Matthew 7:18
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
KJV
οὐ δύναται δένδρον ἀγαθὸν καρποὺς πονηροὺς ἐνεγκεῖν, οὐδὲ δένδρον σαπρὸν καρποὺς καλοὺς ἐνεγκεῖν.
Greek NT
Non potest arbor bona malos fructus facere : neque arbor mala bonos fructus facere.
Vulgate
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
ASV
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit.
Douay-Rheims
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In the original Greek
10 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
δένδρον
dendron
noun · 25×
δύναμαι
dunamai
verb · 209×
καλός
kalos
adjective · 100×
καρπός
karpos
noun · 66×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
οὐδέ
oude
conjunction · 137×
πονηρός
poneros
adjective · 77×
σαπρός
sapros
adjective · 8×
φέρω
phero
verb · 68×
ἀγαθός
agathos
adjective · 102×
Textual variants
1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.
minor
SBLGNT: ποιεῖν | Treg/NIV/RP: ποιεῖν | WH: ἐνεγκεῖν
- ποιεῖν — SBLGNT
- ποιεῖν — Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27), Robinson-Pierpont
- ἐνεγκεῖν — Westcott-Hort
source: sblgnt-apparatus
Historic Christian voices
5 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210213.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
Chapter 13.—That in Adam’s Sin an Evil Will Preceded the Evil Act. Our first parents fell into open disobedience because already they were secretly corrupted; for the evil act had never been done had not an evil will preceded it. And what is the origin of our evil will but pride? For “pride is the beginning of sin.”729729 Ecclus. x. 13. And what is pride but the craving for und…
Q. But doesn't this teaching make people indifferent and wicked? A. No. It is impossible for those grafted into Christ by true faith not to produce fruits of gratitude.
Cross-references
- 1John 3:9 — Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- 1John 3:9 — Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- Gal 5:17 — For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.