Mark 12:26
What does Mark 12:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 12:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 12:26 means
To prove the reality of the resurrection, Jesus turns to a passage from the very book of Moses, which the Sadducees esteemed highly. He references God’s words to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:6, where God identifies Himself as \"I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\" Jesus emphasizes the present tense, \"I am,\" implying that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not utterly annihilated but were still spiritually alive, in fellowship with God. This directly counters the Sadducees' denial of resurrection, using their own accepted scripture.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in the place concerning the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in the place concerning the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But as to the dead coming back to life; have you not seen in the book of Moses, about the burning thorn-tree, how God said to him, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And concerning the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the Book of Moses (at The Bush), how God spake to him, saying, I <FI>am<Fi> the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And as concerning the dead that they rise again have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But concerning the dead that they rise, have ye not read in the book of Moses, in [the section of] the bush, howGod spoke to him, saying, I [am] theGod of Abraham, and theGod of Isaac, and theGod of Jacob?
Context
This verse provides Jesus's direct scriptural proof for the resurrection, drawing from the Sadducees' revered Law of Moses, immediately after explaining the heavenly state of post-resurrection life. By citing God's declaration to Moses, Jesus lays the foundation for His ultimate theological conclusion. This masterful use of scripture turns their own accepted authority against their disbelief, setting up His powerful summary statement regarding God’s nature as the God of the living.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 20:37
But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
- Genesis 26:24
And Jehovah appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.
- Genesis 17:7
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.
- Genesis 33:20
And he erected there an altar, and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
- Genesis 32:9
And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, O Jehovah, who saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will do thee good:
- Exodus 3:16
Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:
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