Matthew 22:25

25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.

Matthew 22:25 in Other Translations

25 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:

25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother.

25 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children, so his brother married the widow.

25 Here's a case where there were seven brothers. The first brother married and died, leaving no child, and his wife passed to his brother.

25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother.

Matthew 22:25 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 22:25

Now there were with us seven brethren
That is, there was in the city, town or neighbourhood, where these Sadducees dwelt, probably at Jerusalem, a family, in which were seven sons, all brethren by the father's side; for brethren by the mother's side were not counted brethren, nor obliged by this law ^F1; whether this was a reigned case which is here and in the following verses put, or whether it was real fact, which is possible, it matters not: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: the eldest of these seven brethren married a wife, and after some time died, having no children, son or daughter, by his wife; and therefore, according to the above law, leaves her to his next brother to marry her, and raise up seed unto him; which, according to the Jewish canons ^F2, could not be done before ninety days, or three months after the decease of his brother; for so long they were to wait and see, whether she was with child by his brother or not; for if she was, it was not necessary, yea, it was unlawful for him to marry her.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F1 Maimon. Hilch. Yebum, c. 1. sect. 7.
F2 T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 47. 1. Maimon. ib. c. 1. sect. 19.

Matthew 22:25 In-Context

23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.

24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.

25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.

26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.

27 Finally, the woman died.