Devine Scripture

Luke 6:43

What does Luke 6:43 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 6:43 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 6:43 means

Jesus taught, "For there is no good tree that brings forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that brings forth good fruit." This agricultural metaphor illustrates the inseparable link between a person's inner nature or character and their outward actions and behaviors. A genuinely good person, transformed by God, will consistently produce good fruit, while one whose heart is corrupt cannot truly produce genuinely good deeds. This principle underscores that true goodness comes from an authentic, changed heart, not from superficial efforts or outward appearances.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For no good tree gives bad fruit, and no bad tree gives good fruit.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`For there is not a good tree making bad fruit, nor a bad tree making good fruit;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit: nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For there is no good tree which produces corrupt fruit, nor a corrupt tree which produces good fruit;

Context

Following the warnings against hypocrisy and the call for self-examination, this verse introduces a new metaphor: the good and corrupt tree. It shifts the discussion from outward judgment to the inner source of a person's character and actions. This foundational principle sets the stage for understanding that true righteousness springs from what is truly within a person, which will be further elaborated in the next verses.

v.42Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.

v.43This passage

v.44For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 92:12

    The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree: He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

  • Matthew 12:33

    Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.

  • Isaiah 5:4

    What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

  • Matthew 3:10

    And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  • Jeremiah 2:21

    Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine unto me?

  • Matthew 7:16

    By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

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