MAT 7:16 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. ἀπό
2. apo
3. by
4. -
5. 5750
6. P·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3823
1. τῶν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3824
1. καρπῶν
2. karpos
3. fruits
4. fruit
5. 25900
6. N····GMP
7. fruits
8. fruits
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3825
1. αὐτῶν
2. autos
3. of them
4. their
5. 8460
6. R···3GMP
7. ˱of˲ them
8. ˱of˲ them
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount; R3810
11. 3826
1. Ἐπιγνώσεσθε
2. epiginōskō
3. You all will be knowing
4. -
5. 19210
6. VIFM2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ knowing
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓will_be˒ knowing
9. S
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3827
1. αὐτούς
2. autos
3. them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3AMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount; R3810
11. 3828
1. Μήτι
2. mēti
3. Surely not
4. -
5. 33850
6. T·······
7. surely_not
8. surely_not
9. S
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3829
1. συλλέγουσιν
2. sullegō
3. they are gathering
4. they
5. 48160
6. VIPA3··P
7. ˱they˲ ˓are˒ gathering
8. ˱they˲ ˓are˒ gathering
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3830
1. ἀπό
2. apo
3. from
4. -
5. 5750
6. P·······
7. from
8. from
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3831
1. ἀκανθῶν
2. akantha
3. thorns
4. thorn
5. 1730
6. N····GFP
7. thorns
8. thorns
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3832
1. σταφυλάς
2. stafulē
3. grapes
4. grapes
5. 47180
6. N····AFP
7. grapes
8. grapes
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3833
1. σταφυλήν
2. stafulē
3. -
4. -
5. 47180
6. N····AFS
7. grapes
8. grapes
9. -
10. -
11. 3834
1. ἤ
2. ē
3. or
4. -
5. 22280
6. C·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3835
1. ἀπό
2. apo
3. from
4. -
5. 5750
6. P·······
7. from
8. from
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3836
1. τριβόλων
2. tribolos
3. thistles
4. thistles
5. 51460
6. N····GMP
7. thistles
8. thistles
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3837
1. σῦκα
2. sukon
3. figs
4. figs
5. 48100
6. N····ANP
7. figs
8. figs
9. -
10. Y31; TSermon_on_the_Mount
11. 3838

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:1–7:29: Jesus preached a sermon on a mountain

For many years, English versions and Christians have commonly referred to Matthew 5–7 as “The Sermon on the Mount.” In some translations, it may be helpful to include a heading for chapters 5–7 that is on a level above the section heading for 5:1–12.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The Sermon on the Mountain

The sermon that Jesus preached on a mountain

Jesus taught people on the side of a mountain/hill

7:16–20

In 7:16–20, Jesus used an extended metaphor. In this metaphor, the deeds of false prophets are compared to the bad fruit that a bad tree/bush produces. The deeds of true prophets are compared to the good fruit that a good tree or good vine produces. Just as we can recognize a bad tree by the bad fruit it produces, so we can recognize false prophets by the deeds they do.

When you translate 7:16–20, you should keep most of the metaphor because:

it extends over five verses
Jesus explained it in 7:20

7:16a

By their fruit you will recognize them.

You^(plur) will know what kind of people they are by their deeds/works.
When you see what they do, you will know who they really are.

By their fruit: The word By here means “by means of” or “according to.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

From their fruits

Because of their fruits

When you see their fruits

their fruit: The word fruit is a metaphor. In this metaphor, the deeds/actions of the false prophets are compared to fruit. They are similar in that both allow something or someone to be identified. Just as fruit helps identify the type of tree it came from, deeds help identify the type of person who did them.

Here are some other ways to translate this figure of speech:

Translate the verse literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
The “fruits” are the deeds of people. When we see a person’s deeds, we know whether that person did something good or bad. This is like seeing the fruit on a tree and knowing the kind of tree it is.
Translate the metaphor as a simile and explain the meaning in the text. For example:
You will know who they are by their deeds. It is like you will know a tree by its fruit.
Translate the meaning without using a metaphor. For example:
You will know them by what they do (GNT)

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to all of Jesus’ listeners.

will recognize: The Greek word that the BSB translates as recognize also means simply “will know.” For example:

will know (RSV)

them: The pronoun them refers to the false prophets.

7:16b–c

Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to emphasize the fact that people do not pick grapes from thorn bushes, and they do not pick figs from thistles. You should translate in a way that emphasizes this meaning.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (NIV)
People don’t pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? (GW)
As a statement. For example:
People certainly do not pick grapes from thorn bushes, and they do not pick figs from thistles.

7:16b

Are grapes gathered from thornbushes,

Do people pick fruit called grapes from bushes with thorns,
People certainly do not pick vine fruit from small thorn trees.

grapes: The word grapes refers to small, round, edible fruit that grow in bunches on a vine. A grapevine does not have thorns.

Grapes only grow in certain parts of the world. If you live in an area where there are no grapes, you can:

Use a general word for fruit and transliterate the word grapes into your language. For example:
fruit called grapes (Note that grapes and grapefruit are not the same thing.)
Use a general word for fruit and include that it was from a vine. But choose something that does not have thorns. For example:
vine fruit
Use a word for fruit commonly eaten in your area. If possible choose one that is small, round, and grows in bunches. It should not grow on a bush with thorns.

thornbushes: The word thornbushes refers to a bush (or small tree) that has thorns. It does not bear edible fruit. It is not useful for anything, and is a problem plant for farmers.

7:16c

or figs from thistles?

or figs from thorny weeds? Of course not!
They do not pick tree fruit from thorny grass/plants.

or figs from thistles: The words “are…gathered” are implied from the previous clause but are not repeated here. In some languages, it is more natural to repeat some of those words. For example:

or are figs gathered from thistles

Do people pick figs from thistles

Ripe fig on a branch

figs: The word figs refers to medium-sized, edible fruit that grow on the “fig” tree. Figs only grow in certain parts of the world. If you live in an area where there are no figs, you can:

Use a general word for fruit and transliterate the word figs into your language. For example:
tree fruit named figs
Use a general word for fruit and include that it was from a tree, since the exact kind of fruit is not important:
tree fruit
Use a word for fruit commonly eaten in your area. If possible choose one that is medium-sized and grows on trees. It should not grow on a thistle bush.

thistles: The word thistles refers to a bush that has many thorns on the leaves and stems. It does not bear edible fruit. It is not useful for anything, and is a problem plant for farmers.

Here is another way to translate this word:

thorny weeds (NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιγνώσεσθε αὐτούς. μήτι συλλέγουσιν ἀπὸ ἀκανθῶν σταφυλὰς, ἢ ἀπὸ τριβόλων σῦκα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀπό τῶν καρπῶν αὐτῶν Ἐπιγνώσεσθε αὐτούς Μήτι συλλέγουσιν ἀπό ἀκανθῶν σταφυλάς ἤ ἀπό τριβόλων σῦκα)

Here Jesus speaks of people as if they were plants that produced fruits. Just as thorny plants do not produce fruits, so evil people who do not trust God do not do what is right. Jesus uses this metaphor for several verses, so you should preserve the figure of speech or use simile form. Alternate translation: [You will know who people are by what they do, just as you know what plants are by their fruits. They do not gather grapes from a thornbush or figs from thistles, do they? Similarly, evil people do not do what is right, do they]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιγνώσεσθε αὐτούς

The pronouns their and them refer to any people, but particularly people like the “false prophets” Jesus mentioned in the previous verse. If this is not clear for your readers, you could refer directly to the false prophets or to any people who claim to be believers. Alternate translation: [You will recognize the false prophets by their fruits] or [You will recognize anyone who claims to believe by his or her fruits]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

μήτι συλλέγουσιν ἀπὸ ἀκανθῶν σταφυλὰς, ἢ ἀπὸ τριβόλων σῦκα

Jesus is using the question form to show that grapes do not come from a thornbush and figs do not come from thistles. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [They do not gather grapes from a thornbush or figs from thistles.] or [No one gathers grapes from a thornbush or figs from thistles!]

Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns

μήτι συλλέγουσιν

The pronoun they refers to people in general. If this is not clear for your readers, you could use a form that refers to any person or group of people. Alternate translation: [People do not gather … do they]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἀπὸ ἀκανθῶν σταφυλὰς, ἢ ἀπὸ τριβόλων σῦκα

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine the two phrases. Alternate translation: [grapes or figs from thorny plants] or [fruits from scrub plants]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

τριβόλων

thistles

Here, the word thistles refers generally to plants that have points or spikes on their stems or leaves. These plants do not produce fruit. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of plant, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [spiky plants]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear MAT 7:16