Either be a healthy tree and produce wholesome fruit, or be a diseased tree and produce rotten fruit, for [the quality of] a tree will be recognized by [the quality of] its fruit.
Luke 6:44 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) For each tree is recognized by its own fruit. For people do not harvest figs from thorn bushes, nor grapes from a brier bush. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit; for figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a bramblebush. American Standard Version (1901) For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. Common English Bible Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don’t gather figs from thorny plants, nor do they pick grapes from prickly bushes. Catholic Public Domain Version For each and every tree is known by its fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather the grape from the bramble bush. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape. |
Either be a healthy tree and produce wholesome fruit, or be a diseased tree and produce rotten fruit, for [the quality of] a tree will be recognized by [the quality of] its fruit.
You can recognize them by their fruit [i.e., by what their lives produce]. Do people harvest grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistle weeds?
Therefore, you will recognize them [i.e., prophets] by their fruit [i.e., by what their lives produce].
My brothers, can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine [produce] figs? Neither can a salt water [spring] produce fresh water.
These people are like rotten spots [contaminating the food] at your love feasts, while they gorge themselves without fear [i.e., unashamed of their selfish indulgence]. [Note: This passage may mean “like selfish shepherds, looking out only for themselves,” even eating the grain set out for the animals]. They are like clouds that blow over without producing rain; [they are like] trees in the fall that do not produce any fruit and have been uprooted, [thus] being dead twice [i.e., fruitless and rootless].