Luke 20:28
What does Luke 20:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 20:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 20:28 means
The Sadducees presented a scenario based on Mosaic law concerning levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). They cited Moses' instruction that if a man died childless, his brother should marry the widow to raise up offspring for the deceased brother. This law was intended to ensure the continuation of the family line and inheritance within Israel. The Sadducees used this established command as the premise for their elaborate hypothetical, believing it would expose a supposed absurdity in the doctrine of the resurrection, arguing against its practical implications if marriage continued into the afterlife.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man’s brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man’s brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Master, Moses said that if a man's brother comes to his end, having a wife, but no children, his brother is to take the wife, and get a family for his brother.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862saying, `Teacher, Moses wrote to us, If any one's brother may die, having a wife, and he may die childless--that his brother may take the wife, and may raise up seed to his brother.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Saying: Master, Moses wrote unto us: If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he leave no children, that his brother should take her to wife and raise up seed unto his brother.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890demanded of him saying, Teacher, Moses wrote to us, If any one's brother, who has a wife, die, and he die childless, his brother shall take the wife and raise up seed to his brother.
Context
This verse describes the Sadducees laying the groundwork for their trap question, citing Mosaic law regarding levirate marriage. This directly follows their introduction and the mention of their denial of the resurrection, making it clear that their elaborate story is designed to challenge this very doctrine. Their detailed hypothetical case will unfold over the next few verses, building to their ultimate challenge to Jesus.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 25:5
If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her.
- Genesis 38:8
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
- Genesis 38:11
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown up; for he said, Lest he also die, like his brethren. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
- Ruth 1:11
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
- Genesis 38:26
And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She is more righteous than I, forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
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