought an alabaster jar of expensive perfume and anointed Jesus' head and feet. The disciples, particularly Judas Iscariot, criticized this act as wasteful, but Jesus defended the woman, saying that she had done a beautiful thing in preparing his body for burial.

The title "the leper" suggests that Simon had been afflicted with leprosy at some point, but it is not clear whether he was still suffering from the disease at the time of this event. Leprosy was a highly stigmatized condition in ancient times, and people with leprosy were often isolated from society. Simon's hosting of Jesus and the other guests in his home may indicate that he had been healed of his leprosy, possibly by Jesus himself.

Connections

Part of: Bethany and the Women Around Jesus

Simon the leper's house and the anointing

FriendsHypothesis

Mark and Matthew place the anointing at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, and John places it at a supper with Martha serving and Lazarus reclining. Simon may have been related to the family, but the texts do not say.

SimonA man in Bethany who hosted Jesus for a meal.MarthaSister of MaryMarySister of MarthaLazarusMary's brother
Where the text shows it: Mark 14:3 — In Bethany at the house of Simon the leperJohn 12:1-3 — Martha serving, Lazarus at table, Mary anoints
Ways people read this (3)
  • Simon was a healed leper who hosted a supper for which Martha served (a neighbor).
  • Simon was a relative, possibly the father or husband of Martha.
  • The two suppers are different events (less common).

Sources: Scripture

More background: search Wikipedia ↗

Where Simon appears

5 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G4613

Matthew1
Mark1
Luke3

Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.