Matthew 7:16
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
American King James Version (AKJV)
You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
American Standard Version (ASV)
By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
By their fruits you will get knowledge of them. Do men get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?
Webster's Revision
Ye shall know them by their fruits: Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles:
World English Bible
By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
English Revised Version (ERV)
By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Clarke's Matthew 7:16 Bible Commentary
Ye shall know them by their fruits - Fruits, in the Scripture and Jewish phraseology, are taken for works of any kind. "A man's works," says one, "are the tongue of his heart, and tell honestly whether he is inwardly corrupt or pure." By these works you may distinguish (επιγνωσεσθε) these ravenous wolves from true pastors. The judgment formed of a man by his general conduct is a safe one: if the judgment be not favorable to the person, that is his fault, as you have your opinion of him from his works, i.e. the confession of his own heart.
Barnes's Matthew 7:16 Bible Commentary
Ye shall know them by their fruits - The Saviour gives the proper test of their character. People do not judge of a tree by its leaves, or bark, or flowers, but by the fruit which it bears. The flowers may be beautiful and fragrant, the foliage thick and green; but these are merely ornamental. It is the "fruit" that is of chief service to man; and he forms his opinion of the nature and value of the tree by that fruit. So of pretensions to religion. The profession may be fair; but the "conduct" - the fruit - is to determine the nature of the principles.
Wesley's Matthew 7:16 Bible Commentary
7:16 By their fruits ye shall know them - A short, plain, easy rule, whereby to know true from false prophets: and one that may be applied by people of the weakest capacity, who are not accustomed to deep reasoning. True prophets convert sinners to God, or at least confirm and strengthen those that are converted. False prophets do not. They also are false prophets, who though speaking the very truth, yet are not sent by the Spirit of God, but come in their own name, to declare it: their grand mark is, "Not turning men from the power of Satan to God." 6:43 ,44.