Matthew 7:16
14 Because 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.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
- KJV
- Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
- WEB
- By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?
- ASV
- By their fruits ye shall know them. Do [men] gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
- DARBY
- By their fruits ye shall know them. Do [men] gather a bunch of grapes from thorns, or from thistles figs?
- BLB
- From their fruits you⁺ will recognize them. [Do] they gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
- ÅB
- Dere skal kjenne dem på fruktene deres. Kan man vel sanke vindruer av tornebusker, eller fiken av tistler?
- OTB
- På fruktene skal dere kjenne dem. Plukker man druer fra tornebusker, eller fiken fra tistler?
- B1930
- Av deres frukter skal I kjenne dem; kan en vel sanke vindruer av tornebusker eller fiken av tistler?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Luke 6:43–45
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Read in contextJames 3:12
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Read in contextMatthew 12:33
Either 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.
Read in contextMatthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Read in context2 Peter 2:10–18
But 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.
Read in contextJude 1:10–19
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Read in context