18And Sadducees came to him — who say there is no resurrection — and they were questioning him, saying, [12:19] "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if anyone's brother dies and leaves behind a wife and does not leave a child, his brother shall take the wife and may raise up offspring for his brother. [12:20] There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying he left no offspring. [12:21] And the second took her and died, not leaving offspring, and the third likewise. [12:22] And all seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. [12:23] In the resurrection, when they rise, of which of them will she be wife? For the seven had her as wife." [12:24] Jesus said to them: "Is it not because of this that you err — not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God? [12:25] For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in the heavens. [12:26] But concerning the dead, that they rise — have you not read in the book of Moses, at the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I myself am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob'? [12:27] He is not God of the dead but of the living. You yourselves greatly err."
MRK 12:18-27
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
In the world it was spoken into
The Sadducees, a priestly and aristocratic Jewish sect, rejected the concept of resurrection, aligning with their strict adherence to the Torah and rejection of oral traditions. Their question to Jesus hinges on the levirate marriage law (Deut 25:5-6), which ensured familial continuity by requiring a brother to marry his deceased sibling’s widow to produce offspring. This practice was deeply tied to the honor-shame economy and the preservation of family lineage, as (seed) referred not just to children but to the perpetuation of a family’s name and inheritance. By presenting a hypothetical scenario of seven brothers successively marrying the same woman, the Sadducees aimed to mock the idea of resurrection, suggesting it would create absurd marital complications. Their appeal to Moses (, 'Teacher') reflects their reliance on the Torah as the sole authoritative (Scriptures). Jesus’ response challenges their misunderstanding by invoking Exodus 3:6, asserting that resurrection transcends earthly institutions like marriage, aligning with Pharisaic beliefs in an afterlife.
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How other translations render this
MRK 12:18
- KJV
- Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
- BSB
- Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him:
- Koinōnos
- And Sadducees came to him — who say there is no resurrection — and they were questioning him, saying,
MRK 12:19
- KJV
- Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
- BSB
- “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a manʼs brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brotherʼs widow and raise up offspring for him.
- Koinōnos
- Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if anyone's brother dies and leaves behind a wife and does not leave a child, his brother shall take the wife and may raise up offspring for his brother.
MRK 12:20
- KJV
- Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
- BSB
- Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children.
- Koinōnos
- There were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying he left no offspring.
MRK 12:21
- KJV
- And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
- BSB
- Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise.
- Koinōnos
- And the second took her and died, not leaving offspring, and the third likewise.
MRK 12:22
- KJV
- And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
- BSB
- In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died.
- Koinōnos
- And all seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died.
MRK 12:23
- KJV
- In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
- BSB
- In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”
- Koinōnos
- In the resurrection, when they rise, of which of them will she be wife? For the seven had her as wife.
MRK 12:24
- KJV
- And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
- BSB
- Jesus said to them, “Arenʼt you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
- Koinōnos
- Jesus said to them: "Is it not because of this that you err — not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God?
MRK 12:25
- KJV
- For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
- BSB
- When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
- Koinōnos
- For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in the heavens.
MRK 12:26
- KJV
- And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
- BSB
- But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
- Koinōnos
- But concerning the dead, that they rise — have you not read in the book of Moses, at the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I myself am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob'?
MRK 12:27
- KJV
- He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
- BSB
- He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”
- Koinōnos
- He is not God of the dead but of the living. You yourselves greatly err.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.1.2
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.1.2
“The Jews had for a great while had three sects of philosophy peculiar to themselves; the sect of the Essens, and the sect of the Sadducees”
Cited to ground: The Sadducees, a priestly and aristocratic Jewish sect
Translator's notes
MRK 12:19
- Teacher,:The term translated 'Teacher' was a common and respectful address for a religious authority or instructor, indicating the Sadducees acknowledged Jesus's role as a teacher.
- may raise up:The word translated 'may raise up' refers to producing offspring or descendants, specifically to continue the family line and name, which was a significant cultural obligation.
MRK 12:24
- because of:The word translated 'because of' implies being led astray or deceived, suggesting that their error stemmed from a fundamental misunderstanding or delusion.
- knowing:The word translated 'knowing' refers to the written scriptures, specifically the sacred texts that were considered authoritative and foundational for their faith.