Matthew 12 · Verse 34

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.
Matthew 12:34, King James Version

Matthew 12:34 in other translations

BSBYou brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
WEBYou offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
ASVYe offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
YLT‘Brood of vipers! how are ye able to speak good things--being evil? for out of the abundance of the heart doth the mouth speak.
DARBYOffspring of vipers! how can ye speak good things, being wicked? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
BBEYou offspring of snakes, how are you, being evil, able to say good things? because out of the heart's store come the words of the mouth.
WebsterO generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.

What does Matthew 12:34 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
34. O generation of vipers--(See on Mt 3:7). how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh--a principle obvious enough, yet of deepest significance and vast application. In Lu 6:45 we find it uttered as part of the discourse delivered after the choice of the apostles.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 34,35. O generation of vipers. Christ here applies the argument which he had suggested in the previous verse. They were a wicked race; like poisonous reptiles, with a corrupt and evil nature. They could not be expected to speak good things--that is, to speak favourably of him and his works. As the bad fruit of a tree was the proper effect of its nature, so were their words about him and his works the proper effects of their nature. The abundance or fulness of the heart produced the words of the lips.

Vipers. These are a poisonous kind of serpents, not often a yard long, and about an inch thick, having a flat head. The males have two large teeth, through which a most deadly poison is thrown into the wound made by the bite. They are an emblem of malignity and mischief. These were strong expressions to be used by the meek and lowly Jesus; but they were not the effect of anger and malice; they were a declaration of the true character of the men with whom he was conversing--a declaration most justly deserved. Mt 3:7.

(f) "generation" Mt 3:17 (g) "out of the" Lk 6:45

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 O generation of vipers - These are apparently severe words; but they were extremely proper in reference to that execrable people to whom they were addressed: the whole verse is an inference from what was spoken before. Out of the abundance (περισσευματος, the overflowings) of the heart - Wicked words and sinful actions may be considered as the overflowings of a heart that is more than full of the spirit of wickedness; and holy words and righteous deeds may be considered as the overflowings of a heart that is filled with the Holy Spirit, and running over with love to God and man.

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…

Read the full comment on Matthew 12:33-37 →

Matthew 12:34 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.

γεννήματαgennēmataOffspringG1081
ἐχιδνῶν,echidnōnof vipers,G2191
πῶςpōshowG4459
δύνασθεdunastheare you ableG1410
ἀγαθὰagathagood thingsG18
λαλεῖνlaleinto speakG2980
πονηροὶponēroievilG4190
ὄντες;ontesbeing?G1510
ἐκekOut ofG1537
γὰρgarforG1063
τοῦtoutheG3588
περισσεύματοςperisseumatosoverflowG4051
τῆςtēsof theG3588
καρδίαςkardiasheartG2588
τὸtotheG3588
στόμαstomamouthG4750
λαλεῖ.¶laleispeaks.G2980

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

Cross references for Matthew 12:34

  • Luke 6:45

    A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

  • Matthew 15:18

    But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

  • Ephesians 4:29

    Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

  • 1 Samuel 24:13

    As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

  • James 3:5-8

    Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

  • Psalms 140:2-3

    Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

  • Matthew 12:35

    A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

  • Isaiah 32:6

    For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

  • 1 John 3:10

    In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

  • Romans 3:10-14

    As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: …

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

  • Psalms 10:6-7

    He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
generation.
3:7; 23:33; Lu 3:7; Joh 8:44; 1Jo 3:10
how.
1Sa 24:13; Ps 10:6,7; 52:2-5; 53:1; 64:3,5; 120:2-4; 140:2,3
Isa 32:6; 59:4,14; Jer 7:2-5; Ro 3:10-14; Jas 3:5-8
for.
Lu 6:45

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Matthew 12:35

    A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Generación de víboras, ¿cómo podéis hablar bien, siendo malos? porque de la abundancia del corazón habla la boca.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Race de vipères, comment, étant méchants, pouvez-vous dire de bonnes choses? car de l’abondance du cœur la bouche parle.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Otternbrut! wie könnt ihr Gutes reden, da ihr böse seid? denn aus der Fülle des Herzens redet der Mund.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Progenies viperarum, quomodo potestis bona loqui, cum sitis mali? ex abundantia enim cordis os loquitur.