The woman who washed Jesus’ feet is often identified as a “sinful woman” in the New Testament, though her name is not given. The story appears in three of the Gospels, with some variations.
The most detailed account is in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 7:36-50). In this story, a woman described as a “sinner” (often understood to mean a prostitute or someone with a sinful reputation) enters the house of a Pharisee named Simon while Jesus is dining. She weeps at Jesus’ feet, washes them with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with expensive perfume. Simon, the host, is shocked that Jesus would allow such a woman to touch him. Jesus responds by telling a parable about forgiveness, explaining that the woman’s actions show great love and gratitude because her many sins have been forgiven. Jesus then tells her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
While the woman’s name is not specified in Luke, some later Christian traditions have associated this woman with Mary Magdalene, although the Gospels do not make this connection explicitly. Another Gospel, John 12:1-8, tells a similar story where Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, but this is a different woman and a separate incident.
So, while the “sinful woman” in Luke is not named, she is celebrated for her deep repentance and love for Jesus, and the story emphasizes forgiveness and the transformative power of grace.
