Matthew 12:34

Matthew 12:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
• New International Version (NIV)You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
• New Living Translation (NLT)You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

Context of Matthew 12:34

32And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Matthew 12:34 word by word

γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν, πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν πονηροὶ ὄντες; ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• O generationγέννημαgennēma · offspringG1081
• of vipersἔχιδναechidna · snakeG2191
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• can yeδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• good thingsἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• outἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• of the abundanceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of the abundanceπερίσσευμαperisseuma · overflowG4051
• of the heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• the mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750

Cross-references for Matthew 12:34

• Matthew 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
• Matthew 23:33You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
• Luke 3:7He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
• John 8:44You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
• 1 John 3:10By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
• 1 Samuel 24:13As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand shall not be against you.
• Psalms 10:6He says in his heart, "I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity."
• Psalms 52:2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
• Psalms 53:1The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
• Psalms 64:3who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,
• Psalms 120:2Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.
• Psalms 140:2who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.
• Isaiah 32:6For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
• Isaiah 59:4No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
• Jeremiah 7:2"Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord.
• Romans 3:10as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;

Commentaries on Matthew 12:34

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34O 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 (, 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34O 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 favorably 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 effect of their nature. The “abundance” or fullness…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-37Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 33-37Jesus addressed the main issue. The Pharisees did not accept him or believe his work came from God because they were wicked (see 7:15–27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 12:34

• Depravity of Man
• Heart
• Jesus, the Christ
• Miracles
• Regeneration
• Sin
• Speaking
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Adulterous
• Condemn
• Desolation
• Heart
• Idle
• Judgment
• Restore
• Sin
• Viper
• Wither

Commentaries on Matthew 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings