Luke 20:28
New International Version
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.

New Living Translation
They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.

English Standard Version
and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.

Berean Standard Bible
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

Berean Literal Bible
saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us if anyone's brother should die having a wife, and he is childless, that his brother should take the wife and should raise up seed to his brother.

King James Bible
Saying, 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.

New King James Version
saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

New American Standard Bible
and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife, and he is childless, that his brother is to marry the wife and raise up children for his brother.

NASB 1995
and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES, having a wife, AND HE IS CHILDLESS, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER.

NASB 1977
and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES, having a wife, AND HE IS CHILDLESS, HIS BROTHER SHOULD TAKE THE WIFE AND RAISE UP OFFSPRING TO HIS BROTHER.

Legacy Standard Bible
and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES, having a wife, AND HE IS CHILDLESS, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP SEED FOR HIS BROTHER.

Amplified Bible
and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us [a law that] IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES, leaving a wife AND NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.

Christian Standard Bible
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother.

American Standard Version
and 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.

Contemporary English Version
and said: Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry the widow. Their first son would then be thought of as the son of the dead brother.

English Revised Version
saying, Master, 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry his widow and have children for his brother.'

Good News Translation
"Teacher, Moses wrote this law for us: 'If a man dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man's brother must marry the widow so that they can have children who will be considered the dead man's children.'

International Standard Version
and asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no child, the man should marry the widow and have children for his brother.

Majority Standard Bible
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

NET Bible
They asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies leaving a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and father children for his brother.

New Heart English Bible
They asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his brother.

Webster's Bible Translation
Saying, Master, Moses wrote to us, If any man's brother should die, having a wife, and he should die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.

Weymouth New Testament
"Rabbi, Moses made it a law for us that if a man's brother should die, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.

World English Bible
They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife and raise up children for his brother.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us if anyone’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.

Berean Literal Bible
saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us if anyone's brother should die having a wife, and he is childless, that his brother should take the wife and should raise up seed to his brother.

Young's Literal Translation
saying, '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.

Smith's Literal Translation
Saying, Teacher, Moses wrote to us, If any one's brother die having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed to his brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Saying: 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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us: If any man’s brother will have died, having a wife, and if he does not have any children, then his brother should take her as his wife, and he should raise up offspring for his brother.

New American Bible
saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’

New Revised Standard Version
and asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Teacher, Moses wrote to us, that if a man’s brother should die, and has a wife without children, let his brother take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they were saying to him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man dies and his brother has a wife without sons, his brother shall take his wife, and he shall raise up a son to his brother.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
saying: Teacher, Moses wrote for 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 children for his brother.

Godbey New Testament
saying, Teacher, Moses wrote to us, That if the brother of any one may die having a wife, and the same may die childless, that his brother must take his wife and raise up seed to his brother.

Haweis New Testament
saying, Master, Moses wrote for us, If a man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die childless, that his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed for his brother.

Mace New Testament
master, said they, Moses left it in writing, if any man has a brother, who dies in marriage without leaving children, he is obliged to take the widow, to perpetuate his brother's line.

Weymouth New Testament
"Rabbi, Moses made it a law for us that if a man's brother should die, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.

Worrell New Testament
saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If any one's brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, that his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed to his brother.'

Worsley New Testament
saying, Moses enjoined us, if any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die childless, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
27Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him. 28“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. 29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife, but died childless.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 25:5-6
When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

Matthew 22:24
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.

Mark 12:19
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

Ruth 4:5
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

Genesis 38:8
Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”

Numbers 27:8-11
Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter. / If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. / If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. ...

1 Corinthians 7:39
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

1 Timothy 5:14
So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

Genesis 38:11
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

Genesis 38:26
Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.

Ruth 1:11-13
But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands? / Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, / would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”

Ruth 4:10
Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”

Matthew 22:23-33
That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him. / “Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. ...

Mark 12:18-27
Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him: / “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. ...

Acts 23:8
For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.


Treasury of Scripture

Saying, Master, Moses wrote to 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 to his brother.

Genesis 38:8,11,26
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother…

Deuteronomy 25:5-10
If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry 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 an husband's brother unto her…

Ruth 1:11,12
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? …

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Luke 20
1. Jesus confirms his authority by a question of John's baptism.
9. The parable of the vineyard.
19. Of giving tribute to Caesar.
27. He instructs the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection.
41. How Jesus is the Son of David.
45. He warns his disciples to beware of the scribes.














Teacher
The term "Teacher" is a translation of the Greek word "Didaskalos," which was a respectful title used for someone who was recognized as a master or instructor, particularly in religious or philosophical contexts. In the Gospels, Jesus is often addressed as "Teacher," acknowledging His authority and wisdom in spiritual matters. This title reflects the respect and recognition of Jesus' role as a spiritual leader and His deep understanding of the Scriptures.

Moses wrote for us
This phrase refers to the Mosaic Law, specifically the practice of levirate marriage, which is found in Deuteronomy 25:5-6. The phrase "Moses wrote for us" underscores the authority of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, traditionally attributed to Moses. It highlights the Jewish people's reliance on the Law for guidance in their daily lives and religious practices. The use of "for us" indicates the communal aspect of the Law, meant to guide the entire nation of Israel.

if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children
This scenario sets the stage for the levirate marriage law. The situation described is one of familial duty and responsibility. In ancient Israel, family lineage and inheritance were of utmost importance. The death of a brother without children posed a threat to the continuation of the family line and the preservation of property within the family. This phrase reflects the cultural and historical context of the time, where family and tribal identity were central to one's social and religious life.

the man should marry the widow
The directive for the brother to marry the widow is rooted in the Hebrew practice of "yibbum," or levirate marriage. The Hebrew word "yabam" means "to perform the duty of a brother-in-law." This practice was not only a legal obligation but also a moral and social one, ensuring the protection and provision for the widow, who would otherwise be vulnerable in a patriarchal society. It also served to honor the deceased brother by continuing his lineage.

and raise up offspring for his brother
The purpose of this marriage was to "raise up offspring" for the deceased brother, ensuring that his name and inheritance would not be lost. This reflects the importance of legacy and continuity in the Jewish tradition. The offspring would be considered the legal heirs of the deceased brother, thus preserving his family line. This practice underscores the communal and familial responsibilities emphasized in the Mosaic Law, where individual actions were often directed towards the welfare and continuity of the family and community.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Teacher,”
Διδάσκαλε (Didaskale)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1320: A teacher, master. From didasko; an instructor.

they said,
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“Moses
Μωϋσῆς (Mōusēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3475: Or Moses, or Mouses of Hebrew origin; Moseus, Moses, or Mouses, the Hebrew lawgiver.

wrote
ἔγραψεν (egrapsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

for us
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

that if
ἐάν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

a man’s
τινος (tinos)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

brother
ἀδελφὸς (adelphos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

dies
ἀποθάνῃ (apothanē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 599: To be dying, be about to die, wither, decay. From apo and thnesko; to die off.

[and] leaves
ἔχων (echōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

a wife
γυναῖκα (gynaika)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1135: A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.

but
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

no children,
ἄτεκνος (ateknos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 815: Childless. Childless.

[the man]
ἀδελφὸς (adelphos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

should marry
λάβῃ (labē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

[his brother’s]
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[widow]
γυναῖκα (gynaika)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1135: A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

raise up
ἐξαναστήσῃ (exanastēsē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1817: From ek and anistemi; objectively, to produce, i.e. beget; subjectively, to arise, i.e. object.

offspring
σπέρμα (sperma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4690: From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.

for
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[him].
ἀδελφῷ (adelphō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.


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