Mark 12:19
What does Mark 12:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 12:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 12:19 means
The Sadducees begin their question by referencing the Mosaic law concerning levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). This law stipulated that if a man died childless, his brother should marry the widow to raise up an heir for the deceased brother, ensuring his name and inheritance continued. They invoke Moses to lend authority to their argument, setting up what they intend to be an insurmountable logical problem for Jesus, based on their literal and earthly understanding of marriage and lineage in the context of a supposed resurrection.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Master, 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Master, in the law Moses says, If a man's brother comes to his end, and has a wife still living and no child, it is right for his brother to take his wife, and get a family for his brother.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`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.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Master, Moses wrote unto us that if any man's brother die and leave his wife behind him and leave no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up seed to his brother.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if any one's brother die, and leave a wife behind, and leave no children, that his brother shall take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.
Context
This verse presents the Sadducees’ opening premise for their challenge to Jesus, grounding their argument in a specific Mosaic law. It follows their introduction and denial of the resurrection, laying the groundwork for their complex hypothetical scenario. This legalistic and literal interpretation of the Old Testament foreshadows the flawed reasoning Jesus will expose, revealing their lack of understanding regarding the true nature of God and the afterlife.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 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 38:8
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.
- Ruth 4:5
Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
- 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.
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