Mark 12:20

20 `There were then seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and dying, he 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 the Sadducees come unto him, who say there is not a rising again, and they questioned him, saying,

19 `Teacher, Moses wrote to us, that if any one's brother may die, and may leave a wife, and may leave no children, that his brother may take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.

20 `There were then seven brothers, and the first took a wife, and dying, he left no seed;

21 and the second took her, and died, neither left he seed, and the third in like manner,

22 and the seven took her, and left no seed, last of all died also the woman;