Matthew 7:17

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Context of Matthew 7:17

15“Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves. 16You will know them by what they produce. “People don’t pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. 19Any tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire.

Matthew 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 beside streams— a tree that produces fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. He succeeds in everything he does.
• Psalms 92:13They are planted in the Lord’s house. They blossom in our God’s courtyards.
• Isaiah 5:3Now then, you inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah, judge between me and my vineyard!
• Isaiah 61:3⌞He has sent me⌟ to provide for all those who grieve in Zion, to give them crowns instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of ⌞tears of⌟ grief, and clothes of praise instead of a spirit of weakness. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, the Plantings of the Lord, so that he might display his glory.
• Jeremiah 11:19I was like a trusting lamb brought to the slaughter. I didn’t know that they were plotting against me. They were saying, “Let’s destroy the tree with its fruit. Let’s cut Jeremiah off from this world of the living so that we won’t be reminded of him anymore.”
• Jeremiah 17:8He will be like a tree that is planted by water. It will send its roots down to a stream. It will not be afraid in the heat of summer. Its leaves will turn green. It will not be anxious during droughts. It will not stop producing fruit.
• Luke 13:6Then Jesus used this illustration: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on the tree but didn’t find any.
• Galatians 5:22But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Ephesians 5:9Light produces everything that is good, that has God’s approval, and that is true.
• Philippians 1:11Jesus Christ will fill your lives with everything that God’s approval produces. Your lives will then bring glory and praise to God.
• Colossians 1:10We ask this so that you will live the kind of lives that prove you belong to the Lord. Then you will want to please him in every way as you grow in producing every kind of good work by this knowledge about God.
• James 3:17However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere.
• Matthew 12:33“Make a tree good, and then its fruit will be good. Or make a tree rotten, and then its fruit will be rotten. A person can recognize a tree by its fruit.
• Jude 1:12These people are a disgrace at the special meals you share with other believers. They eat with you and don’t feel ashamed. They are shepherds who care ⌞only⌟ for themselves. They are dry clouds blown around by the winds. They are withered, uprooted trees without any fruit. As a result, they have died twice.

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

• Botany
• Character
• Commandments
• Depravity of Man
• Religion
• Righteous
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Ask
• Descend
• Destruction
• Gather
• Judge
• Measure
• Mote
• None
• Profess
• Rock

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