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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Matthew 7:15–17

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 15

  1. 1 John 4:1Rank 1 from verse 15
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    1BELOVED, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

  2. 2 Peter 2:1–3Rank 2 from verse 15
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    1BUT there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

    2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

    3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  3. Matthew 24:11Rank 3 from verse 15
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    11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

  4. Acts 20:29–31Rank 4 from verse 15
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    29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

    30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

    31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

  5. Mark 13:22–23Rank 5 from verse 15
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    22For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

    23But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

From verse 16

  1. Luke 6:43–45Rank 1 from verse 16
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    43For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

    44For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

    45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

  2. James 3:12Rank 2 from verse 16
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    12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

  3. Matthew 12:33Rank 3 from verse 16
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    33Either 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.

  4. Matthew 7:20Rank 4 from verse 16
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    20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

  5. 2 Peter 2:10–18Rank 5 from verse 16
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    10But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

    11Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

    12But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

    13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

    14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

    15Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

    16But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

    17These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

    18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

From verse 17

  1. Matthew 12:33–35Rank 1 from verse 17
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    33Either 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.

    34O 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.

  2. Galatians 5:22–24Rank 2 from verse 17
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    22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

    23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

    24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

  3. Ephesians 5:9Rank 3 from verse 17
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    9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

  4. Psalms 1:3Rank 4 from verse 17
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    3And 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.

  5. Colossians 1:10Rank 5 from verse 17
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    10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 7:15

COMBINED MEANING

beware

↗

To take heed, be cautious, watch, or guard oneself against a person, act, teaching, danger, or neglect.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

false

↗

Not solid or sound; deceiving expectations. Not faithful or loyal; treacherous; perfidious; deceitful.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

you

↗

The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

clothing

↗

Sense 1: Garments or covering for the body. Sense 2: Figuratively, that which covers or invests.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ravening

↗

Sense 1: Greedily seizing, tearing, or devouring. Sense 2: Violently predatory or exploitative.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 7:16

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

know

↗

To perceive, understand, recognize, experience, or be assured of something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fruits

↗

Sense 1: The produce of a plant; offspring. Sense 2: The result and effect of conduct.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thorns

↗

Sense 1: Sharp spines or prickles. Sense 2: Thorn-bearing plants and figures of things that prick, obstruct, or grieve.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 7:17

COMBINED MEANING

even

↗

1. Used to emphasize, include, or precisely identify what is meant: indeed, precisely, or namely. 2. Used to mark a boundary, endpoint, or full reach in place, time, or degree: up to, as far as, or through. 3. In ‘even as,’ ‘even so,’ and like constructions, just as, exactly so, or in the same manner. 4. The evening, or close of day. 5. Equal, level, identical, balanced, or uniform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

forth

↗

1. Outward, away, or forward from a place, person, possession, or former position. 2. In constructions of bearing or producing, into birth, growth, fruit, or another stated result. 3. With verbs such as put, stretch, spread, or reach, outward by extension or exertion. 4. In constructions of showing, speaking, issuing, or displaying, into view, expression, publication, or effect. 5. Onward from a stated time or point, as in from that time forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fruit

↗

Sense 1: The produce borne by plants or the land. Sense 2: Offspring or increase. Sense 3: A result, product, consequence, character, or work proceeding from something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

corrupt

↗

1. Morally spoiled, defiled, perverted, false, or turned from integrity. 2. Physically decayed, damaged, or unsound. 3. As a verb, to spoil, debase, pervert, or cause decay.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Selected passage

16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Selected passage

17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Selected passage

18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

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