Asked by the Sadducees about resurrection of the dead and whose wife a woman who widowed and remarried would be.
Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
Mark 12:25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
NLT Mark 12:25 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.
Because, whenever they rise up from those dead, neither do they marry nor are they given in marriage, instead they are just as messengers in the skies.
The verb "rise up" is not the same Greek verb that Jesus uses to instruct his apostles to "raise the dead" and to describe his own resurrection. This is a different word that does not mean "awaken" but "rise up."
The "when" here is not the common "when." The condition isn't as certain. The sense is more "whenever."
The biggest surprise here is that the "marry," "given in marriage," and "they are" verbs are all in the present tense. They are happening now, not at some future time. With the "whenever" above, the sense is that some people are rising up immediately as they die. When they do, they are immediately like the messengers in the skies.
The phrase "angels in heaven," means "messengers in the skies." While adding a "the" to "dead" is necessary to indicate in English that the word is plural, this is not necessary with "angels" so the insertion of that article is unnecessary, making the "angels' more special that Jesus described them.
Some rise into new bodies immediately, but not bodies that marry.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word that should usually be translated as "when."
- CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" is not the common word usually translated as "but."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" before "angels" doesn't exist in the source.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "which are" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- WN - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but it is plural, "skies."
- MW - Missing Word -- The conjunction "for" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word that should usually be translated as "when."
- MW - Missing Word -- The conjunction "from" is not shown in the English translation.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- MW - Missing Word -- The conjunction "instead" is not shown in the English translation.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" before "angels" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- WN - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but it is plural, "skies."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word that should usually be translated as "when."
- MW - Missing Word -- The conjunction "from" is not shown in the English translation.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "in this respect" should be "instead."
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" before "angels" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The article "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- WN - Wrong Number- The word "heaven" is translated as singular but it is plural, "skies."
For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause".
when -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since." This is not the more common word for "when." Here, the condition is less certain to happen.
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.
shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate but is assumed in an
"if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
rise -- "Rise " is a Greek verb that means "to make to stand up", "to raise from the dead", "to rouse to action," and "to make people rise up." This is not the word Jesus uses to instruct his apostles to "raise the dead" in Matthew 10:8, which is also the word Jesus uses to describe his own resurrection.
from -- The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
the -- There is no Greek word "the" here but the following word is plural and this word makes it appear that way.
dead, -- The word translated as "the dead" means "corpse", "a dying man," and "inanimate, non-organic matter." Christ uses it in all three senses, referring to the actual dead, the spiritually dead, and inanimate matter.
they-- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.
neither -- "Neither" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series
marry, -- The word translated as "marry" means, for a man, "to take a wife" and for a woman, to "give yourself in marriage."
nor -- "Nor" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series
are -- This helping verb indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
given in marriage; -- "Given in marriage" is a verb from the same root as the "marry" verb above that means "to give a daughter in marriage."
but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus almost always uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, "not this," with a positive one, "instead this."
are -- The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.
as -- The word translated as "as" has a very broad meaning, translating as "how", "when", "where", "just as", "like," and related words.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source. It is not needed to make the following word appear plural.
angels -- "Angels" is a noun meaning "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use from its use in the NT.
which are -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "which are" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for."
missing "the" -- The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
heaven. -- (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. The word is in the plural and introduced by an article, "the skies."
When -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since." This is not the more common word for "when." Here, the condition is less certain to happen.
missing "for"-- (MW) The untranslated word "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause".
missing "from" -- (MW) The untranslated word "from" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
the -- There is no Greek word "the" here but the following word is plural and this word makes it appear that way.
dead, -- The word translated as "the dead" means "corpse", "a dying man," and "inanimate, non-organic matter." Christ uses it in all three senses, referring to the actual dead, the spiritually dead, and inanimate matter.
rise --"Rise " is a Greek verb that means "to make to stand up", "to raise from the dead", "to rouse to action," and "to make people rise up." This is not the word Jesus uses to instruct his apostles to "raise the dead" in Matthew 10:8, which is also the word Jesus uses to describe his own resurrection. This verb form describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if" or "when" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
they-- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
neither -- "Neither" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series,
marry, -- The word translated as "marry" means, for a man, "to take a wife" and for a woman, to "give yourself in marriage." It is the present tense.
nor -- "Nor" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series
be -- This helping verb indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
given in marriage; -- "Given in marriage" is a verb from the same root as the "marry" verb above that means "to give a daughter in marriage."
missing "instead" -- (MW) The untranslated word "instead" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "rather". It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise".
they-- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
be -- The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. It is the present tense.
like -- The word translated as "like" has a very broad meaning, translating as "how", "when", "where", "just as", "like," and related words.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source. It is not needed to make the following word appear plural.
angels -- "Angels" is a noun meaning "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use from its use in the NT.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
heaven. -- (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. The word is in the plural and introduced by an article, "the skies."
For - The word "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause".
when -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since." This is not the more common word for "when." Here, the condition is less certain to happen.
missing "from" -- (MW) The untranslated word "from" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."
the -- There is no Greek word "the" here but the following word is plural and this word makes it appear that way.
dead, -- The word translated as "the dead" means "corpse", "a dying man," and "inanimate, non-organic matter." Christ uses it in all three senses, referring to the actual dead, the spiritually dead, and inanimate matter.
rise -- "Rise " is a Greek verb that means "to make to stand up", "to raise from the dead", "to rouse to action," and "to make people rise up." This is not the word Jesus uses to instruct his apostles to "raise the dead" in Matthew 10:8, which is also the word Jesus uses to describe his own resurrection. This verb form describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if" or "when" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
they-- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
neither -- "Neither" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series,
marry, -- The word translated as "marry" means, for a man, "to take a wife" and for a woman, to "give yourself in marriage." It is the present tense.
nor -- "Nor" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series
be -- This helping verb indicates that the following verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
given in marriage; -- "Given in marriage" is a verb from the same root as the "marry" verb above that means "to give a daughter in marriage." It is the present tense.
In this respect -- (WW) The words "in this respect" are from the conjunction "instead" that denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "rather". It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise".
they-- This is from the third-person, plural form of the following verb.
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
be -- The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. It is the present tense.
like -- The word translated as "like" has a very broad meaning, translating as "how", "when", "where", "just as", "like," and related words.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source. It is not needed to make the following word appear plural.
angels -- "Angels" is a noun meaning "messenger" and "envoys" though it became to mean "semi-divine beings" in later use from its use in the NT.
in -- The word translated as "in" also means "within", "with," or "among." With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
heaven. -- (WN) The word translated as "heaven" means sky, the climate, and the universe. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article. The word is in the plural and introduced by an article, "the skies."
ὅταν [70 verses](adv/conj) "When" is from hotan, which means "whenever (as a condition)," and "since (as a cause)." -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "when" introduces a phrase that explains a certain condition so "whenever" or "since." CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word that should usually be translated as "when."
γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."
ἐκ [121 verses] (prep) "From" is ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond," "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of," "made from;" 6) cause, instrument, or means "by." It is also used to describe the author or means "by" which something is done, especially with passive verbs.
νεκρῶν [30 verses](adj pl masc gen) "Dead" is nekros, which specifically means "a corpse" as well as "the dead."
ἀναστῶσιν, [28 verses]( verb 3rd pl aor subj act ) "Shall rise" is anistemi, which means "to make stand up", "to raise up", "to raise from sleep", "to wake up", "to raise from the dead", "to rouse to action", "to put up for sale", "to make people rise", "to emigrate", "to transplant," and "to rise and leave the sanctuary."
οὔτε [12 verses](partic) "Neither" is oute, which means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series. -- "Neither" is a Greek conjunction that means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series.
γαμοῦσιν [12 verses]( verb 3rd pl pres ind act )"Marry" is gameo, which mean "to marry" and "to take a wife." For a woman, it means "to give yourself in marriage." It can also mean to "take a lover."
οὔτε [12 verses](partic) "Neither" is oute, which means "and not," and "neither/nor" when used in a series.
γαμίζονται, [6 verses]( verb 3rd pl pres ind mp) "Given in marriage" is gamizo, which means "to give a daughter in marriage. "
ἀλλ᾽ [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "otherwise", "but", "still", "at least", "except", "yet," nevertheless", "rather", "moreover," and "nay."
εἰσὶν[614 verses]( verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "Are" is from eimi, which means "to be,""to exist", "to be the case," and "is possible."
ὡς (167 verses]((adv) "As" is hos, which means to "thus", "as", "how", "when", "where", "like", "just as", "so far as", "as much as can be", "that", "in order that", "nearly (with numbers)," and "know that."
ἄγγελοι [25 verses](noun pl masc nom) "Angels" is aggelos, which means "messenger" and "envoy."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means "in", "on", "at", "by", "among", "within", "surrounded by", "in one's hands", "in one's power," and "with".With the accusative, it means "into," "on," and "for."
τοῖς [821 verses](article pl masc dat) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
οὐρανοῖς: [111 verses](noun pl masc dat) "Heaven" is from the Greek ouranos (ouranos), which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky", "heaven as the seat of the gods", "the sky", "the universe," and "the climate."