Mark 12:20

Modern

Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children.

Traditional

Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

Literal

There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and dying, left no seed.

Latin

Septem ergo fratres erant: et primus accepit uxorem, et mortuus est non relicto semine.

Greek

English

Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children.

This is the third controversy story of the series begun in 11:27. As in most New Testament references to the Sadducees, the setting is the temple (Matthew 22:23–33; Luke 20:27–40; Acts 4:1–3; 5:12, 17; 22:30–23:10; the exceptions are Matthew 3:7; 16:1–12).
The Sadducees’ question (Mark 12:19–23) was carefully crafted and based on a commandment of Moses (Deuteronomy 25:5–6; see Genesis 38:6–11; Ruth 4:1–22). Since all seven men could not have the woman as wife in the resurrection, and since none of them had a special claim, the Sadducees thought that they had proven the absurdity of the doctrine of the resurrection and refuted the Pharisees and Jesus (compare Matthew 12:41–42; Luke 16:19–31; see also Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34).

Theme notes and profiles

Luke 20:29–33
Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless.
Matthew 22:25–28
Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother.