Mark 12:20

20 Then seven brethren there were [Therefore seven brethren were]; and the first took a wife, and died, and 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 And Sadducees, that say that there is no resurrection, came to him, and asked him, and said, [+And Sadducees, that say that no rising again is, come to him, and they asked him, saying,]

19 Master, Moses wrote to us, that if the brother of a man were dead, and left his wife, and have no sons [and left no sons], his brother [shall] take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.

20 Then seven brethren there were [Therefore seven brethren were]; and the first took a wife, and died, and left no seed.

21 And the second took her, and died, and neither he left seed. And the third also.

22 And in like manner the seven took her, and left no seed. And the woman the last of all died. [And seven took her, and left no seed. And the woman last of all is dead.]