Matthew 12 · Verse 33

Matthew 12:33

Either 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.
Matthew 12:33, King James Version

Matthew 12:33 in other translations

BSBMake a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
WEB“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.
ASVEither 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.
YLT‘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.
DARBYEither 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.
BBEMake 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.
WebsterEither make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.

What does Matthew 12:33 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
33. Either make the tree good, &c.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 33. Either make, etc. The fact asserted in this verse is, that a tree is known not by its leaves, or bark, or form, but by its fruit. The application to the argument is this: "You are to judge of man's being in league with Satan by his works. If my doctrines and works be properly the works of Satan, then I am corrupt; if not, then your charge is blasphemy. So, on the other hand, if, not withstanding your professions, your works are the works of the devil, and your doctrines be such as he would teach, it would prove respecting you that which you charge on me." In this indirect but powerful manner, he advances to the charge against them, which he urges in the following verses.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 33 Either make the tree good - That is, the effect will be always similar to the cause; a bad tree will produce bad fruit, and a good tree, good fruit. The works will resemble the heart: nothing good can proceed from an evil spirit; no good fruit can proceed from a corrupt heart. Before the heart of man can produce any good, it must be renewed and influenced by the Spirit of God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 12:33-37
Men's language discovers what country they are of, likewise what manner of spirit they are of. The heart is the fountain, words are the streams. A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams. Nothing but the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt communication. An evil man has an evil treasure in his heart, and out of it brings forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions, dwelling and reigning in the heart, are an evil treasure, out of which the sinner brings forth bad words and actions, to dishonour God, and hurt others. Let us keep constant watch over ourselves, that we may speak words agreeable to the Christian character.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 12:33 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἪĒEitherG2228
ποιήσατεpoiēsatedo makeG4160
τὸtotheG3588
δένδρονdendrontreeG1186
καλὸνkalongoodG2570
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸνtontheG3588
καρπὸνkarponfruitG2590
αὐτοῦautouof itG846
καλόν,kalongood,G2570
ἢēorG2228
ποιήσατεpoiēsatedo makeG4160
τὸtotheG3588
δένδρονdendrontreeG1186
σαπρὸνsapronbadG4550
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸνtontheG3588
καρπὸνkarponfruitG2590
αὐτοῦautouof itG846
σαπρόν·sapronbad;G4550
ἐκekbyG1537
γὰρgarforG1063
τοῦtoutheG3588
καρποῦkarpoufruitG2590
τὸtotheG3588
δένδρονdendrontreeG1186
γινώσκεται.ginōsketaiis known.G1097

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 12:33

  • Luke 6:43-44

    For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

  • Matthew 7:16-20

    Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. …

  • James 4:8

    Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

  • John 15:4-7

    Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

  • Matthew 3:8-10

    Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  • Luke 3:9

    And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  • Amos 5:15

    Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

  • Luke 11:39-40

    And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

  • Ezekiel 18:31

    Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

  • James 3:12

    Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

  • Matthew 23:26

    Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
make the good tree.
23:26; Eze 18:31; Am 5:15; Lu 11:39,40; Jas 4:8
and his fruit good.
3:8-10; 7:16-20; Lu 3:9; 6:43,44; Joh 15:4-7; Jas 3:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 12:32

    And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

  • Matthew 12:33

    Either 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.

  • Matthew 12:34

    O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:33 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
O haced el árbol bueno, y su fruto bueno, ó haced el árbol corrompido, y su fruto dañado; porque por el fruto es conocido el árbol.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ou faites l’arbre bon et son fruit bon, ou faites l’arbre mauvais et son fruit mauvais, car l’arbre est connu par son fruit.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Entweder machet den Baum gut und seine Frucht gut, oder machet den Baum faul und seine Frucht faul; denn aus der Frucht wird der Baum erkannt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Aut facite arborem bonam, et fructum ejus bonum: aut facite arborem malam, et fructum ejus malum: siquidem ex fructu arbor agnoscitur.