Matthew 7:17

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

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

American King James Version (AKJV)

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

American Standard Version (ASV)

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

Basic English Translation (BBE)

Even so, every good tree gives good fruit; but the bad tree gives evil fruit.

Webster's Revision

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

World English Bible

Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.

English Revised Version (ERV)

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

Clarke's Matthew 7:17 Bible Commentary

So every good tree - As the thorn can only produce thorns, not grapes; and the thistle, not figs, but prickles; so an unregenerate heart will produce fruits of degeneracy. As we perfectly know that a good tree will not produce bad fruit, and the bad tree will not, cannot produce good fruit, so we know that the profession of godliness, while the life is ungodly, is imposture, hypocrisy, and deceit. A man cannot be a saint and a sinner at the same time. Let us remember, that as the good tree means a good heart, and the good fruit, a holy life, and that every heart is naturally vicious; so there is none but God who can pluck up the vicious tree, create a good heart, plant, cultivate, water, and make it continually fruitful in righteousness and true holiness.

Barnes's Matthew 7:17 Bible Commentary

A corrupt tree - The word "corrupt" here does not signify, as our translation would seem to indicate, that the tree "had been" good, but had become "vitiated;" but that it was a tree of a useless character, of a nature that produced nothing beneficial.