Mark 12:20
New International Version
Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children.

New Living Translation
Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children.

English Standard Version
There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring.

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

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

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

New King James Version
Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring.

New American Standard Bible
There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children.

NASB 1995
“There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children.

NASB 1977
“There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died, leaving no offspring.

Legacy Standard Bible
There were seven brothers; and the first married a wife, and died leaving no seed.

Amplified Bible
There were seven brothers; the first [one] took a wife, and died leaving no children.

Christian Standard Bible
There were seven brothers. The first married a woman, and dying, left no offspring.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying, left no offspring.

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

Contemporary English Version
There were once seven brothers. The first one married, but died without having any children.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
There were seven brothers. The first got married and died without having children.

Good News Translation
Once there were seven brothers; the oldest got married and died without having children.

International Standard Version
There were seven brothers. The first one married and died without having children.

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

NET Bible
There were seven brothers. The first one married, and when he died he had no children.

New Heart English Bible
There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now there were seven brothers: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.

Weymouth New Testament
There were once seven brothers, the eldest of whom married a wife, but at his death left no family.

World English Bible
There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
There were then seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and dying, he left no seed;

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

Young's Literal Translation
'There were then seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and dying, he left no seed;

Smith's Literal Translation
There were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now there were seven brethren; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no issue.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So then, there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and he died without leaving behind offspring.

New American Bible
Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants.

New Revised Standard Version
There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now there were seven brothers; the first one took a wife and died, and left no off- spring.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“There were seven brothers; the first took a wife and he died and left no son behind.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and dying, left no child;

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

Haweis New Testament
Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and dying left no issue:

Mace New Testament
now there were seven brothers: the first married a wife and died, leaving her without any children.

Weymouth New Testament
There were once seven brothers, the eldest of whom married a wife, but at his death left no family.

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

Worsley New Testament
Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife and died and left no seed;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
19“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. 20Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. 21Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise.…

Cross References
Matthew 22:24-28
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. / The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh. ...

Luke 20:28-33
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless. / Then the second ...

Deuteronomy 25:5-6
When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

Genesis 38:8
Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”

Ruth 4:5
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

Numbers 27:8-11
Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter. / If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. / If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. ...

1 Corinthians 7:39
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

Romans 7:2-3
For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

1 Timothy 5:14
So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

1 Corinthians 15:29
If these things are not so, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?

Genesis 38:11
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

Ruth 1:11-13
But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands? / Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, / would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”

1 Chronicles 2:34-35
Sheshan had no sons, but only daughters. He also had an Egyptian servant named Jarha. / Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore to him Attai.

Matthew 22:23
That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him.

Luke 20:27
Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Matthew 22:25-28
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: …

Luke 20:29-33
There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children…

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Children Death Died Dying Eldest Family First Leaving Married Offspring Once Seed Seven Wife
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Children Death Died Dying Eldest Family First Leaving Married Offspring Once Seed Seven Wife
Mark 12
1. Jesus tells the parable of the tenants
13. He avoids the snare of the Pharisees and Herodians about paying tribute to Caesar;
18. convicts the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection;
28. resolves the scribe, who questioned of the first commandment;
35. refutes the opinion that the scribes held of the Christ;
38. bidding the people to beware of their ambition and hypocrisy;
41. and commends the poor widow for her two mites, above all.














Now there were seven brothers
This phrase introduces a hypothetical scenario presented by the Sadducees to Jesus. The number seven in biblical terms often symbolizes completeness or perfection, which may suggest the totality of the situation being presented. In the context of Jewish tradition, the number seven is significant, often associated with divine order and spiritual perfection. The Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, used this scenario to challenge Jesus' teachings on life after death. The mention of "brothers" also alludes to the practice of levirate marriage, where a brother is obligated to marry the widow of his deceased brother to produce offspring in his name, as outlined in Deuteronomy 25:5-6.

The first one married and died
This part of the verse sets the stage for the levirate marriage law. The Greek word for "married" (γαμέω, gameō) indicates the legal and covenantal nature of marriage in Jewish culture. Marriage was not only a personal union but also a social and religious duty. The death of the first brother without leaving children is crucial to the narrative, as it triggers the levirate obligation. The historical context of this practice was to ensure the continuation of a family line and the preservation of property within the tribe, reflecting the communal and covenantal aspects of ancient Israelite society.

leaving no children
The absence of children is a pivotal detail in this scenario. In ancient Jewish culture, having children was seen as a blessing and a means of continuing one's legacy. The Greek term used here for "children" (τέκνα, tekna) emphasizes offspring or descendants. The lack of children not only creates a legal and social dilemma but also a theological one, as it raises questions about inheritance, family continuity, and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people. This situation underscores the importance of progeny in biblical times and sets the stage for the theological discussion on resurrection and eternal life that follows in the narrative.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Now] there were
ἦσαν (ēsan)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

seven
ἑπτὰ (hepta)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2033: Seven. A primary number; seven.

brothers.
ἀδελφοὶ (adelphoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

The
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

first [one]
πρῶτος (prōtos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4413: First, before, principal, most important. Contracted superlative of pro; foremost.

married
ἔλαβεν (elaben)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

died,
ἀποθνῄσκων (apothnēskōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 599: To be dying, be about to die, wither, decay. From apo and thnesko; to die off.

leaving
ἀφῆκεν (aphēken)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

no
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

children.
σπέρμα (sperma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4690: From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.


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NT Gospels: Mark 12:20 There were seven brothers (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 12:19
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