Luke 6:44

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush.

King James Version (1611)
For euery tree is knowen by his owne fruit: for of thornes men doe not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

New American Standard Bible
"For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

New Century Version
Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don't gather figs from thornbushes, and they don't get grapes from bushes.

Amplified Bible
"For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit. For figs are not picked from thorn bushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a briar bush.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

Legacy Standard Bible
For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a bramble bush.

Berean Standard Bible
For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, people do not gather figs from thornbushes, or grapes from brambles.

Contemporary English Version
You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. You cannot pick figs or grapes from thornbushes.

Complete Jewish Bible
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit — figs aren't picked from thorn bushes, nor grapes from a briar patch.

Darby Translation
for every tree is known by its own fruit, for figs are not gathered from thorns, nor grapes vintaged from a bramble.

Easy-to-Read Version
Every tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. You won't find figs on thorny weeds. And you can't pick grapes from thornbushes!

Geneva Bible (1587)
For euery tree is knowen by his owne fruite: for neither of thornes gather men figges, nor of bushes gather they grapes.

George Lamsa Translation
For every tree is known by its own fruits. For they do not gather figs from thistles, nor gather grapes from a bramble bush.

Good News Translation
Every tree is known by the fruit it bears; you do not pick figs from thorn bushes or gather grapes from bramble bushes.

Lexham English Bible
for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn plants, nor are grapes harvested from thorn bushes.

Literal Translation
For each tree is known from its own fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
For every tree is judged by its fruit. Men do not get figs from thorns, or grapes from blackberry plants.

Hebrew Names Version
For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don't gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

International Standard Version
For every tree is known by its own fruit. PeopleThey">[fn] don't gather figs from thorny plants or pick grapes from a thorn bush.Matthew 12:33;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
for every tree by its fruits is known. For how gather they from thorns figs ? neither also from the bramble do they gather in grapes.

Murdock Translation
For every tree is known by its fruits. Do men gather figs from thorn-bushes? So, neither do they pluck grapes from brambles.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For euery tree is knowen by his fruite: for of thornes do not me gather fygges, nor of busshes, gather they grapes.

English Revised Version
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.

World English Bible
For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don't gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For every tree is known by its own fruit; for they do not gather figs from thorns, nor from a bramble do they gather grapes.

Weymouth's New Testament
Every tree is known by its own fruit. It is not from thorns that men gather figs, nor from the bramble that they can get a bunch of grapes.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for euery tre is knowun of his fruyt. And men gaderen not figus of thornes, nethir men gaderen a grape of a buysche of breris.

Update Bible Version
For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush do they gather grapes.

Webster's Bible Translation
For every tree is known by its own fruit: for from thorns men do not gather figs, nor from a bramble bush do they gather grapes.

New English Translation
for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles.

New King James Version
For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

New Living Translation
A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.

New Life Bible
For every tree is known by its own fruit. Men do not gather figs from thorns. They do not gather grapes from thistles.

New Revised Standard
for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, every tree, by its own fruit, becometh known. For not, of thorns, do they gather figs, neither, of a bramble-bush, do they gather, a bunch of grapes.

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Revised Standard Version
for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For every tree is knowen by his frute. Nether of thornes gader men fygges nor of busshes gader they grapes.

Young's Literal Translation
for each tree from its own fruit is known, for not from thorns do they gather figs, nor from a bramble do they crop a grape.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Euery tre is knowne by his frute. For me gather not fygges of thornes, ner grapes of busshes.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for every tree is known by its fruit: it is not on thorns that men gather figs, nor do they gather grapes on a bramble bush.

Simplified Cowboy Version
You can tell what kind of tree it is by what kind of fruit it bears. You don't gather mangos from mesquite, and you don't get cantaloupes from cactus.

Contextual Overview

³⁷"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." ³⁹He quoted a proverb: "‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?' Wouldn't they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn't lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher. ⁴¹"It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. ⁴³"You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds. ⁴⁶"Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,' and ‘That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. ⁴⁸"If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

For of: Galatians 5:19-23, Titus 2:11-13, James 3:12, Jude 1:12

grapes: Gr. a grape

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:11 - fruit Genesis 1:12 - herb Proverbs 20:11 - General Matthew 12:33 - and his fruit good Matthew 13:23 - beareth John 3:8 - so

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For every tree is known by its own fruit,.... Good and bad preachers are known by their doctrines, the one being agreeable, the other disagreeable to the word of God; and good and bad men are known by their lives and conversations: the grace of God revealed to good men, and wrought in them, teaches them to live soberly, righteously, and godly; a holy life is the fruit of grace, and an evidence of it; and the wickedness that is in the heart of unregenerate men, and even the hypocrisy of formal professors, will show themselves in the common and ordinary course of their conversations:

for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes; nor can they be expected from them: and no more can an unregenerate man perform good works, or bring forth: fruits of righteousness acceptable unto God; for these require a knowledge of his will, obedience to it, a principle of grace, love to God, faith in Christ, and a view to the glory of God; all which are wanting in such a person.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage fully illustrated in the sermon on the mount, in Matt. 5–7.

Luke 6:21

That hunger now - Matthew has it, “that hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Matthew has expressed more fully what Luke has briefly, but there is no contradiction.

Luke 6:24-26

These verses have been omitted by Matthew. They seem to have been spoken to the Pharisees.

Who are rich - In this world’s goods. They loved them; they had sought for them; they found their consolation in them. It implies, farther, that they would not seek or receive consolation from the gospel. They were proud, and would not seek it; satisfied, and did not desire it; filled with cares, and had no time or disposition to attend to it. All the consolation which they had reason to expect they had received. Alas! how poor and worthless is such consolation, compared with that which the gospel would give!

Woe unto you that are full! - Not hungry. Satisfied with their wealth, and not feeling their need of anything better than earthly wealth can give. Many, alas! are thus “full.” They profess to be satisfied. They desire nothing but wealth, and a sufficiency to satisfy the wants of the body. They have no anxiety for the riches that shall endure forever.

Ye shall hunger - Your property shall be taken away, or you shall see that it is of little value; and then you shall see the need of something better. You shall feel your want and wretchedness, and shall “hunger” for something to satisfy the desires of a dying, sinful soul.

That laugh now - Are happy, or thoughtless, or joyful, or filled with levity.

Shall mourn and weep - The time is coming when you shall sorrow deeply. In sickness, in calamity, in the prospect of death, in the fear of eternity, your laughter shall be turned into sorrow. “There is” a place where you cannot laugh, and there you will see the folly of having passed the “proper time” of preparing for such scenes in levity and folly. Alas! how many thus spend their youth! and how many weep when it is too late! God gives them over, and “laughs” at their “calamity,” and mocks when their fear comes, Proverbs 1:26. To be happy in “such scenes,” it is necessary to be sober, humble, pious in early life. “Then” we need not weep in the day of calamity; then there will be no terror in death; then there will be nothing to fear in the grave.

Luke 6:26

When all men shall speak well of you - When they shall praise or applaud you. The people of the world will not praise or applaud “my” doctrine; they are “opposed” to it, and therefore, if they speak well of “you” and of “your teachings,” it is proof that you do not teach the true doctrine. If you do “not” do this, then there will be woe upon you. If men teach false doctrines for true; if they declare that God has spoken that which he has not spoken, and if they oppose what he “has” delivered, then heavy punishments will await them.

For so did their fathers - The fathers or ancestors of this people; the ancient Jews.

To the false prophets - Men who pretended to be of God - who delivered their “own” doctrines as the truth of God, and who accommodated themselves to the desires of the people. Of this number were the prophets of Baal, the false prophets who appeared in the time of Jeremiah, etc.

Luke 6:27, Luke 6:28

See Matthew 5:44-45.

Luke 6:29

See Matthew 5:39-40.

Luke 6:30

See Matthew 5:42.

Luke 6:31

See Matthew 7:12.

Luke 6:32-36

See Matthew 5:46-48.

Luke 6:37-42

See Matthew 7:1-9.

Luke 6:38

Good measure - They shall give you good measure, or “full” measure.

Pressed down - As figs or grapes might be, and thus many more might be put into the measure.

Shaken together - To make it more compact, and thus to give more.

Running over - So full that the measure would overflow.

Shall men give - This is said to be the reward of “giving” to the poor and needy; and the meaning is that the man who is liberal will find others liberal to him in dealing with them, and when he is also in circumstances of want. A man who is himself kind to the poor - who has that “character” established - will find many who are ready to help “him” abundantly when he is in want. He that is parsimonious, close, niggardly, will find few or none who will aid him.

Into your bosom - That is, to you. The word “bosom” here has reference to a custom among Oriental nations of making the bosom or front part of their garments large, so that articles could be carried in them, answering the purpose of our pockets. Compare Exodus 4:6-7; Proverbs 6:27; Ruth 3:15.

Luke 6:39

A parable - A proverb or similitude.

Can the blind lead the blind? - See the notes at Matthew 15:14.

Luke 6:40

The disciple is not ... - The learner is not above his teacher, does not know more, and must expect to fare no better. This seems to have been spoken to show them that they were not to expect that their disciples would go “beyond them” in attainments; that if they were blind, their followers would be also; and that therefore it was important for them to understand fully the doctrines of the gospel, and not to be blind leaders of the blind.

Every one that is perfect - The word rendered “is perfect” means sometimes to repair or mend, and is thus applied to mending nets, Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19. Hence, it means to repair or amend in a moral sense, or to make whole or complete. Here it means, evidently, “thoroughly instructed” or “informed.” The Christian should be like his Master - holy, harmless, and undefiled, and separate from sinners. He should copy his example, and grow into the likeness of his Redeemer. Nor can any other be a Christian.

Luke 6:41, Luke 6:42

See the notes at Matthew 7:3-5.

Luke 6:43, Luke 6:44

See the notes at Matthew 7:16-18.

Luke 6:45

This verse is not found in the sermon on the mount as recorded by Matthew, but is recorded by him in Matthew 12:35. See the notes at that passage.

Luke 6:46-49

See the notes at Matthew 7:21-27.