Matthew 12 · Verse 35

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.
Matthew 12:35, King James Version

Matthew 12:35 in other translations

BSBThe good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
WEBThe good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
ASVThe good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
YLTThe good man out of the good treasure of the heart doth put forth the good things, and the evil man out of the evil treasure doth put forth evil things.
DARBYThe good man out of the good treasure brings forth good things; and the wicked man out of the wicked treasure brings forth wicked things.
BBEThe good man out of his good store gives good things; and the evil man out of his evil store gives evil things.
WebsterA 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.

What does Matthew 12:35 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
35. A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things--or, "putteth forth good things": and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things--or "putteth forth evil things." The word "putteth" indicates the spontaneity of what comes from the heart; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh. We have here a new application of a former saying (see on Mt 7:16-20). Here, the sentiment is, "There are but two kingdoms, interests, parties--with the proper workings of each: If I promote the one, I cannot belong to the other; but they that set themselves in wilful opposition to the kingdom of light openly proclaim to what other kingdom they belong. As for you, in what ye have now uttered, ye have but revealed the venomous malignity of your hearts."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 35. Mt 12:34

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart - Της καρδιας, of the heart, is omitted by upwards of one hundred MSS., many of them of the greatest antiquity and authority; by all the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic; by the Slavonic, Saxon, Vulgate, and Itala, (except four), and by several of the primitive fathers. It seems to have been added here by some copyist, merely to explain. The good heart is the good treasury, and the treasure that is in it is the love of God, and of all mankind. The bad heart is the bad treasury, and its treasure is the carnal mind, which is enmity against God, and ill-will to 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 12:35 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.

ὉHoTheG3588
ἀγαθὸςagathosgoodG18
ἄνθρωποςanthrōposmanG444
ἐκekout ofG1537
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ἀγαθοῦagathougoodG18
θησαυροῦthēsauroutreasureG2344
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
καρδίαςkardiasof [his] heartG2588
ἐκβάλλειekballeiputs forthG1544
ἀγαθά,agathagood things,G18
καὶkaiandG2532
ὁhotheG3588
πονηρὸςponērosevilG4190
ἄνθρωποςanthrōposmanG444
ἐκekout ofG1537
τοῦtou<the>G3588
πονηροῦponērou[his] evilG4190
θησαυροῦthēsauroutreasureG2344
ἐκβάλλειekballeiputs forthG1544
πονηρά.¶ponēraevil things.G4190

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

Cross references for Matthew 12:35

  • Colossians 4:6

    Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

  • Proverbs 15:4

    A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

  • Proverbs 15:28

    The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

  • Colossians 3:16

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

  • Proverbs 25:11-12

    A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

  • 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.

  • Proverbs 16:21-23

    The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

  • Proverbs 10:20-21

    The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 37:30-31

    The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

  • Proverbs 12:6

    The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

  • Proverbs 15:23

    A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
good man.
13:52; Ps 37:30,31; Pr 10:20,21; 12:6,17-19; 15:4,23,28
Pr 16:21-23; 25:11,12; Eph 4:29; Col 3:16; 4:6
and an.
34

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Matthew 12:36

    But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:35 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El hombre bueno del buen tesoro del corazón saca buenas cosas: y el hombre malo del mal tesoro saca malas cosas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’homme bon, du bon trésor, produit de bonnes choses, et l’homme mauvais, du mauvais trésor, produit de mauvaises choses.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der gute Mensch bringt aus dem guten Schatze Gutes hervor, und der böse Mensch bringt aus dem bösen Schatze Böses hervor.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Bonus homo de bono thesauro profert bona: et malus homo de malo thesauro profert mala.