Mark 12:20 - There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
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What does "Mark 12:20" mean?
This verse is the beginning of a hypothetical scenario presented to Jesus by the Sadducees to try and trap him on the issue of resurrection. It's based on the ancient Jewish law of Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Let's break it down:
"There were seven brothers." The scenario starts with a family of seven brothers.
"The first took a wife..." The oldest brother marries a woman.
"...and dying left no offspring." This is the crucial part. The brother dies without having any children.
The Importance of Levirate Marriage:
According to the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy), if a man died without an heir, his brother was obligated to marry the widow. This was done for a few key reasons:
To continue the deceased brother's line: The first son born to the widow and the brother would be considered the heir of the deceased brother, carrying on his name and inheritance.
To provide for the widow: Women in ancient Israel depended on their husbands and sons for support. Levirate marriage ensured the widow wouldn't be left destitute.
To prevent the deceased brother's land from being sold out of the family: This ensured the family's property remained within the lineage.
The Context in Mark 12:20:
The Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, are setting up a ridiculous scenario to try and show that the idea of resurrection is absurd. They continue the story, having each of the remaining brothers marry the same woman, one after the other, all dying without producing children. Their ultimate question is: "In the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since all seven were married to her?" (Mark 12:23). They believed the scenario highlighted the absurdities of resurrection, particularly in terms of marriage and family relationships in the afterlife.
In short, the verse introduces a scenario built on the law of Levirate marriage, where a man dies without children, setting the stage for a complex and ultimately, in the Sadducees' view, impossible situation if resurrection is real. It's not about the literal truth of the story, but rather a hypothetical meant to challenge Jesus's beliefs.
Mark 12:20 - There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying left no offspring.
What does "Mark 12:20" mean?
This verse is the beginning of a hypothetical scenario presented to Jesus by the Sadducees to try and trap him on the issue of resurrection. It's based on the ancient Jewish law of Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Let's break it down:
"There were seven brothers." The scenario starts with a family of seven brothers.
"The first took a wife..." The oldest brother marries a woman.
"...and dying left no offspring." This is the crucial part. The brother dies without having any children.
The Importance of Levirate Marriage:
According to the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy), if a man died without an heir, his brother was obligated to marry the widow. This was done for a few key reasons:
To continue the deceased brother's line: The first son born to the widow and the brother would be considered the heir of the deceased brother, carrying on his name and inheritance.
To provide for the widow: Women in ancient Israel depended on their husbands and sons for support. Levirate marriage ensured the widow wouldn't be left destitute.
To prevent the deceased brother's land from being sold out of the family: This ensured the family's property remained within the lineage.
The Context in Mark 12:20:
The Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, are setting up a ridiculous scenario to try and show that the idea of resurrection is absurd. They continue the story, having each of the remaining brothers marry the same woman, one after the other, all dying without producing children. Their ultimate question is: "In the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since all seven were married to her?" (Mark 12:23). They believed the scenario highlighted the absurdities of resurrection, particularly in terms of marriage and family relationships in the afterlife.
In short, the verse introduces a scenario built on the law of Levirate marriage, where a man dies without children, setting the stage for a complex and ultimately, in the Sadducees' view, impossible situation if resurrection is real. It's not about the literal truth of the story, but rather a hypothetical meant to challenge Jesus's beliefs.