Matthew 12:33
What does Matthew 12:33 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 12:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 12:33 means
Jesus uses the tree-and-fruit image: either make the tree good and its fruit good, or corrupt and corrupt. A tree is known by its fruit. He teaches that outward words and deeds reveal inner character. One cannot produce good results from a corrupt source and vice versa. The counsel urges moral and spiritual authenticity: to claim goodness while producing evil fruit is hypocritical. The image focuses attention on the need for genuineness and the tests by which people are judged.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Either 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Either 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for by its fruit you will get knowledge of the tree.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad, for from the fruit is the tree known.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Either make the tree good and its fruit good: or make the tree evil, and its fruit evil. For by the fruit the tree is known.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt. For from the fruit the tree is known.
Context
This proverb follows the warning about speech and blasphemy. It shifts from the specific issue of the Spirit to the general principle that inner life determines outward speech and action. The next verses expand on heart-speech connection, showing how inner abundance issues forth in words, which will be accountable at judgment.
v.32And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.
v.33This passage
v.34Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.
- Matthew 23:26
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.
- Luke 11:39
And the Lord said unto him, Now ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
- Luke 6:43
For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit.
- Matthew 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:
- Ezekiel 18:31
Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
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