Matthew 22:25 (DBY)

Passage

Now there were with us seven brethren; and the first having married died, and not having seed, left his wife to his brother.

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:23 On that day came to him Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection; and they demanded of him,

Matthew 22:24 saying, Teacher, Moses said, If any one die, not having children, his brother shall marry his wife and shall raise up seed to his brother.

Matthew 22:25 Now there were with us seven brethren; and the first having married died, and not having seed, left his wife to his brother.

Matthew 22:26 In like manner also the second and the third, unto the seven.

Matthew 22:27 And last of all the woman also died.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "seven", "brethren", "first", "having", "married", "died", and "seed". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "seven" and "brethren", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 24's "saying Teacher Moses said If any one..." into verse 26's "In like manner also the second and...", so "seven" and "brethren" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

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