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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
• 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.

Context of Matthew 12:34

32And whoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 33Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36But I say to you, That for every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account for it in the day of judgment.

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

• generationγέννημαgennēma · offspringG1081
• vipersἔχιδναechidna · snakeG2191
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• yeδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• beingὤνōn ousa on · beingG5607
• evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• thingsἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• abundanceπερίσσευμαperisseuma · overflowG4051
• heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750

Cross-references for Matthew 12:34

• Matthew 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
• Matthew 23:33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
• Luke 3:7Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized by him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
• John 8:44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
• 1 John 3:10In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil: whoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
• 1 Samuel 24:13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
• Psalms 10:6He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
• Psalms 52:2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
• Psalms 53:1The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
• Psalms 64:3Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
• Psalms 120:2Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
• Psalms 140:2Who imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
• Isaiah 32:6For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
• Isaiah 59:4None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
• Jeremiah 7:2Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.
• Romans 3:10As it is written, There is none 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