Matthew 12 · Verse 37

Matthew 12:37

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 12:37, King James Version

Matthew 12:37 in other translations

BSBFor by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
WEBFor by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
ASVFor by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
YLTfor from thy words thou shalt be declared righteous, and from thy words thou shalt be declared unrighteous.'
DARBYfor by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
BBEFor by your words will your righteousness be seen, and by your words you will be judged.
WebsterFor by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

What does Matthew 12:37 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 37. By thy words thou shalt be justified, etc. That is, words shall be the indication of the true principles of the heart; by words the heart shall be known, as the tree is by its fruit. If they are true, proper, chaste, instructive, pious, they will prove that the heart is right. If false, envious, malignant, and impious, they will prove that the heart is wrong, and will therefore be among the causes of condemnation. It is not meant that words will be the only thing that will condemn man; but that they will be all important part of the things for which he shall be condemned. See Jas 3:3-12.

(i) "thy words" Prov 13:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 37 By thy words thou shalt be justified - That is, the whole tenor of thy conversation will be an evidence for or against thee, in the great day. How many are there who count words for nothing! and yet eternity often depends on them. Lord, put a watch before the door of my lips! is a prayer proper for all men.

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 12:37 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.

ἐκekByG1537
γὰρgarforG1063
τῶνtōntheG3588
λόγωνlogōnwordsG3056
σουsouof youG4771
δικαιωθήσῃdikaiōthēsēyou will be justifiedG1344
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐκekbyG1537
τῶνtōntheG3588
λόγωνlogōnwordsG3056
σουsouof youG4771
καταδικασθήσῃ.¶katadikasthēsēyou will be condemned.G2613

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

Cross references for Matthew 12:37

  • Proverbs 13:3

    He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

  • James 2:21-25

    Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For by.
Pr 13:3
justified.
Jas 2:21-25

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Matthew 12:37

    For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

  • Matthew 12:38

    Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:37 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque por tus palabras serás justificado, y por tus palabras serás condenado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car par tes paroles tu seras justifié, et par tes paroles tu seras condamné.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn aus deinen Worten wirst du gerechtfertigt werden, und aus deinen Worten wirst du verdammt werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ex verbis enim tuis justificaberis et ex verbis tuis condemnaberis.