{As he sat at meat} (katakeimenou autou).  Mt 26:7  uses
anakeimenou, both words meaning reclining (leaning down or up
or back) and in the genitive absolute. See on 烘t 26:6| in proof
that this is a different incident from that recorded in  Lu
7:36-50 . See on 烘t 26:6-13| for discussion of details.
{Spikenard} (
ardou pistik(8873)). This use of pistikos with

ardos occurs only here and in  Joh 12:3 . The adjective is
common enough in the older Greek and appears in the papyri also
in the sense of genuine, unadulterated, and that is probably the
idea here. The word spikenard is from the Vulgate _nardi
spicati_, probably from the Old Latin _nardi pistici_. {Brake}
(suntripsousa). Only in Mark. She probably broke the narrow
neck of the vase holding the ointment.