English Standard Version
Matthew 7:17
17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Matthew 7:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
- New International Version (NIV)Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
- New Living Translation (NLT)A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
Context of Matthew 7:17
15"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Read all of Matthew 7Matthew 7:17 word by word
οὕτως πᾶν δένδρον ἀγαθὸν καρποὺς καλοὺς ποιεῖ, τὸ δὲ σαπρὸν δένδρον καρποὺς πονηροὺς ποιεῖ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Even soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
- goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
- treeδένδρονdendron · treeG1186
- bringeth forthποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
- fruitκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590
- butδέde · thenG1161
- a corruptσαπρόςsapros · rottenG4550
- evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
Cross-references for Matthew 7:17
- Psalms 1:3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
- Psalms 92:13They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.
- Isaiah 5:3And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.
- Isaiah 61:3to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
- Jeremiah 11:19But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more."
- Jeremiah 17:8He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
- Luke 13:6And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
- Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Ephesians 5:9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
- Philippians 1:11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- Colossians 1:10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
- Matthew 12:33"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.
- Jude 1:12These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;
Commentaries on Matthew 7:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17So every good tree - As the thorn can only produce thorns, not grapes; and the thistle, not figs, but prickles; so an unregenerate heart will produce fruits of degeneracy. As we perfectly know that a good tree will not produce bad fruit, and the bad tree will not, cannot produce good fruit, so we know that the profession of godliness, while the life is ungodly, is imposture, hypocrisy, and deceit. A man cannot be a saint and a sinner at the same time. Let…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17A corrupt tree - The word “corrupt” here does not signify, as our translation would seem to indicate, that the tree “had been” good, but had become “vitiated;” but that it was a tree of a useless character, of a nature that produced nothing beneficial.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-20Verses 15-20 Nothing so much prevents men from entering the strait gate, and becoming true followers of Christ, as the carnal, soothing, flattering doctrines of those who oppose the truth. They may be known by the drift and effects of their doctrines. Some part of their temper and conduct is contrary to the mind of Christ. Those opinions come not from God that lead to sin.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17Good fruit and bad fruit symbolize moral behavior (see Matthew 3:8, 10; 12:33–37; 13:8; 21:43; Galatians 5:19–23).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 7:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 7
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries