Mark 12:21 (DBY)

Passage

and the second took her and died, and neither did he leave seed; and the third likewise.

Nearby Context

Mark 12:19 Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if any one's brother die, and leave a wife behind, and leave no children, that his brother shall take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.

Mark 12:20 There were seven brethren; and the first took a wife, and dying did not leave seed;

Mark 12:21 and the second took her and died, and neither did he leave seed; and the third likewise.

Mark 12:22 And the seven [took her and] did not leave seed. Last of all the woman also died.

Mark 12:23 In the resurrection, when they shall rise again, of which of them shall she be wife, for the seven had her as wife?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "second", "took", "died", "neither", "leave", "seed", "third", and "likewise". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "second" and "took", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "There were seven brethren and the first..." into verse 22's "And the seven took her and did...", so "second" and "took" belong inside that flow. In Mark context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "second" and "took" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.