Matthew 7:16–18
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Yee shall knowe them by their fruits: *Doe men gather grapes of thornes, or figges of thistles?
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- *Cross-referenceLuk. 6.43.
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Euen so, euery good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but a corrupt tree bringeth forth euill fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth euil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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From verse 16
- Luke 6:43–45Rank 1 from verse 16
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.
43*For a good tree bringeth not foorth corrupt fruit: neither doeth a corrupt tree bring foorth good fruit.
44For euery tree is knowen by his owne fruit: for of thornes men doe not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth foorth that which is good: and an euill man out of the euill treasure of his heart, bringeth foorth that which is euill: For of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaketh.
- James 3:12Rank 2 from verse 16
- Matthew 12:33Rank 3 from verse 16
- Matthew 7:20Rank 4 from verse 16
- 2 Peter 2:10–18Rank 5 from verse 16
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.
10But chiefly them that walke after the flesh in the lust of vncleannesse, and despise ‖gouernment. Presumptuous are they; selfe willed: they are not afraid to *speake euill of dignities:
11Whereas Angels which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation †against them before the Lord.
12But these, as natural bruit beasts made to bee taken and destroyed speake euill of the things that they vnderstand not, and shall vtterly perish in their owne corruption,
13And shall receiue the reward of vnrighteousnesse, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time: Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselues with their owne deceiuings, while they feast with you:
14Hauing eyes ful of †adulterie and that cannot cease from sinne, beguiling vnstable soules: an heart they haue exercised with couetous practises: cursed children:
15Which haue forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the sonne of Bosor, who loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse,
16But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumbe asse speaking with mais voice, forbade the madnesse of the Prophet.
17These are welles without water, cloudes that are caried with a tempest, to whom the mist of darkenesse is reserued for euer.
18For when they speake great svelling words of vanitie, they alure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonnesse, those that were ‖cleane escaped from them who liue in errour.
- Jude 1:10–19Rank 6 from verse 16
10But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
17But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
10But these speake euill of those things, which they know not: but what they knowe naturally, as brute beastes, in those things they corrupt themselues.
11Wo vnto them, for they haue gone in the way of Kain, and ranne greedily after the errour of Balaam, for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12These are spottes in your feasts of charitie, when they feast with you, feeding themselues without feare: cloudes they are without water, caried about of winds, trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twise dead, plucked vp by the rootes.
13Raging waues of the sea, foming out their owne shame, wandring stars, to whom is reserued the blacknesse of darkenesse for euer.
14And Enoch also, the seuenth from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints,
15To execute iudgement vpon all, and to conuince all that are vngodly among them, of all their vngodly deeds which they haue vngodly committed, and of all their heard speaches, which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him.
16These are murmurers complainers, walking after their owne lustes, and their mouth speaketh great swelling wordes, hauing mens persons in admiration because of aduantage.
17But beloued, remember yee the words, which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ:
18How that they tolde you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walke after their own vngodly lustes.
19These be they who separate themselues, sensual, hauing not the spirit.
From verse 17
- Matthew 12:33–35Rank 1 from verse 17
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.
33Either make the tree good, and his fruit good: Or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: For the tree is knowen by his fruit.
34O generation of vipers, how can ye, being euil, speake 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 foorth good things: and an euill man out of the euill treasure, bringeth foorth euill things.
- Galatians 5:22–24Rank 2 from verse 17
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.
22But the fruit of the spirit is loue, ioy, peace, long suffering, gentlenesse, goodnesse, faith,
23Meekenesse, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christs, haue crucified the flesh with the ‖affections and lustes.
- Ephesians 5:9Rank 3 from verse 17
- Psalms 1:3Rank 4 from verse 17
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.
3And he shalbe like a tree planted by the riuers of water, that bringeth foorth his fruit in his season, his leafe also shall not †wither, and whatsoeuer he doeth, shall prosper.
- Colossians 1:10Rank 5 from verse 17
- Psalms 92:13–14Rank 6 from verse 17
13Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
13Those that be planted in the house of the LORD, shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14†They shal still bring forth fruit in old age: they shalbe fat, & flourishing:
- Jeremiah 17:8Rank 7 from verse 17
8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
8*‖For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her rootes by the riuer, and shall not see when heate commeth, but her leafe shall be greene, and shall not be carefull in the yeere of drought, neither shall cease from yeelding fruit.
- Luke 13:6–9Rank 8 from verse 17
6¶ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
6¶ Hee spake also this parable, A certaine man had a figtree planted in his Uineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7Then said hee vnto the dresser of his Uineyard, Beholde, these three yeeres I come seeking fruit on this figtree, and finde none: cut it downe, why cumbreth it the ground?
8And he answering, said vnto him, Lord, let it alone this yeere also, till I shall digge about it, and doung it:
9And if it beare fruit, Well: and if not, then after that, thou shalt cut it downe.
- James 3:17–18Rank 9 from verse 17
17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
17But the wisedome that is from aboue, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easie to be intreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, ‖without partialitie, and without hypocrisie.
18And the fruit of righteousnesse is sowen in peace, of them that make peace.
- Jeremiah 11:19Rank 10 from verse 17
19But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
19†But I was like a lambe or an oxe that is brought to the slaughter, and I knew not that they had deuised deuices against me, saying; Let vs destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let vs cut him off from the land of the liuing, that his name may be no more remembred.
- Philippians 1:11Rank 11 from verse 17
- Isaiah 61:3Rank 12 from verse 17
3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
3To appoint vnto them that mourne in Zion, to giue vnto them beautie for ashes, the oyle of ioy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heauinesse, that they might be called trees of righteousnesse, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
12These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
12These are spottes in your feasts of charitie, when they feast with you, feeding themselues without feare: cloudes they are without water, caried about of winds, trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twise dead, plucked vp by the rootes.
- Isaiah 5:3–5Rank 14 from verse 17
3And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
4What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
5And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
3And now, O inhabitants of Ierusalem, and men of Iudah, Iudge, I pray you, betwixt me and my Uineyard.
4What could haue beene done more to my Uineyard, that I haue not done in it? wherefore when I looked that it should bring foorth grapes, brought it foorth wilde grapes?
5†And now goe to; I will tell you what I will doe to my Uineyard, I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten vp; and breake downe the wall thereof, and it shall be troden downe.
From verse 18
- Galatians 5:17Rank 1 from verse 18
17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that yee cannot doe the things that yee would.
- 1 John 3:9–10Rank 2 from verse 18
9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
9Whosoeuer is borne of God, doth not commit sinne: for his seede remaineth in him, and he cannot sinne, because he is borne of God.
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the deuill: whosoeuer doeth not righteousnesse, is not of God, neither hee that loueth not his brother.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
Definitions
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DEFINED WORDS
Matthew 7:16
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
An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
To perceive, understand, recognize, experience, or be assured of something.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: The produce of a plant; offspring. Sense 2: The result and effect of conduct.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To collect, bring together, or assemble.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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
Prickly plants.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
DEFINED WORDS
Matthew 7:17
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
DEFINED WORDS
Matthew 7:18
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
Is unable to; is not able to.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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
Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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
1. Also not; nor, introducing or joining a further negative statement or prohibition. 2. Not either, or none, of the alternatives named, commonly in a neither ... nor construction.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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
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Surrounding Verses
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15¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
15¶ Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing, but inwardly they are rauening wolues.
16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
16Yee shall knowe them by their fruits: *Doe men gather grapes of thornes, or figges of thistles?
Selected passage17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
17Euen so, euery good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but a corrupt tree bringeth forth euill fruit.
Selected passage18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
18A good tree cannot bring forth euil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Selected passage19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
19*Euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire.