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 came unto Him the Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked Him, saying,

19 "Master, Moses wrote unto us that if a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, then 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 leaving any seed. And the third likewise.

22 So the seven had her and left no seed. Last of all the woman died also.