MAT 12:34 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]You brood of snakes! You’re evil inside so why do you think you can say anything that’s good because your mouths speak out of what’s plentiful in your hearts.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, magenta:vocative.
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 You offspring of vipers, being evil, how are you able to say good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

UST You people are sneaky and dangerous like poisonous snakes! Because you are wicked, you cannot say anything good. I say that because people speak based on what they are thinking about.

BSB You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

BLB Offspring of vipers, how are you able to speak good things, being evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

AICNT “Offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things, being evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

OEB You children of snakes! How can you, evil as you are, say anything good? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips.

WEBBE You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.

LSV Brood of vipers! How are you able to speak good things—being evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

FBV You viper's brood, how can you who are evil say anything good? For your mouth simply says what your mind is busy thinking about.

TCNT You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

T4T What you teach harms people spiritually like poisonous snakes harm them physically [MET]! You are not able to speak good things because you are evil [RHQ]. Evil people [SYN] like you speak what comes from all that is in their ◄inner beings/hearts►.

LEB Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say good things when you[fn] are evil? For from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

12:34 *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as temporal

BBE You offspring of snakes, how are you, being evil, able to say good things? because out of the heart's store come the words of the mouth.

Moff You brood of vipers, how can you speak good when you are evil?
⇔ For the mouth utters what the heart is full of.

Wymth O vipers' brood, how can you speak what is good when you are evil? For it is from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.

ASV Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

DRA O generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, whereas you are evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

YLT 'Brood of vipers! how are ye able to speak good things — being evil? for out of the abundance of the heart doth the mouth speak.

Drby Offspring of vipers! how can ye speak good things, being wicked? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

RV Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
(Ye/You_all offspring of vipers, how can ye/you_all, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh/speaks. )

SLT O generation of vipers! how can ye speak good things, being evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the month speaks.

Wbstr O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.

KJB-1769 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
(Oh generation of vipers, how can ye/you_all, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh/speaks. )

KJB-1611 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being euil, speake good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps O generation of vipers, howe can ye speake good thynges, when ye your selues are euyll? For out of the aboundauce of the heart, the mouth speaketh.
(Oh generation of vipers, how can ye/you_all speak good things, when ye/you_all yourselves are evil? For out of the aboundauce of the heart, the mouth speaketh/speaks.)

Gnva O generations of vipers, howe can you speake good things, when ye are euill? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
(Oh generations of vipers, how can you speak good things, when ye/you_all are evil? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh/speaks. )

Cvdl O ye generacio of vypers, how can ye speake good, whan ye youre selues are euell? For of ye abundace of ye hert ye mouth speaketh.
(Oh ye/you_all generation of vypers, how can ye/you_all speak good, when ye/you_all yourselves are evil? For of ye/you_all abundace of ye/you_all heart ye/you_all mouth speaketh/speaks.)

TNT O generacion of viperes how can ye saye well when ye youre selves are evyll? For of the aboundance of the hert the mouthe speaketh.
(Oh generation of viperes how can ye/you_all say well when ye/you_all your(pl) selves are evil? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh/speaks. )

Wycl Ye generacioun of eddris, hou moun ye speke goode thingis, whanne ye ben yuele? For the mouth spekith of plente of the herte.
(Ye/You_all generation of eddris, how may/can ye/you_all speak good things, when ye/you_all been evil? For the mouth speaketh/speaks of plenty of the heart.)

Luth Ihr Otterngezüchte, wie könnet ihr Gutes reden, dieweil ihr böse seid? Wes das Herz voll ist, des gehet der Mund über.
(You(pl) otterngezüchte, as/like could you(pl)/their/her goodness/good_(person) talk, meanwhile you(pl)/their/her evil are? What the heart full/whole is, the goes the/of_the mouth above.)

ClVg Progenies viperarum, quomodo potestis bona loqui, cum sitis mali? ex abundantia enim cordis os loquitur.[fn]
(Progenies viperarum, how can_you good(s) to_speak, when/with thirsts mali? from abundance because of_the_heart mouth speaks. )

12.34 Progenies viperarum, etc. Ostendit eos malam arborem: et fructus afferre blasphemiæ. Ex abundantia. Homo sæpe fallitur, qui pensat cor ex ore, et opere. Sed Deus opus et verba ex corde quod novit judicat. Illi ergo ex abundantia cordis os loquitur qui scit ex qua intentione exit.

12.34 Progenies viperarum, etc. Ostendit them evil a_treem: and fruit afferre blasphemies. From abundance. Man often fallitur, who/which pensat heart from vocally, and by_work. But God work/need and words from heart that he_knows judges. Those therefore from abundance of_the_heart mouth speaks who/which he_knows from which intention exit.

UGNT γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν, πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν, πονηροὶ ὄντες? ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας, τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ.
(gennaʸmata eⱪidnōn, pōs dunasthe agatha lalein, ponaʸroi ontes? ek gar tou perisseumatos taʸs kardias, to stoma lalei.)

SBL-GNT γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν, πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν πονηροὶ ὄντες; ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ.
(gennaʸmata eⱪidnōn, pōs dunasthe agatha lalein ponaʸroi ontes; ek gar tou perisseumatos taʸs kardias to stoma lalei.)

RP-GNT Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν, πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν, πονηροὶ ὄντες; Ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ.
(Gennaʸmata eⱪidnōn, pōs dunasthe agatha lalein, ponaʸroi ontes; Ek gar tou perisseumatos taʸs kardias to stoma lalei.)

TC-GNT Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν, πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν, πονηροὶ ὄντες; Ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ.
(Gennaʸmata eⱪidnōn, pōs dunasthe agatha lalein, ponaʸroi ontes; Ek gar tou perisseumatos taʸs kardias to stoma lalei. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (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,

12:34a

You brood of vipers,

You children of poisonous snakes!
Then Jesus criticized them by saying, “You^(plur) are as evil/dangerous as poisonous snakes!

You brood of vipers: The word vipers refers to poisonous snakes. The phrase brood of vipers means “children/offspring of poisonous snakes.” It refers to having the same characteristics as vipers.

a viper

This phrase is a metaphor. (It also occurs in 3:7b.) In this metaphor, Jesus compared the Pharisees to a brood of vipers. Jesus used this metaphor to criticize the Pharisees.

The way that these men and snakes are similar is that both are evil and dangerous.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

Make the point of comparison clear. For example:
You are a bunch of evil snakes (CEV)
Use a simile and make the point of comparison clear. For example:
You^(plur) are as evil/dangerous as a group of vipers!
Translate the metaphor but leave the word brood untranslated. Jesus was not saying that the people were young or childlike. So some English translations do not explicitly translate the word brood. For example:
You snakes (GNT)
Translate the meaning without a simile or metaphor. For example:
You^(plur) wicked people!
Use a simile and explain the meaning. For example:
You evil people! You are like poisonous snakes.

If calling someone a poisonous snake is not an insult in your culture, you may also need to add something to make it more explicit. For example:

Jesus insulted/criticized them by saying

12:34b

how can you who are evil say anything good?

How can you evil people say anything good?
You cannot say good/helpful words because you are evil.

how can you who are evil say anything good?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus used this rhetorical question to rebuke the Pharisees and to emphasize that they could not say anything good.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke and emphasis:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
How can you evil people say anything good? (GW)
As a statement followed by a rhetorical question. For example:
You are evil people, so how can you say anything good? (NCV)
As a statement. For example:
Since you are evil, you cannot say anything good!
You cannot say anything good because you are evil/bad.

Translate this rebuke and emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

how can you who are evil say anything good: The phrase say anything good means say good words. The Pharisees did not say things that were good and positive. They said things that were harmful. This clause does not mean speak well/elegantly.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

how can you say good things (GNT)

speak what is good and right (NLT)

12:34c

For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Whatever fills a person’s heart, that is what comes out of his mouth.
I say this because a person’s words show what is in/filling his heart/thoughts.

For: Verse 12:34c is the reason that the Pharisees cannot say anything good. Evil people cannot say anything good because the mouth says what is in the heart. The Greek introduces this reason with a conjunction that the BSB translates as For.

Here are some other ways to introduce this reason:

You cannot do it because

That is true because

The reason you cannot do this is that

Some English versions do not translate this word. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this word either.

out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks: The Greek word that the BSB translates as overflow means “abundance” or “fullness.” It describes a quantity of something that fills a container so completely full that it overflows. In this clause it is used in a figurative way. It pictures a person’s heart so full of certain thoughts that they come out of his mouth. This means that a person acts and speaks according to what is in his heart.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

whatever is in/filling a person’s heart, that is what comes out of his mouth/lips

The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. (NCV)

Your words show what is in your hearts. (CEV)

What a person says comes from what is in his heart/thoughts

heart: In Greek culture, the heart is the center and source of inner life. This is where thinking, feeling, and decision- making happen. Some languages use a different organ such as “liver” for this concept. Or it may be a general term such as “insides.”

the mouth speaks: This clause means that the person speaks or says something. In some languages, a literal translation would not be natural. If that is the case in your language, you may want to change this phrase so as not to use the word mouth. For example:

a person speaks

what you say (NLT)

your words (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν & ὄντες

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

Translate this metaphor as you did in [3:7](../03/07.md). Alternate translation: [You are like poisonous creatures! Being] or [You wicked people! Being]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

πονηροὶ ὄντες

Here, the phrase being evil gives the reason why Jesus implies that the Pharisees cannot say good things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [since you are evil]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν

how ˱you_all˲_˓are˒_being_able (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

Jesus is using the question form to rebuke the Pharisees for failing to speak good things. 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: [you are certainly not able to say good things] or [you are never able to say good things!]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

Here, the word For introduces a reason why evil people cannot say good things. 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: [That is because] or [The reason you are not able to say good things is that]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐκ & τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας, τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ

out_of & the excess ˱of˲_the heart (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

Here Jesus speaks as if the heart were a container that could be full of an abundance of thoughts or desires. When the heart is full, it overflows out through the mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [whatever fills the heart comes out of the mouth] or [whatever is in the heart is what the mouth speaks]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

τῆς καρδίας, τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ

˱of˲_the heart (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν πῶς δύνασθε ἀγαθά λαλεῖν πονηροί ὄντες ἐκ Γάρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τό στόμα λαλεῖ)

The words heart and mouth represents people’s hearts and mouths in general, not one particular person’s heart and mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [of their hearts people’s mouths speak]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῆς καρδίας

˱of˲_the heart

In Matthew’s culture, the heart is the place where humans think and feel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate heart by referring to the place where humans think and feel in your culture or by stating the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [of the thoughts] or [of the desires]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ

Here, the word mouth represents the person as a whole, in the act of speaking. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the person speaks]

Parallel MAT 12:34

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

Paragraph 12:33–37

12:34a

12:34b

12:34c