Mark 12:23

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Mark 12:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
Mark 12:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Mark 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, etc..] This last clause, “when they shall rise”, is omitted in two copies of Beza's, and in the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, because, perhaps, it might be thought superfluous; but this is agreeably to the way of speaking and writing with the Jews: so in the Targum on (<380307>Zechariah 3:7): nya aytym twyab, “in the quickening of the dead I will quicken thee”; or, in the resurrection of the dead I will raise thee. The question put on supposition of a resurrection, and that these seven brethren, and the wife they all had should rise, then is, Æ j whose wife shall she be of them? of the seven brethren; j for the seven had…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See this passage fully explained in the notes at Matthew 22:23-33. Mark 12:25 Are as the angels - That is, as the angels in respect to connections and relations. What those connections and relations may be we know not, but this passage teaches that the special relation of “marriage” will not exist. It does not affirm, however, that there will be no recollection of former marriages, or no recognition of each other as having existed in this tender relation. Mark 12:26 How in the bush - At the burning bush. See Exodus 3:16. The meaning is, “in that part of the book of Exodus which contains the account of the burning bush. When there were no chapters and verses, it was the easiest way of quoting…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification