Mark 12:23

Modern

In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”

Traditional

In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

Literal

In the resurrection, when they rise, of which of them will she be wife? For the seven had her as wife.”

Latin

In resurrectione ergo cum resurrexerint, cujus de his erit uxor? septem enim habuerunt eam uxorem.

Greek

English

In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”

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).

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