^6:43“For¹³³ no good tree bears bad¹³⁴ fruit, nor again¹³⁵ does a bad tree bear good fruit, ^6:44for each tree is known¹³⁶ by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered¹³⁷ from thorns, nor are grapes picked¹³⁸ from brambles.¹³⁹^6:45The good person out of the good treasury of his¹⁴⁰ heart¹⁴¹ produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury¹⁴² produces evil, for his mouth speaks¹⁴³ from what fills¹⁴⁴ his heart.

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Footnotes

133 The explanatory connective γάρ (gar) is often dropped from translations, but the point of the passage is that one should be self-corrective and be careful who one follows (vv. 41–42), because such choices also reflect what the nature of the tree is and its product.
134 Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying both “fruit” and “tree,” can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).
135 Most , especially later ones (A C D Θ Ψ 33 𝔐 lat sy sa), lack the adverb πάλιν (palin, “again”) here. Its presence is attested, however, by several good witnesses (𝔓75 א B L W Ξ f1, 13 579 892 1241 2542).
136 The principle of the passage is that one produces what one is.
137 Grk “they do not gather”; this has been simplified to the passive voice in the translation since the subject “they” is not specified further in the context.
138 This is a different verb (τρυγῶσιν, trugōsin) for gathering from the previous one (συλλέγουσιν, sullegousin).
139 This is a different term (βάτος, batos) for a thorn or bramble bush than the previous one (ἄκανθα, akantha). The statement nor are grapes picked from brambles illustrates the principle: That which cannot produce fruit, does not produce fruit.
140 Grk “the”; the Greek article has been translated here and in the following clause (“out of the evil”) as a possessive pronoun ( ).
141 Mention of the heart shows that Jesus is not interested in what is done, but why. Motives are more important than actions for him.
142 The word “treasury” is not repeated in the Greek text at this point, but is implied.
143 What one utters from one’s mouth is especially singled out as the example of this principle. James seems to have known this teaching (Jas 1:26; 3:1–12).
144 Grk “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

NLTNew Living Translation

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“For there is no good tree that produces bad fruit, nor on the other hand a bad tree that produces good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn plants, nor are grapes harvested from thorn bushes. The good person out of the good treasury of his heart brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

KJV 1900King James Version

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A 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.

Public Domain