Mark 12:20

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Now there were {G2258} seven {G2033} brethren {G80}: and {G2532} the first {G4413} took {G2983} a wife {G1135}, and {G2532} dying {G599} left {G863} no {G3756} seed {G4690}.

Complete Jewish Bible

There were seven brothers. The first one took a wife, and when he died, he left no children.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

There were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 12:20 initiates the Sadducees' elaborate and cynical hypothetical question to Jesus, designed to undermine the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which they vehemently rejected. This verse sets the stage by introducing the first of seven brothers in a scenario rooted in the Old Testament's Levirate marriage law, establishing the critical condition that the first brother "took a wife, and dying left no seed," thereby necessitating the subsequent marriages within their contrived narrative.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of a pivotal theological confrontation between Jesus and the Sadducees, recorded in [Mark 12:18-27](/mark/12-18-27 "Mark 12:18-27 - The Sadducees Question Jesus About the Resurrection"). This exchange follows a series of challenges to Jesus' authority from various Jewish factions, including the chief priests, scribes, and elders (e.g., [Mark 11:27-33](/mark/11-27-33 "Mark 11:27-33 - Jesus' Authority Questioned")). The Sadducees' question serves as their attempt to trap Jesus with a seemingly absurd dilemma, exposing what they perceived as the logical inconsistencies of a belief in resurrection. Jesus' subsequent masterful response not only refutes their premise but also reveals their fundamental misunderstanding of both Scripture and the power of God, preparing the way for further teachings on the greatest commandment and the nature of the Messiah.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Sadducees were a prominent aristocratic Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, primarily composed of priests and wealthy elites. Unlike the Pharisees, they accepted only the written Torah (the Pentateuch) as authoritative Scripture and rejected many doctrines, including the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and spirits, as explicitly stated in [Acts 23:8](/acts/23-8 "Acts 23:8 - Sadducees' Denial of Resurrection"). Their challenge to Jesus in Mark 12:20-23 is based on the Levirate marriage law found in [Deuteronomy 25:5-10](/deuteronomy/25-5-10 "Deuteronomy 25:5-10 - The Levirate Marriage Law"), which mandated that if a man died childless, his brother was obligated to marry the widow to produce an heir for the deceased, thus preserving the family name and inheritance within Israel's patrilineal society. This law was crucial for maintaining tribal land allocations and ensuring the continuity of family lines, which were deeply intertwined with identity and covenant promises.

* **Key Themes:** Mark 12:20 contributes significantly to several key themes within the broader narrative. Foremost is the **Sadducees' profound skepticism and theological error** regarding the resurrection; their elaborate hypothetical scenario underscores their disbelief and their attempt to use earthly logic to discredit divine truth. The verse also highlights the **interpretation and application of Old Testament law**, specifically the Levirate marriage, demonstrating how legal principles were sometimes misapplied or distorted to serve a polemical agenda. Furthermore, the phrase "left no seed" emphasizes the **cultural importance of progeny and lineage** in ancient Israel, a concept central to the Sadducees' challenge and Jesus' subsequent reorientation of understanding about the nature of life in the age to come, where earthly customs like marriage are transcended (as Jesus explains in [Mark 12:25](/mark/12-25 "Mark 12:25 - Jesus' Clarification on Marriage in the Resurrection")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **brethren (Greek, _adelphós'_):** From a word meaning "womb" (conceptually related to shared origin), this term refers to brothers, whether literal siblings or, more broadly, kinsmen. In this context, it specifically denotes biological brothers, highlighting the familial relationships central to the Sadducees' hypothetical scenario concerning the Levirate marriage law.
* **dying (Greek, _apothnḗskō'_):** Derived from "away from" and "to die," this verb means "to die off" or "to be dead." Its use here signifies the literal physical death of the first brother, which is the critical trigger for the application of the Levirate marriage law and the subsequent progression of the Sadducees' convoluted story.
* **seed (Greek, _spérma'_):** Originating from the verb "to sow," this noun refers to something sown, like seed, but by implication, it also signifies offspring or descendants. In the context of Mark 12:20, "left no seed" emphatically denotes the absence of children, particularly male heirs, which was the specific condition that activated the obligation for a brother to marry the deceased's widow.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now there were seven brethren:"**: This opening clause establishes the premise of the Sadducees' hypothetical. The number "seven" is significant, often symbolizing completeness or perfection in biblical numerology, and here it serves to exaggerate the scenario, making the subsequent dilemma seem more complex and unresolvable from their earthly perspective. It immediately draws the listener into a narrative designed to test the limits of logic.
* **"and the first took a wife,"**: This clause introduces the initial marriage within the Sadducees' contrived story. It lays the groundwork for the subsequent events, indicating a conventional, legal union that would typically lead to the continuation of a family line, setting up the contrast with the following clause.
* **"and dying left no seed."**: This is the crucial condition that activates the Levirate marriage law and propels the Sadducees' narrative forward. The phrase "left no seed" (meaning no offspring) highlights the primary concern in ancient Israelite society regarding the continuation of a family name and inheritance. The death of the first brother without issue is the catalyst for the subsequent six brothers to marry the same woman, creating the complex situation the Sadducees present to Jesus.

#### Literary Devices
The Sadducees' question in Mark 12:20-23 is primarily a **Hypothetical Scenario** or **Casuistry**. They construct an exaggerated, intricate, and highly improbable situation involving seven brothers marrying the same woman successively, all dying childless. This serves not as a genuine inquiry but as a rhetorical device to expose what they perceive as the logical absurdity of the resurrection. There is also an element of **Irony** in their approach; by using a scenario that only becomes a "problem" if one believes in the resurrection, they inadvertently highlight the very doctrine they deny. Their use of a specific Old Testament law (Levirate marriage) to create this elaborate trap demonstrates a form of **Legalism** or **Sophistry**, where the letter of the law is manipulated to argue against a spiritual truth.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 12:20, as the opening gambit of the Sadducees' challenge, underscores a profound theological tension: the clash between human-limited logic and the boundless power and wisdom of God. The Sadducees, clinging to an earthly understanding of marriage and lineage, failed to grasp the transformative nature of resurrection life, where relationships are reordered and the earthly institution of marriage is transcended. Their error, as Jesus points out, stemmed from not understanding the Scriptures or the power of God, revealing a deeper spiritual blindness. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that God's eternal purposes and the realities of the age to come cannot be confined by our present human customs or logical constructs, but rather demand a faith that embraces divine revelation and omnipotence.

* [Deuteronomy 25:5](/deuteronomy/25-5 "Deuteronomy 25:5 - The Levirate Marriage Law")
* [Acts 23:8](/acts/23-8 "Acts 23:8 - Sadducees' Beliefs")
* [Mark 12:24-27](/mark/12-24-27 "Mark 12:24-27 - Jesus' Response to the Sadducees")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Sadducees' attempt to trap Jesus with a convoluted scenario about marriage and resurrection serves as a timeless lesson for believers today. It reminds us that faith in God's revealed truth often transcends the limitations of human logic and earthly experience. Just as the Sadducees struggled to conceive of a resurrected life that differed from their present existence, we too can fall into the trap of trying to fit God's infinite power and wisdom into our finite understanding. This passage encourages us to approach Scripture with humility, recognizing that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. It challenges us to embrace the mysteries of faith, particularly doctrines like the resurrection, which are foundational to Christian hope, rather than allowing skepticism or a narrow worldview to diminish our understanding of God's transformative power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might our own human logic or cultural assumptions limit our understanding of God's power and His plans for eternity?**
* **How does understanding the historical and cultural context of biblical passages, like the Levirate marriage law, deepen our appreciation for Jesus' teachings?**
* **What specific doctrines or aspects of God's character do you find challenging to reconcile with your current understanding, and how might you approach them with greater faith and humility?**

### FAQ
**What was the purpose of the Levirate marriage law in ancient Israel?**

Answer: The Levirate marriage law, detailed in [Deuteronomy 25:5-10](/deuteronomy/25-5-10 "Deuteronomy 25:5-10 - The Levirate Marriage Law"), served several crucial purposes in ancient Israelite society. Its primary aim was to preserve the family line and the name of a deceased man who had died without male offspring. By requiring his brother to marry the widow and produce an heir, the law ensured that the deceased's name would not be "blotted out" from Israel, and his inheritance, particularly his land, would remain within his family and tribal allocation. This practice was vital for maintaining the social and economic structure of Israel, which was based on tribal land ownership and the continuity of family lineages. It also provided a measure of social security for the childless widow.

**Why did the Sadducees choose this specific, elaborate scenario to question Jesus?**

Answer: The Sadducees crafted this intricate scenario involving seven brothers and one woman to create a seemingly unresolvable dilemma that, in their view, would expose the absurdity and impracticality of the resurrection doctrine. Since they rejected the resurrection, they used a legalistic application of the Levirate marriage law to construct a situation that would be impossible to reconcile with earthly marriage customs if there were an afterlife. Their intention was not to genuinely understand but to trap Jesus, forcing Him to either contradict the Mosaic Law or admit the impossibility of resurrection, thereby discrediting His teachings and authority, particularly on a doctrine they fundamentally opposed.

**What was Jesus' main point in His response to the Sadducees (Mark 12:24-27)?**

Answer: Jesus' main point, articulated in [Mark 12:24-27](/mark/12-24-27 "Mark 12:24-27 - Jesus' Response to the Sadducees"), was that the Sadducees' error stemmed from their fundamental misunderstanding of two critical truths: the Scriptures and the power of God. He explained that in the resurrection, people "neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven" ([Mark 12:25](/mark/12-25 "Mark 12:25 - Life in the Resurrection")). This clarified that resurrected life transcends earthly customs and institutions. Furthermore, Jesus demonstrated the reality of the resurrection from the very Torah they claimed to uphold, citing [Exodus 3:6](/exodus/3-6 "Exodus 3:6 - God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob"), where God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long after their deaths, implying their continued existence. Thus, Jesus affirmed the resurrection by appealing to God's eternal relationship with the patriarchs, indicating that God is "not God of the dead, but of the living" ([Mark 12:27](/mark/12-27 "Mark 12:27 - God of the Living")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Sadducees' focus on earthly lineage and the preservation of a physical "seed" in Mark 12:20, while rooted in the Mosaic Law, ultimately points to the greater spiritual lineage and eternal "seed" found in Christ. The Levirate marriage law, designed to ensure a name and inheritance continued through human procreation, foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who is the promised "seed" of Abraham through whom all nations would be blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - The Seed of Abraham")). What the Sadducees failed to grasp was the resurrection, which is the very cornerstone of Christ's victory over death and the foundation of our eternal hope. Jesus' own resurrection ([1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - Christ's Resurrection")) secured for believers an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled ([1 Peter 1:3-4](/1_peter/1-3-4 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - A Living Hope")), far surpassing any earthly lineage or temporal inheritance. Through Christ, we are adopted into God's eternal family, receiving a spiritual heritage that transcends all earthly customs, including marriage, as we are united with Him in a new, resurrected life ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life in Christ")).

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 22:25

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Matthew 22:28

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

Luke 20:29

There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

Luke 20:33

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