MAT 12:33 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]“Either make both the tree and its fruit good, or make them both bad, because a tree is known by its fruit.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten, for the tree is known by its fruit.

UST You must decide either that both a tree and its fruit are healthy or that both a tree and its fruit are unhealthy. I say that because you can tell if a tree is healthy or unhealthy by what kind of fruit it produces. Similarly, you can tell what people are really like by the things that they do.

BSB 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.

BLB Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad. For the tree is known by the fruit.

AICNT “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten[fn] and its fruit rotten; for from the fruit the tree is known.

12:33, rotten: Or bad

OEB ‘You must assume either that both tree and fruit are good, or that both tree and fruit are worthless; since it is by its fruits that a tree is known.

WEBBE “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.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET “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.

LSV 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.

FBV Either decide that the tree is good, and its fruit is good, or decide that the tree is bad and its fruit is bad—for the tree is known by its fruit.

TCNT “A tree is known by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will also be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will also be bad.

T4T “Think about this: You can know whether a person is good and what that person says is good, in the same way that you can know whether a tree [MET] and the fruit it produces [MET] are good. You can also know whether a person and what that person says is evil in the same way that you can know whether a tree [MET] and its fruit [MET] are blighted. You can know whether a tree is good by seeing its fruit, and similarly people can know the evil character of you Pharisees by listening to your accusations against me.

LEB ¶ “Either make the tree good and its fruit is good, or make the tree bad and its fruit is bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

BBE Make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for by its fruit you will get knowledge of the tree.

Moff Either make the tree good and its fruit good,
⇔ or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten;
⇔ for the tree is known by its fruit.

Wymth "Either grant the tree to be wholesome and its fruit wholesome, or the tree poisonous and its fruit poisonous; for the tree is known by its fruit.

ASV 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.

DRA Either make the tree good and its fruit good: or make the tree evil, and its fruit evil. For by the fruit the tree is known.

YLT '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.

Drby Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt. For from the fruit the tree is known.

RV 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.

SLT Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree rotten, and its fruit rotten; for the tree is known by its fruit.

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

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good: Or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: For the tree is knowen by his fruit.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Either make the tree good, and his fruite good: or els make the tree euyll, and his fruite euyll. For the tree, is knowen by his fruite.
(Either make the tree good, and his fruit good: or else make the tree evil, and his fruit evil. For the tree, is known by his fruit.)

Gnva Either make the tree good, and his fruite good: or els make the tree euill, and his fruite euil: for the tree is knowen by the fruite.
(Either make the tree good, and his fruit good: or else make the tree evil, and his fruit evil: for the tree is known by the fruit. )

Cvdl Either make the tre good and his frute good also, or els make the tre euel & his frute euel also. For the tre is knowne by the frute.
(Either make the tree good and his fruit good also, or else make the tree evil and his fruit evil also. For the tree is known by the fruit.)

TNT Ether make the tree good and his frute good also: or els make the tree evyll and his frute evyll also. For the tree is knowe by his frute.
(Ether make the tree good and his fruit good also: or else make the tree evil and his fruit evil also. For the tree is know by his fruit. )

Wycl Ethir make ye the tree good, and his fruyt good; ether make ye the tree yuel and his fruyt yuel; for a tree is knowun of the fruyt.
(Either make ye/you_all the tree good, and his fruit good; either make ye/you_all the tree evil and his fruit evil; for a tree is known of the fruit.)

Luth Setzet entweder einen guten Baum, so wird die Frucht gut; oder setzet einen faulen Baum, so wird die Frucht faul; denn an der Frucht erkennet man den Baum.
(Set/Putt entweder a good tree, so becomes the fruit good; or sets a faulen tree, so becomes the fruit faul; because/than at/to the/of_the fruit recognises/realises man the tree.)

ClVg Aut facite arborem bonam, et fructum ejus bonum: aut facite arborem malam, et fructum ejus malum: siquidem ex fructu arbor agnoscitur.[fn]
(Aut do_it a_treem good, and fruit his good: or do_it a_treem evil, and fruit his evil: indeed from fruit arbor lambscitur. )

12.33 Aut facite. Nihil enim medium quin boni auctoris bona tantum sint opera, et mali mala. Coarctat eos hinc inde complexione, et utroque cornu premit. Si malus est diabolus, non facit bona; si bona sunt, non sunt diaboli. Aut facite, etc. Mystice arbor bona, Christus; fructus, prædicatio Evangelii; curationes, redemptio. Arbor mala diabolus et sui, id est, Scribæ et Pharisæi: et cæteri mali fructus, invidia, detractio, blasphemia, hæresis et hujusmodi.

12.33 Aut do_it. Nothing because medium because good authoris good(s) only let_them_be works, and evil evil. Coarctat them from_here therefore/from_there complexione, and both horn premit. When/But_if bad it_is the_devil, not/no he_does good(s); when/but_if good(s) are, not/no are devils. Aut do_it, etc. Mystice arbor good(s), Christ/Messiah; fruit, preaching of_the_Gospels; caretiones, redemptio. Arbor evil the_devil and self, that it_is, Scribæ and Pharisees: and the_rest evil fruit, envy, detractio, blasphemy, heiris and of_this_kind.

UGNT ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον καλὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ καλόν, ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον σαπρὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν; ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ καρποῦ, τὸ δένδρον γινώσκεται.
(aʸ poiaʸsate to dendron kalon kai ton karpon autou kalon, aʸ poiaʸsate to dendron sapron kai ton karpon autou sapron; ek gar tou karpou, to dendron ginōsketai.)

SBL-GNT Ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον καλὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ καλόν, ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον σαπρὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν· ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ καρποῦ τὸ δένδρον γινώσκεται.
(Aʸ poiaʸsate to dendron kalon kai ton karpon autou kalon, aʸ poiaʸsate to dendron sapron kai ton karpon autou sapron; ek gar tou karpou to dendron ginōsketai.)

RP-GNT Ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον καλόν, καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ καλόν, ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον σαπρόν, καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν· ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ καρποῦ τὸ δένδρον γινώσκεται.
(Aʸ poiaʸsate to dendron kalon, kai ton karpon autou kalon, aʸ poiaʸsate to dendron sapron, kai ton karpon autou sapron; ek gar tou karpou to dendron ginōsketai.)

TC-GNT Ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον καλόν, καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ καλόν, ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον σαπρόν, καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν· ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ καρποῦ τὸ δένδρον γινώσκεται.
(Aʸ poiaʸsate to dendron kalon, kai ton karpon autou kalon, aʸ poiaʸsate to dendron sapron, kai ton karpon autou sapron; ek gar tou karpou to dendron ginōsketai. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:33–37: Your words show whether you are good or bad

In this section, Jesus continued to respond to the Pharisees’ accusation that he cast out evil spirits by the power of Satan. First, he said that the Pharisees needed to be consistent in their beliefs about him. Then he warned them that God would judge them for the words that they said.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

A tree is known by its fruit

A tree and its fruit

People know you by your words (NCV)

Paragraph 12:33–37

This paragraph begins a new section. In this paragraph Jesus continued speaking. In some languages, it may be natural to make it explicit that Jesus continued speaking. For example:

Jesus continued and said,

12:33a

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good,

¶ “Either consider the tree good and its fruit good, (Common English Bible)
¶ “Either call the tree good and its fruit good, (The Simplified English Bible)
¶ Then Jesus said, “You must have the same opinion/thinking of both a tree and its fruit. You must decide whether the tree and its fruit are good,

12:33a–b

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad: This is a metaphor. There are many ways to interpret this metaphor. Here are some of the main interpretations:

Jesus compared himself to a tree. According to this interpretation, the verb make has the sense of a mental process of thinking, considering, judging, or believing. Also, the verb make is the implied verb in the phrase “make its fruit good.” Jesus told the Pharisees that they needed to be consistent in their beliefs about him (the tree) and his healings (fruit). They needed to consider both him and his works to be either good or bad. They could not say that his healings were good, then turn around and say that he himself was bad.While Jesus was talking primarily to the Pharisees, he was perhaps also addressing the people in the crowd who were there listening. He was perhaps also telling them that they needed to be consistent in their beliefs about their religious leaders. These leaders could not be good when they were saying evil things. Here are some ways to translate this verse according to this interpretation:One commentator who holds this view is Turner. On page 324 he says, “Jesus demands that the Pharisees be consistent. They must either view Jesus (the tree) and its fruit (his words and deeds) as worthless or view them as good (12:33).”
Make the tree and its fruit good, or make the tree and its fruit bad.
Either call the tree good and its fruit good, or call the tree bad and its fruit bad. (The Simplified English Bible)
Jesus compared the Pharisees to a tree. According to this interpretation, the verb make has the sense of change/repent. Also, the full form of the second clause would be “and then its fruit will be good.” Jesus told the Pharisees that they needed to repent. They needed to change themselves. That would be like making a tree good. Then their works (fruit) would also be good. Here are some ways to translate this verse according to this interpretation:One commentator who holds this view is Bruner. On page 570 he says, “This is a call to conversion. Jesus is saying, ‘Stop playing around: either get converted (“make the tree good”) or get out (“make the tree bad”)!’”
Make a tree good, and then its fruit will be good (GW)
Make yourselves, the tree, good, then your deeds, the fruit will also be good
Jesus compared people to two types of trees: a good tree and a bad tree. According to this interpretation, Jesus used this metaphor in the same way as he used similar metaphors in other places where he talked about a tree and its fruit. He was saying that both he and his deeds are good, and the Pharisees are bad. Here are some ways to translate this verse according to this interpretation:One commentator who holds this view is France. On page 485 he says, “The point of the proverb is the same as in 7:16–20: a person’s true nature is perceived by how they behave.”
If you make a tree good, its fruit will also be good.
If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. (NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Among the main interpretations, this one fits best with the grammar and context of Matthew. Most English versions translate this verse quite literally. Even though they may appear to follow interpretation (1), it is not certain. If possible, you should translate this verse in a general way so that any of the above interpretations are possible.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad (RSV)
Make the tree and its fruit good, or make the tree and its fruit bad.
Translate the meaning of the verb make. For example:
Either call the tree good and its fruit good, or call the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. (The Simple English Bible)
Either consider the tree good and its fruit good, or consider the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. (Common English Bible)
You must make your opinion of a tree and of its fruit the same. If you regard a tree as good, then you must also regard its fruit as good. If you regard a tree as bad, then you must also regard its fruit as bad.
Make the topic of the metaphor explicit. For example:
You must decide whether I, the tree, and my deeds, the fruit, are good, or whether I and my deeds are bad.
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
You must have the same opinion of both me and my deeds. Decide whether I and my deeds are good, or whether they are bad.

12:33b

or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad;

or consider the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. (Common English Bible)
or call the tree bad and its fruit bad. (The Simplified English Bible)
or whether a tree and its fruit are bad.

make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad: The Greek word that the BSB translates as bad is literally “rotten, unusable, unwholesome.” If possible, you should use an adjective that can be used to refer to both a bad tree and bad fruit. For example:

rotten

not good

In some languages, it may be necessary to use a different adjective to describe a tree and its fruit. For example:

bad tree and fruit that is not good/sweet

12:33c

for a tree is known by its fruit.

A tree can be recognized because of its fruit.
The fruit of a tree shows what type of tree it is.
People know a tree by its fruit.

for: Verse 12:33c is the basis for the command in 12:33a–b. The Greek introduces this basis with a conjunction that the BSB translates as for.

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary here either.

In some languages, it may be more natural to put the basis before the command. For example:

^cA tree is known by its fruit, ^aso make a tree and its fruit good, ^bor make a tree and its fruit bad.

a tree is known by its fruit: The verb is known refers to looking at the fruit and easily knowing the kind of tree it is.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

is recognized (NIV)

is shown

is distinguished

This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
a tree is recognized by its fruit (NIV)
a tree is known because of its fruit
Use an active verb. For example:
people know/recognize a tree by its fruit
The fruit of a tree shows what kind of tree it is.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον καλὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ καλόν, ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον σαπρὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν; ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ καρποῦ, τὸ δένδρον γινώσκεται

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἤ ποιήσατε τό δένδρον καλόν καί τόν καρπόν αὐτοῦ καλόν ἤ ποιήσατε τό δένδρον σαπρόν καί τόν καρπόν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν ἐκ γάρ τοῦ καρποῦ τό δένδρον γινώσκεται)

Here Jesus speaks of people as if they were trees that produced fruit. It makes sense to say that a tree and its fruit together are either good or rotten. It does not make sense to say that a tree is good and its fruit rotten or that a tree is rotten and its fruit good. That is because trees are known by their fruits. Similarly, people who follow God do what is right, and people who do not follow God do what is wrong. It does not make sense to say that someone who does what is right is not following God or that someone who does what is wrong is following God. Most likely, Jesus wishes to apply this figure of speech both to himself (a good tree) and to the Pharisees (bad trees). If possible, preserve the figure of speech or use simile form. Alternate translation: [Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. Similarly, either call people good and their deeds good, or call people bad and their deeds bad. For, just as a tree is known by its fruit, so people are known by their deeds]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον καλὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ καλόν, ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον σαπρὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν

Here Jesus could be indicating that: (1) people should make consistent judgments or evaluations of both a tree and its fruit. Alternate translation: [Either consider both the tree and its fruit good, or consider both the tree and its fruit bad] (2) people can make a tree either good or rotten by how they care for that tree. Then, the tree will make fruit that fits with how people cared for that tree. Alternate translation: [Either make the tree good, and it will make its fruit good, or make the tree rotten, and it will make its fruit rotten] or [Either make the tree good, and its fruit will be good, or make the tree rotten, and its fruit will be rotten] (3) a tree produces fruit that fits with what kind of tree it is. Alternate translation: [Either a tree is good and produces good fruit, or a tree is rotten and produces rotten fruit]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

(Occurrence -1) τὸ δένδρον

The word tree represents trees in general, not one particular tree. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [any tree … any tree … every tree]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

(Occurrence -1) γὰρ

Here, the word for introduces a reason why a tree and its fruit must either be good or rotten. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason or basis for a claim, or you could leave for untranslated. Alternate translation: [since] or [which I command because]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐκ & τοῦ καρποῦ, τὸ δένδρον γινώσκεται

by & the fruit (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἤ ποιήσατε τό δένδρον καλόν καί τόν καρπόν αὐτοῦ καλόν ἤ ποιήσατε τό δένδρον σαπρόν καί τόν καρπόν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν ἐκ γάρ τοῦ καρποῦ τό δένδρον γινώσκεται)