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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Matthew 7:16–20

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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From verse 16

  1. Luke 6:43–45Rank 1 from verse 16
    Open

    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
    Open

    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.

  6. Jude 1:10–19Rank 6 from verse 16
    Open

    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.

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;

  6. Psalms 92:13–14Rank 6 from verse 17
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    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;

  7. Jeremiah 17:8Rank 7 from verse 17
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    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. Luke 13:6–9Rank 8 from verse 17
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    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.

  9. James 3:17–18Rank 9 from verse 17
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    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.

  10. Jeremiah 11:19Rank 10 from verse 17
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    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.

  11. Philippians 1:11Rank 11 from verse 17
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    11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

  12. Isaiah 61:3Rank 12 from verse 17
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    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.

  13. Jude 1:12Rank 13 from verse 17
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    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;

  14. Isaiah 5:3–5Rank 14 from verse 17
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    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:

From verse 18

  1. Galatians 5:17Rank 1 from verse 18
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    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.

  2. 1 John 3:9–10Rank 2 from verse 18
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    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.

From verse 19

  1. Matthew 3:10Rank 1 from verse 19
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    10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  2. Hebrews 6:8Rank 2 from verse 19
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    8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

  3. John 15:2–6Rank 3 from verse 19
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    2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

    3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

    4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

    5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

    6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

  4. Luke 3:9Rank 4 from verse 19
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    9And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  5. Jude 1:12Rank 5 from verse 19
    Open

    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;

  6. Luke 13:6–9Rank 6 from verse 19
    Open

    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.

  7. Isaiah 27:11Rank 7 from verse 19
    Open

    11When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

  8. Isaiah 5:5–7Rank 8 from verse 19
    Open

    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:

    6And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

    7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

  9. Ezekiel 15:2–7Rank 9 from verse 19
    Open

    2Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

    3Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

    4Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

    5Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

    6¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

    7And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them.

  10. Matthew 21:19–20Rank 10 from verse 19
    Open

    19And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

    20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

From verse 20

  1. Matthew 7:16Rank 1 from verse 20
    Open

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

  2. Acts 5:38Rank 2 from verse 20
    Open

    38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

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

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 7:18

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

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

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

neither

↗

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

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

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 7:19

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

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

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

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

hewn

↗

Sense 1: Cut, chopped, shaped, carved, or taken out by a cutting tool. Sense 2: Cut down or separated from a source, literally or by figure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cast

↗

1. To throw, send, put, lay, or direct a person or thing into, upon, around, toward, or away from a place, or into a stated condition. 2. To put away, reject, expel, remove, overthrow, or bring down. 3. To put forth or use a lot for choosing, dividing, or assigning. 4. To form an object by pouring molten material into a mould. 5. To shed, drop, or bring forth young, fruit, leaves, or flowers. 6. To raise, form, or prepare a bank, mount, trench, or way. 7. In "cast ... in his teeth," to reproach or charge something against him. 8. As a noun, the distance something may be thrown.

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

COMBINED MEANING

fire

↗

Burning flame and heat that gives light, consumes, purifies, or destroys.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 7:20

COMBINED MEANING

wherefore

↗

1. For that reason, or as a conclusion from what precedes; therefore or consequently. 2. For what reason or purpose; why.

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

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

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Matthew 7:15–20

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

7:15¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

7:16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

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7:17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

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7:18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

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7:19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

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7:20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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