Matthew 7:17
New International Version
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

New Living Translation
A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

English Standard Version
So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

Berean Standard Bible
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Berean Literal Bible
So every good tree bears good fruits, but the rotten tree bears bad fruits.

King James Bible
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

New King James Version
Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

New American Standard Bible
So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

NASB 1995
“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

NASB 1977
“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

Legacy Standard Bible
Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

Amplified Bible
Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit.

Christian Standard Bible
In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.

American Standard Version
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Contemporary English Version
A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

English Revised Version
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit.

Good News Translation
A healthy tree bears good fruit, but a poor tree bears bad fruit.

International Standard Version
In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit.

Majority Standard Bible
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

NET Bible
In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

New Heart English Bible
Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.

Webster's Bible Translation
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Weymouth New Testament
Just so every good tree produces good fruit, but a poisonous tree produces bad fruit.

World English Bible
Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
So every good tree yields good fruits, but the bad tree yields evil fruits.

Berean Literal Bible
So every good tree bears good fruits, but the rotten tree bears bad fruits.

Young's Literal Translation
so every good tree doth yield good fruits, but the bad tree doth yield evil fruits.

Smith's Literal Translation
So every good tree makes good fruits; but the rotten tree makes evil fruits.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Catholic Public Domain Version
So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit.

New American Bible
Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

New Revised Standard Version
In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So every good tree bears good fruits; but a bad tree bears bad fruits.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
So every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
So every good tree produces goodly fruit: but an unsound tree produces diseased fruit.

Godbey New Testament
So every good tree produces good fruits; and a corrupt tree produces evil fruits.

Haweis New Testament
So every good tree beareth good fruits; but every bad tree in kind, produceth bad fruits.

Mace New Testament
or figs of thistles? so every good tree yields good fruit: but a corrupt tree yields bad fruit.

Weymouth New Testament
Just so every good tree produces good fruit, but a poisonous tree produces bad fruit.

Worrell New Testament
So every good tree bears good fruit, but the worthless tree bears evil fruit.

Worsley New Testament
so every good tree yieldeth good fruit, but a corrupt tree produces bad fruit:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Tree and its Fruit
16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.…

Cross References
Luke 6:43-44
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. / For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles.

John 15:4-5
Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. / I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, / gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

James 3:12
My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Romans 7:4
Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

John 15:8
This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

Ephesians 5:9
for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Matthew 12:33
Make 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.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Isaiah 5:2
He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour!

Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Psalm 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

Hosea 14:8
O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.


Treasury of Scripture

Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.

every.

Psalm 1:3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 92:13,14
Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God…

Isaiah 5:3-5
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard…

but.

Matthew 12:33-35
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…

Jude 1:12
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

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Matthew 7
1. Do Not Judge
7. Ask, Seek, Knock
13. Enter through the Narrow Gate
15. A Tree and Its Fruit
24. The Wise and the Foolish Builders
28. Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished.














Likewise
This word connects the current teaching to the preceding verses, emphasizing continuity in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The Greek word used here is "houtōs," which means "in this manner" or "thus." It suggests that the principle being discussed is a universal truth, applicable to all aspects of life. Jesus is drawing a parallel between the natural world and spiritual realities, urging His listeners to understand the consistency of God's creation and His moral order.

every good tree
The phrase "every good tree" uses the Greek word "agathos" for "good," which implies intrinsic goodness, beneficial in nature. In the biblical context, a "good tree" symbolizes a person or a community rooted in righteousness and aligned with God's will. Historically, trees have been significant in biblical symbolism, representing life, growth, and stability. The imagery of a tree is used throughout Scripture to denote those who are blessed and flourishing under God's favor (e.g., Psalm 1:3).

bears good fruit
The verb "bears" comes from the Greek "poieō," meaning "to make" or "to produce." This indicates an active, ongoing process. "Good fruit" refers to the visible outcomes of a person's life, such as their actions, character, and influence. In a spiritual sense, "good fruit" is the evidence of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit, manifesting in virtues like love, joy, peace, and kindness (Galatians 5:22-23). The agricultural metaphor underscores the natural and expected result of a life rooted in Christ.

but a bad tree
The term "bad" is translated from the Greek "sapros," meaning "rotten" or "worthless." A "bad tree" symbolizes individuals or groups whose lives are not aligned with God's righteousness. In the historical context of Jesus' audience, a bad tree would be one that fails to fulfill its purpose, much like the religious leaders of the time who were criticized for their hypocrisy and lack of genuine faith. This imagery serves as a warning against superficial religiosity and the importance of true spiritual vitality.

bears bad fruit
Here, "bears" again implies an ongoing process, while "bad fruit" refers to the negative outcomes of a life not rooted in God. The Greek word "ponēros" for "bad" suggests something that is not only worthless but also harmful. In the scriptural context, bad fruit represents actions and attitudes that are contrary to God's will, such as deceit, malice, and selfishness. This serves as a cautionary message that one's inner spiritual state will inevitably manifest in their outward behavior, impacting both themselves and those around them.

(17, 18) Even so every good tree. . . .--The two verses state nearly the same fact, but each presents a different aspect. First it is stated as a matter of practical experience, then the general fact is referred to a necessary law. If the tree is corrupt, i.e., rotten or decayed at the core, it cannot bring forth good fruit. If there is falseness in the teaching, or in the man, it will sooner or later show itself in his life, and then, even though we judge of the doctrine on other ground, we should cease to feel confidence in the guidance of the teacher.

Verse 17. - Matthew only. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. The similarity between the fruit and the nature of the tree extends not only to the species, but also to the specimen. Good tree (δένδρον ἀγαθόν); intrinsically sound. Good fruit (καρποὺς καλούς); attractive in the eyes of men. As is the inner character of the tree, so is the obvious nature of the fruit. But a corrupt tree (τὸ δὲ σαπρὸν δένδρον); "the" picturing it. Corrupt; unsound, rotten, worthless (cf. Matthew 13:48); also in the moral world (Ephesians 4:29).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Likewise,
οὕτως (houtōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3779: Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).

every
πᾶν (pan)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

good
ἀγαθὸν (agathon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 18: A primary word; 'good'.

tree
δένδρον (dendron)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1186: A tree. Probably from drus; a tree.

bears
ποιεῖ (poiei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

good
καλοὺς (kalous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.

fruit,
καρποὺς (karpous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2590: Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit, literally or figuratively.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

a bad
σαπρὸν (sapron)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4550: Rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved. From sepo; rotten, i.e. Worthless.

tree
δένδρον (dendron)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1186: A tree. Probably from drus; a tree.

bears
ποιεῖ (poiei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

bad
πονηροὺς (ponērous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4190: Evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful.

fruit.
καρποὺς (karpous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2590: Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit, literally or figuratively.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree produces good (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 7:16
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