KJV King James Version
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Matthew 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
WEB World English Bible
You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
ASV American Standard Version
Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
‘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.
Surrounding context — Matthew 12
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.
33 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.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
γεννήματαG1081 · gennēmaoffspringἐχιδνῶν,G2191 · echidnasnakeπῶςG4459 · pōshow?!δύνασθεG1410 · dunamaibe ableἀγαθὰG18 · agathosgoodλαλεῖνG2980 · laleōto speakπονηροὶG4190 · ponērosevil/badὄντες;G1510 · eimito beἐκG1537 · ekout fromγὰρG1063 · garforτοῦG3588 · hothe/this/whoπερισσεύματοςG4051 · perisseumaoverflowτῆςG3588 · hothe/this/whoκαρδίαςG2588 · kardiaheartτὸG3588 · hothe/this/whoστόμαG4750 · stomamouthλαλεῖ.¶G2980 · laleōto speak
Cross-references
Luke 6:45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.Matthew 15:18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.1 Samuel 24:13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.James 3:5-8Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!Psalm 140:2-3Which imagine mischiefs in [their] heart; continually are they gathered together [for] war.1 John 3:10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.Matthew 12:35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.Isaiah 32:6For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.John 8:44Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.Matthew 23:33[Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?Romans 3:10-14As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:Psalm 64:3Who whet their tongue like a sword, [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] bitter words:Isaiah 59:14And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.Psalm 10:6-7He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for [I shall] never [be] in adversity.Matthew 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Luke 3:7Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Psalm 52:2-5Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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