Is Mary of Bethany the Same as Mary Magdalene?
Published September 23, 2026
The New Testament mentions several women named Mary, so it’s easy to confuse their identities. One question that often arises is: Is Mary of Bethany the same as Mary Magdalene?
The Gospels describe Mary of Bethany in connection with Martha and Lazarus, while Luke introduces Mary called Magdalene among the women accompanying Jesus. Some interpreters identify the two women by harmonizing details across the Gospel accounts, while others distinguish them based on how each woman is identified in the Gospels.
The key is to separate what the Gospels explicitly state from later interpretations that attempt to harmonize their accounts. Yale Bible Study’s overview of Mary Magdalene provides useful background on the different women named Mary.
Who Was Mary of Bethany in the Bible?
Mary of Bethany is identified in John’s Gospel through her relationship with Martha and Lazarus. John also connects her with the anointing of Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume.
Mary Was the Sister of Martha and Lazarus
In John 11:1–3, Mary is identified as the sister of Martha and Lazarus. John also connects her with the anointing of Jesus described more fully in John 12.
She is therefore clearly identified in John through her relationship with Martha and Lazarus.
Mary of Bethany Sat at Jesus’ Feet
In Luke 10:38–42, Mary is portrayed as an attentive listener. When Jesus visits Martha and Mary, she sits at his feet and listens to his teaching while Martha is occupied with serving.
Luke does not identify the village as Bethany. The identification of this Mary with Mary of Bethany comes from reading Luke 10 alongside John’s accounts of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
Mary of Bethany Anointed Jesus
John explicitly identifies Mary as the woman who anoints Jesus’ feet. Six days before Passover, Jesus comes to Bethany, where Mary anoints his feet with expensive perfume and wipes them with her hair. Judas objects to the expense, but Jesus defends her action.
Matthew and Mark also describe an anointing at Bethany, but they leave the woman unnamed.
Who Was Mary Magdalene in the Bible?
Mary Magdalene Followed Jesus
Luke 8:1–3 introduces Mary Magdalene as one of the women accompanying Jesus and the Twelve. The passage says that seven demons had gone out from her and that she and the other women supported Jesus and the Twelve from their resources.
The New Testament does not identify Mary Magdalene as Martha and Lazarus’ sister.
Mary Magdalene Witnessed Jesus’ Death and Burial
Mary Magdalene appears prominently in the Passion narratives. Matthew 27:55–61 and Mark 15:40–47 both name her among the women who witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and saw where Jesus’ body was placed after his death.
Mary Magdalene Witnessed the Resurrection
In John 20:1–18, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb and discovers that the stone has been removed. She initially believes that Jesus’ body has been taken away, but Jesus later appears to her and she recognizes him.
Is Mary of Bethany the Same as Mary Magdalene?
The canonical Gospels do not explicitly identify Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene as the same woman. The proposed identification comes from harmonizing details across different Gospel accounts.
What Does the Bible Explicitly Establish?
The Gospel accounts give the two women different identifiers:
- Mary of Bethany is associated with Martha and Lazarus.
- Mary Magdalene is identified as “Mary called Magdalene.”
- Mary Magdalene appears among the women accompanying Jesus.
- John identifies Mary as the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet.
- No canonical Gospel explicitly equates the two women.
Why Some Interpreters Identify Them As the Same Woman
One argument begins with the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ anointing.
John identifies Mary of Bethany as the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet at Bethany. Matthew 26:6–13 and Mark 14:3–9 also describe an anointing at Bethany, but their accounts feature an unnamed woman who anoints Jesus’ head at the home of Simon the Leper. John places the Bethany dinner six days before Passover, while Matthew and Mark introduce their surrounding Passion narrative as taking place two days before Passover.
These similarities and differences have led some interpreters to harmonize the accounts as one event and identify Matthew and Mark’s unnamed woman as Mary of Bethany.
Jeffrey Bütz argues that Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany were the same woman, using a harmonization of the Gospel accounts of the anointing, Passion, burial and Resurrection. His argument, published on James Tabor’s site, sets out this identification in detail.
This remains an interpretive position rather than an identification made explicitly by the canonical Gospels.
Why Other Interpreters Distinguish the Two Women
The Gospels give the two women different identifiers. John connects Mary with Martha and Lazarus, while Luke introduces Mary as “Mary called Magdalene.” Mary of Bethany appears in the Lazarus narrative and Bethany anointing, while Mary Magdalene appears prominently in the Passion and Resurrection narratives.
These differences support reading them as two women, although they do not by themselves establish that they could not have been the same person.
Why Are Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene Confused?
The confusion comes from similarities among the Gospel accounts and later Christian interpretations that linked several women.
The Different Gospel Accounts of Jesus’ Anointing
The Gospels contain several anointing accounts that are not identical.
In Luke 7:36–50, an unnamed woman whom the text calls a sinner enters a Pharisee’s house, washes Jesus’ feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair and anoints them with ointment.
Matthew and Mark describe an unnamed woman anointing Jesus at Bethany shortly before his death, while John also places an anointing at Bethany but identifies the woman as Mary of Bethany. These similarities have led some interpreters to harmonize the accounts, but the Gospels do not explicitly identify all the women as the same person.
Later Christian Tradition Connected Several Women
Later Western Christian tradition sometimes associated Mary Magdalene with the unnamed sinful woman of Luke 7 and Mary of Bethany. These associations contributed to a composite portrayal of the women in some strands of Christian tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mary of Bethany the same person as Mary Magdalene?
The Gospels do not explicitly identify the two women as the same person. Some interpreters argue this by harmonizing the Gospel accounts.
Was Mary Magdalene the sister of Lazarus?
The New Testament does not identify Mary Magdalene as Lazarus’ sister. John 11:1-2 identifies Mary as Lazarus’ sister. Luke 8:1-3 places Mary Magdalene among the women accompanying Jesus.
Did Mary Magdalene anoint Jesus with perfume?
The Gospels do not explicitly say that Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus. John 12:1–8 identifies the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet at Bethany as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Matthew 26:6–13 and Mark 14:3–9 also describe an anointing at Bethany but leave the woman unnamed.
Is Mary of Bethany the woman who anointed Jesus?
Yes. John 12:1–8 explicitly identifies Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, as the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. Matthew 26:6–13 and Mark 14:3–9 also describe an anointing at Bethany but leave the woman unnamed.
Was Mary Magdalene the sinful woman in Luke 7?
Luke 7 does not name the woman as Mary Magdalene. In Luke 7:36–50, she is described simply as a woman whom the text calls a sinner. The identification with Mary Magdalene became part of later Christian tradition, particularly in the Western church.
What is the difference between Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene?
Mary of Bethany is associated with Martha, Lazarus and the Bethany anointing. Mary Magdalene appears among Jesus’ followers and prominently in the accounts of his crucifixion, burial and Resurrection.
How many women named Mary appear in the New Testament?
The New Testament mentions several women named Mary, including Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany and Mary the mother of John Mark. The exact number of distinct individuals is uncertain because some references may overlap.
Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene in Scripture
So, is Mary of Bethany the same as Mary Magdalene?
The canonical Gospels do not explicitly identify the two women as the same person. John identifies Mary of Bethany as the sister of Martha and Lazarus and as the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet, while Mary Magdalene appears among Jesus’ followers and prominently in the accounts of his crucifixion, burial and Resurrection.
Similarities among the Gospel accounts have led some interpreters to identify the two women, while others distinguish them based on their different identifiers and roles. The question therefore remains interpretive rather than an explicit identification made by the Gospels.
Comparing the relevant passages in John, Luke, Matthew and Mark provides the clearest way to examine the question for yourself. Explore more biblical and Christian resources from Lay Cistercians of South Florida.
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About The Author
Hello there! I’m Corinne Grace. I believe in the power of storytelling to connect and educate, which is why I strive to bring each article to life with clarity and purpose. It’s not just about what’s written, it’s about making an impact on the reader.
