Matthew 12:33

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of Matthew 12:33 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“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.”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“`Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad, for from the fruit is the tree known.”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo Matthew 12:33 — 11 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Ezekiel 18:31Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
  2. Amos 5:15Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
  3. Matthew 3:8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
  4. Matthew 7:16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
  5. Matthew 23:26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
  6. Luke 3:9The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
  7. Luke 6:43No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
  8. Luke 11:39“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
  9. John 15:4Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
  10. James 3:12My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
  11. James 4:8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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