Mark 12:20 (KJV) says, "Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed."

This verse is part of a passage in which Jesus is responding to a question about the resurrection. He uses a hypothetical scenario involving a woman who marries seven brothers in sequence, as each one dies without leaving any children. This verse specifically refers to the first brother who marries the woman and then dies childless.

The context of this verse is important for understanding its meaning. Jesus is having a conversation with the Sadducees, who were a Jewish sect that did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. They present a hypothetical scenario to Jesus in an attempt to discredit the idea of resurrection. In response, Jesus explains that those who are resurrected will not marry or be given in marriage, but will be like angels in heaven.

The symbolic meaning of this verse is tied to the broader theme of Jesus' teachings on the afterlife and the kingdom of God. The scenario of the seven brothers and the woman serves as a literary device to illustrate a point about the nature of the afterlife and the resurrection. By referring to a specific individual who died childless, Jesus underscores the concept of life after death and the continuity of relationships in the resurrected state.

The number seven holds symbolic significance in the Bible, often representing completion or perfection. In this passage, the use of seven brothers emphasizes the completeness of the scenario and reinforces the idea that the hypothetical situation being presented is meant to convey a deeper spiritual truth rather than a literal account.

The absence of offspring in the scenario is also symbolic, suggesting the incompleteness and impermanence of earthly relationships in contrast to the eternal nature of the resurrected life. In the cultural context of Jesus' time, leaving no seed or offspring would have been seen as a significant failing, but Jesus uses this detail to illustrate that earthly concerns about marriage and progeny are ultimately insignificant in the face of the eternal life promised in the kingdom of God.

The broader theme of resurrection and the afterlife in the Bible is central to the Christian faith and has profound implications for how believers view the purpose and meaning of their lives. Jesus' response to the Sadducees emphasizes the transformative nature of the afterlife, where earthly concerns give way to a new and eternal reality.

Overall, Mark 12:20, within its context, conveys a profound spiritual truth about the nature of the afterlife and the kingdom of God. It serves as a reminder that the concerns and limitations of earthly life are transcended in the resurrection, where believers will experience a completeness and fulfillment beyond what this world can offer. This verse encourages believers to look beyond the temporal and material and to focus on the eternal truths of the gospel.