Luke 20:33

KJV

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore {G3767} in {G1722} the resurrection {G386} whose {G5101} wife {G1135} of them {G846} is she {G1096}? for {G1063} seven {G2033} had {G2192} her {G846} to wife {G1135}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In the Resurrection, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 20:33 presents the Sadducees' hypothetical question to Jesus, designed to undermine the concept of the resurrection. They propose a scenario involving a woman who, according to the Mosaic law of levirate marriage, marries seven brothers sequentially, all of whom die childless. Their query, "Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife," highlights their fundamental misunderstanding of the transformed nature of resurrected life, projecting earthly social structures and limitations onto the eternal realm.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a series of confrontations between Jesus and various Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem, immediately preceding His passion. Following challenges from the chief priests, scribes, and elders regarding His authority ([Luke 20:1-8](/luke/20-1-8 "Luke 20:1-8 - Jesus' Authority Challenged")), and a parable exposing their rejection of God's Son ([Luke 20:9-19](/luke/20-9-19 "Luke 20:9-19 - Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers")), the Sadducees, known for their denial of the resurrection, engage Jesus. Their question in [Luke 20:33](/luke/20-33 "Luke 20:33 - The Sadducees' Question About Resurrection Marriage") is part of a deliberate attempt to trap Jesus with a seemingly unanswerable theological dilemma, thereby discrediting His teaching and authority before the crowds. Jesus's subsequent response in [Luke 20:34-38](/luke/20-34-38 "Luke 20:34-38 - Jesus' Answer on the Resurrection") masterfully refutes their premise and reveals a deeper truth about the afterlife.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Sadducees were a prominent Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, primarily composed of aristocratic priests and wealthy landowners. Unlike the Pharisees, they rejected the oral law and adhered strictly to the written Torah (the Pentateuch), denying the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and the concept of a future life or divine retribution beyond this world. Their question in [Luke 20:33](/luke/20-33 "Luke 20:33 - The Sadducees' Question About Resurrection Marriage") is rooted in the Mosaic law of levirate marriage, found in [Deuteronomy 25:5-6](/deuteronomy/25-5-6 "Deuteronomy 25:5-6 - The Law of Levirate Marriage"). This law mandated that if a man died childless, his brother should marry the widow to "raise up seed unto his brother," ensuring the deceased's name and inheritance continued. The Sadducees' hypothetical scenario, while extreme, was designed to expose what they perceived as the logical absurdity of resurrection belief when applied to earthly social structures like marriage and family lineage.
* **Key Themes:** [Luke 20:33](/luke/20-33 "Luke 20:33 - The Sadducees' Question About Resurrection Marriage") serves as a critical entry point for several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **nature of the resurrection**, challenging the Sadducees' materialistic and anthropocentric view of the afterlife. Their question reveals a fundamental misconception that the resurrected state is merely an extension of earthly existence, rather than a transformed reality. Secondly, the passage underscores the **clash between human wisdom and divine revelation**. The Sadducees, relying on their limited human logic and a literalistic interpretation of earthly laws, attempt to trap Jesus, but His response transcends their framework, revealing the profound wisdom of God's plan for eternity. Finally, this encounter contributes to the theme of **Jesus's authoritative teaching** as He corrects theological error and unveils deeper spiritual truths, demonstrating His unique insight into the divine realm, a theme consistent with His teachings throughout [Luke's Gospel](/luke "The Gospel According to Luke").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Resurrection (Greek, _anástasis'_):** G386. From `anístēmi` (to stand up again); meaning "a standing up again" or "a rising again." This term specifically refers to a resurrection from death, whether individual or, by implication, its author. The Sadducees' question hinges on a very physical, earthly interpretation of this "standing up again," assuming a direct continuation of physical and social structures.
* **Wife (Greek, _gynḗ'_):** G1135. Probably from the base of `gínomai` (to become); meaning "a woman" or, specifically, "a wife." The Sadducees' entire argument revolves around the continuity of this earthly relationship—the status of a woman as a wife—into the resurrected state, which Jesus directly addresses and corrects.
* **For (Greek, _gár'_):** G1063. A primary particle assigning a reason. In this context, it introduces the justification or explanation for the Sadducees' question, "for seven had her to wife." It indicates that the subsequent clause provides the premise or the "problem" they believe their hypothetical scenario poses for the concept of resurrection.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore in the resurrection":** This opening phrase immediately sets the context for the Sadducees' challenge. "Therefore" (G3767, _oûn_) acts as a connective, linking their question to the preceding hypothetical scenario of the woman and seven brothers. The phrase "in the resurrection" (G1722, _en_ + G386, _anástasis_) establishes the specific domain of their inquiry, indicating their focus on the nature of life after death and the implications for human relationships within that state.
* **"whose wife of them is she?":** This is the core of the Sadducees' rhetorical question. "Whose wife" (G5101, _tís_ + G1135, _gynḗ_) highlights their concern about the ownership or relational status of the woman in the afterlife, assuming that earthly marital bonds would persist and create an insoluble dilemma. The verb "is she" (G1096, _gínomai_) here functions as a copula, linking the woman to her potential marital status among the seven brothers.
* **"for seven had her to wife.":** This clause provides the justification or premise for their question. "For" (G1063, _gár_) introduces the reason, explaining the complex marital history of the woman. "Seven" (G2033, _heptá_) emphasizes the extreme nature of the hypothetical situation, designed to make the problem seem insurmountable. "Had her to wife" (G2192, _échō_ + G846, _autós_ + G1135, _gynḗ_) describes the successive marital relationships, underscoring the Sadducees' assumption that such earthly arrangements would continue into eternity, leading to an absurd polygamous situation.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 20:33 employs several literary devices. The Sadducees' question itself is a prime example of **Rhetorical Question**, designed not to elicit information but to make a point and expose what they perceive as a logical flaw in the resurrection doctrine. There is also significant **Irony** at play: the Sadducees, in their attempt to trap Jesus and demonstrate the absurdity of resurrection, inadvertently set the stage for Jesus to reveal a profound truth about the transformed nature of eternal life, exposing their own theological ignorance. The entire scenario functions as a **Test Case** or **Hypothetical Scenario**, a common argumentative technique used in rabbinic discourse, where an extreme example is presented to challenge a theological position.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 20:33, rooted in the Sadducees' skepticism, serves as a crucial theological pivot point, inviting a deeper understanding of the resurrection. Their question reveals a common human tendency to project earthly limitations and social constructs onto the divine and eternal realm. Jesus's subsequent response ([Luke 20:34-38](/luke/20-34-38 "Luke 20:34-38 - Jesus' Answer on the Resurrection")) transcends this limited perspective, clarifying that the resurrected state is not merely an extension of earthly life but a transformed existence, where believers "neither marry, nor are given in marriage" but "are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." This profound teaching underscores God's power to create a new reality that surpasses human comprehension and earthly conventions.

* [Matthew 22:29-30](/matthew/22-29-30 "Matthew 22:29-30 - Jesus' Answer on Resurrection Marriage")
* [Mark 12:24-25](/mark/12-24-25 "Mark 12:24-25 - Jesus' Answer to the Sadducees")
* [1 Corinthians 15:42-44](/1_corinthians/15-42-44 "1 Corinthians 15:42-44 - The Nature of the Resurrected Body")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 20:33, and Jesus's subsequent teaching, offers a powerful reminder that our understanding of God's eternal plan should not be confined by our present experiences or human logic. The Sadducees' error lay in their inability to conceive of a reality beyond their earthly frame of reference, particularly regarding marriage and family. For believers today, this passage encourages us to embrace the mystery and transformative power of the resurrection. It teaches us that while earthly relationships are precious and divinely ordained for this life, they are not eternal in their current form. The hope of the resurrection is not merely an extension of our current existence but a radical, glorious transformation into a new, spiritual reality where our relationship with God and with one another will be perfected in ways we cannot fully grasp now. This should inspire us to live with an eternal perspective, trusting in God's wisdom and power to bring about a future far grander than we can imagine.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How might our own assumptions about heaven or the afterlife be limited by our earthly experiences and understanding?**
* **What does Jesus's response to the Sadducees teach us about the nature of God's wisdom versus human logic?**
* **How does the concept of a transformed, non-marital existence in the resurrection impact our view of earthly relationships and their ultimate purpose?**
* **In what ways does this passage encourage us to trust in God's power to do "far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" ([Ephesians 3:20](/ephesians/3-20 "Ephesians 3:20 - God's Abundant Power")) regarding our eternal future?**

### FAQ
**Did the Sadducees genuinely want to understand the resurrection, or were they trying to trap Jesus?**

Answer: The Sadducees' primary motivation was to trap Jesus and discredit Him publicly. As a sect that denied the resurrection, they sought to expose what they considered logical absurdities in the concept of an afterlife, particularly concerning the continuation of earthly relationships like marriage. Their question was a calculated attempt to force Jesus into a dilemma that would either contradict the Law of Moses or present a ridiculous scenario, thereby undermining His authority and teachings before the crowds. Jesus's response, however, turned their trap into an opportunity to teach a profound truth about the nature of the resurrected life, demonstrating their ignorance of both the Scriptures and the power of God ([Matthew 22:29](/matthew/22-29 "Matthew 22:29 - Jesus Rebukes the Sadducees")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 20:33, though presenting a challenge to Jesus, ultimately serves to highlight the profound truth of the resurrection, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Jesus Himself is the embodiment of the resurrection, declaring, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). His own bodily resurrection from the dead is the foundational event that validates His claims and guarantees the future resurrection of all who believe in Him ([1 Corinthians 15:20-22](/1_corinthians/15-20-22 "1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - Christ, the Firstfruits")). The Sadducees' limited understanding of the afterlife, confined to earthly paradigms, is shattered by Jesus's teaching that in the resurrection, believers will be "like angels" ([Luke 20:36](/luke/20-36 "Luke 20:36 - Believers Like Angels in Resurrection")), a transformed state made possible through His victory over death. Through Christ, the promise of a new creation and a new order of existence, free from the limitations and conventions of the present age, is secured, inviting all to partake in the glorious life that He alone provides ([Revelation 21:1-5](/revelation/21-1-5 "Revelation 21:1-5 - New Heaven and New Earth")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 22:24

Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Matthew 22:28

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

Mark 12:19

Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave [his] wife [behind him], and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Mark 12:23

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