20:33a

So then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So then means “therefore/then.” It introduces the question that the Sadducees asked Jesus when they concluded their story. Other ways to introduce 20:33a are:

So tell us (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
As a result, then
-or-
And therefore

Introduce the Sadducees’ question in a natural way in your language.

in the resurrection, whose wife will she be: Here the Sadducees asked Jesus what would happen at the resurrection when the woman and the seven men were alive again. They wanted to know to whom she would be married at that time. Some other ways to translate this question are:

…on the day when the dead rise to life, whose wife will she be? (Good News Translation)
-or-
After the resurrection which of these men will be her husband?

The Sadducees thought that there was no good answer to this question. They expected that Jesus could not answer it wisely, and then people would no longer believe him. They would think that it was foolish for him to teach that God will cause dead people to live again.

in the resurrection: The phrase in the resurrection refers to the time in the future when God will make dead people live again. The Sadducees did not believe that this would ever happen. They referred to it in order to imply that it was ridiculous to believe in it. In some languages it may be helpful to translate in a way that implies this attitude. For example:

When God causes them to live again ⌊as you believe he will⌋

resurrection: For more help in translating resurrection see the note at 20:27b.

20:33b

For all seven were married to her: This clause explains why it was difficult to decide who would be married to the woman after the resurrection. Other ways to translate the clause are:

…whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-

⌊It is difficult/impossible to decide,⌋ because each of the seven men had her as wife.

Your translation should not imply that the woman was married to all of the brothers at the same time. She married the brothers one after the other. Consider how to say that clearly in your language.

General Comment on 20:33a–b

It may be helpful in some languages to change the order of these two clauses. For example:

33bSince the seven brothers were married to her, 33ain the resurrection, whose wife will she be?
-or-

33bBecause all the brothers had her as wife, 33awhich brother will have her ⌊as his wife⌋ when all the dead ⌊people⌋ live again?

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