Mark 12:20

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

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 came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying,

19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.

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

21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.

22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died.