Mark 12:20

20 Ther were seven brethren: and the fyrst toke a wyfe and when he dyed leeft no seed behynde him.

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 came the Saduces vnto him which saye ther is no resurreccion. And they axed hym sayinge:

19 Master Moses wroote vnto vs yf eny mans brother dye and leve his wyfe behinde him and leve no chyldren: that then hys brother shuld take his wyfe and reyse vp seed vnto his brother.

20 Ther were seven brethren: and the fyrst toke a wyfe and when he dyed leeft no seed behynde him.

21 And the seconde toke hir and dyed: nether leeft eny seed. And the thyrde lyke wyse.

22 And seve had her and leeft no seed behynde them. Last of all the wyfe dyed also.