Matthew 7:16 - The Passion Translation

You can spot them by their actions, for the fruits of their character will be obvious. You won’t find sweet grapes hanging on a thorn bush, and you’ll never pick good fruit from a tumbleweed.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

You will fully recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

American Standard Version (1901)

By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Common English Bible

You will know them by their fruit. Do people get bunches of grapes from thorny weeds, or do they get figs from thistles?

Catholic Public Domain Version

You shall know them by their fruits. Can grapes be gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matthew 7:16 Cross References

Proverbs 20:11

All children show what they’re really like by how they act. You can discern their character, whether they are pure or perverse.

Matthew 12:33

“You must determine if a tree is good or rotten. You can recognize good trees by their delicious fruit. But if you find rotten fruit, you can be certain that the tree is rotten. The fruit defines the tree.

Matthew 7:20

You’ll know them by the obvious fruit of their lives and ministries.”

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

James 2:18

But someone might object and say, “One person has faith and another person has works.” Go ahead then and prove to me that you have faith without works and I will show you faith by my works as proof that I believe.