BibleWord.ai› Bible› Mark› Chapter 12› Verse 27

Mark 12:27

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Mark 12:27 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.
Mark 12:27 — American Standard Version

Context — Mark 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
24Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?
25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven.
26But 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?
27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.
28And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all?
29Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one:
30and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.
← Mark 12:26Mark 12:28 →
← Full Chapter 12 Mark Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He is not the God of the dead, etc..] This is our Lord's reasoning upon the passage; showing from hence, that since God is the God of these persons, they must be now alive in their souls, for God is not the God of the dead; and that their bodies must rise again, or he will not be the God of their whole persons; but the God, of the living: the word “God”, in this clause, is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, but retained in the Persic and Ethiopic versions; (see Gill on “<402232>Matthew 22:32”); ye therefore do greatly err; signifying, that it was not a slight mistake, an error of small importance, but a very great one; inasmuch as it was contrary to the Scriptures,…”
Read attributed excerpt →
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…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living - That is, (if the argument be proposed at length,) since the character of his being the God of any persons, plainly intimates a relation to them, not as dead, but as living; and since he cannot be said to be at present their God at all, if they are utterly dead; nor to be the God of human persons, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, consisting of souls and bodies, if their bodies were to abide in everlasting death; there must needs be a future state of blessedness, and a resurrection of the body to share with the soul in it. Mark 12:28”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“is not: Rom 4:17, Rom 14:9; Heb 11:13-16 ye: Mar 12:24; Pro 19:27; Heb 3:10 Mark 12:28”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Mark 12 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification