Mark 12:20

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

Mark 12:20 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:20

Now there were seven brethren
In a certain family, at a certain place; perhaps at Jerusalem, who were brethren by the father's side; for such only were reckoned so, and such only did this law oblige:

and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed:
no child: hence it is clear that the ancient Jews used the word seed, of a single person, as these Sadducees did; though modern ones deny such an use of it in our present controversies with them about the sense of ( Genesis 3:15 ) ( 22:18 ) ; (See Gill on Matthew 22:25).

Mark 12:20 In-Context

18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying ,

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.

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

21 And the second took her, and died , neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.