Mark 12:21
New International Version
The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third.

New Living Translation
So the second brother married the widow, but he also died without children. Then the third brother married her.

English Standard Version
And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise.

Berean Literal Bible
And the second took her, and died, not having left seed. And the third likewise.

King James Bible
And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

New King James Version
And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise.

New American Standard Bible
The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise;

NASB 1995
“The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise;

NASB 1977
“And the second one took her, and died, leaving behind no offspring; and the third likewise;

Legacy Standard Bible
And the second one married her, and died leaving behind no seed; and the third likewise;

Amplified Bible
The second brother married her, and died leaving no children; and the third likewise;

Christian Standard Bible
The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The second also took her, and he died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise.

American Standard Version
and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him; and the third likewise:

Contemporary English Version
The second brother married his brother's widow, and he also died without having children. The same thing happened to the third brother,

English Revised Version
and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him; and the third likewise:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The second married her and died without having children. So did the third.

Good News Translation
Then the second one married the woman, and he also died without having children. The same thing happened to the third brother,

International Standard Version
Then the second married her and died without having children, and so did the third.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise.

NET Bible
The second married her and died without any children, and likewise the third.

New Heart English Bible
The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;

Webster's Bible Translation
And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

Weymouth New Testament
The second married her, and died, leaving no family; and the third did the same.

World English Bible
The second took her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the second took her, and died, not having left seed, and the third in like manner,

Berean Literal Bible
And the second took her, and died, not having left seed. And the third likewise.

Young's Literal Translation
and the second took her, and died, neither left he seed, and the third in like manner,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the second took her, and died, and neither left he seed: and the third likewise.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the second took her, and died: and neither did he leave any issue. And the third in like manner.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the second took her, and he died. And neither did he leave behind offspring. And the third acted similarly.

New American Bible
So the second married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise.

New Revised Standard Version
and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the second one married her, and he died; he also left no offspring; and likewise the third one.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And the second took her and he died, having also not left any son behind, and the third likewise.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and the second took her, and he died, and left no child; and the third, likewise;

Godbey New Testament
And the second received her and died, and he left no seed; and the third likewise.

Haweis New Testament
and the second took her, and died, and neither did he leave issue; and the third in like manner.

Mace New Testament
the second married her, and he died too without leaving her any children: the third did the same.

Weymouth New Testament
The second married her, and died, leaving no family; and the third did the same.

Worrell New Testament
And the second took her, and died, leaving no seed; and the third likewise.

Worsley New Testament
and the second took her, and died, and he left no seed neither; and the third likewise.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
20Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. 21Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise. 22In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died.…

Cross References
Matthew 22:25
Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother.

Luke 20:29
Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless.

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.

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.

Romans 7:2-3
For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

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

1 Corinthians 15:39-40
Not all flesh is the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another. / There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the splendor of the heavenly bodies is of one degree, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is of another.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. / It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. / It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:50-52
Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. / Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— / in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:53-54
For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. / When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

1 Corinthians 15:55-57
“Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” / The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. / But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.


Treasury of Scripture

And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.

Jump to Previous
Child Children Death Died Family Leaving Manner Married Offspring Second Seed Third Widow
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Child Children Death Died Family Leaving Manner Married Offspring Second Seed Third Widow
Mark 12
1. Jesus tells the parable of the tenants
13. He avoids the snare of the Pharisees and Herodians about paying tribute to Caesar;
18. convicts the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection;
28. resolves the scribe, who questioned of the first commandment;
35. refutes the opinion that the scribes held of the Christ;
38. bidding the people to beware of their ambition and hypocrisy;
41. and commends the poor widow for her two mites, above all.














Then the second married the widow
This phrase introduces the continuation of the Levirate marriage practice, which is rooted in the Mosaic Law, specifically Deuteronomy 25:5-6. The Greek word for "married" here is "ἐλάβεν" (elaben), meaning "took" or "received," indicating the brother's duty to take the widow as his wife. This practice was designed to preserve the family lineage and provide for the widow. Historically, this reflects the importance of family and inheritance in Jewish culture, where maintaining one's name and property within the tribe was crucial.

but he also died
The repetition of death among the brothers emphasizes the tragic and unusual nature of the scenario presented by the Sadducees to Jesus. The Greek word "ἀπέθανεν" (apethanen) is used here, which simply means "died." This highlights the inevitability of death and the limitations of human life, setting the stage for Jesus to address the deeper theological question of resurrection and eternal life.

and left no children
The absence of children is significant in this context, as it underscores the failure to fulfill the Levirate obligation of producing offspring to carry on the deceased brother's name. The Greek phrase "οὐκ ἀφῆκεν σπέρμα" (ouk aphēken sperma) translates to "left no seed," with "σπέρμα" (sperma) meaning "seed" or "offspring." This lack of progeny not only affects the family line but also reflects the broader theme of barrenness and the hope for future generations found throughout Scripture.

And the third did likewise
The phrase indicates the continuation of the pattern, with the third brother also marrying the widow and dying without children. The Greek "ὁ τρίτος ὡσαύτως" (ho tritos hōsautōs) means "the third likewise," showing the repetitive nature of the scenario. This repetition serves to heighten the tension in the narrative and prepares the audience for Jesus' teaching on the resurrection. It also reflects the persistence of human efforts to fulfill the law, contrasted with the ultimate fulfillment found in Christ.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative 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.

second [one]
δεύτερος (deuteros)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1208: Second; with the article: in the second place, for the second time. As the compare of duo; second.

married
ἔλαβεν (elaben)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

[the widow],
αὐτήν (autēn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

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

[and] left
καταλιπὼν (katalipōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2641: From kata and leipo; to leave down, i.e. Behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining.

no
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

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

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

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative 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.

third [did]
τρίτος (tritos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5154: Third. Ordinal from treis; third; neuter a third part, or a third time, thirdly.

likewise.
ὡσαύτως (hōsautōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5615: In like manner, likewise, just so. From hos and an adverb from autos; as thus, i.e. In the same way.


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NT Gospels: Mark 12:21 The second took her and died leaving (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 12:20
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