Mark 12:21 (DRB)

Passage

And the second took her and died: and neither did he leave any issue. And the third in like manner.

Nearby Context

Mark 12:19 Master, Moses wrote unto us that if any man's brother die and leave his wife behind him and leave no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up seed to his brother.

Mark 12:20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife and died leaving no issue.

Mark 12:21 And the second took her and died: and neither did he leave any issue. And the third in like manner.

Mark 12:22 And the seven all took her in like manner and did not leave issue. Last of all the woman also died.

Mark 12:23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise again, whose wife shall she be of them? For the seven had her to wife.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "second", "took", "died", "neither", "leave", "issue", "third", and "like". 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 "Now there were seven brethren and the..." into verse 22's "And the seven all took her in...", 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.