Matthew 12:34 “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For o…”

Matthew 12:34

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

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.

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.

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

O generations of vipers, howe can you speake good things, when ye are euill? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Darby Translation

Offspring of vipers! how can ye speak good things, being wicked? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

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.

Bible in Basic English

You offspring of snakes, how are you, being evil, able to say good things? because out of the heart's store come the words of the mouth.

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Cross references

“generation”

1 John 3:10 John 8:44 Matthew 23:33 Matthew 3:7 Luke 3:7

1 John 3:10 · BSB

By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

John 8:44 · BSB

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native langua…

Matthew 23:33 · BSB

You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?

Matthew 3:7 · BSB

But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Luke 3:7 · BSB

Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

“how”

1 Samuel 24:13 James 3:5–8 Isaiah 32:6 Romans 3:10–14 Psalm 64:3 Isaiah 59:14

1 Samuel 24:13 · BSB

As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.

James 3:5–8 · BSB

In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

Isaiah 32:6 · BSB

For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; he leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink.

Romans 3:10–14 · BSB

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.

Psalm 64:3 · BSB

who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

Isaiah 59:14 · BSB

So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter.

“for”

Luke 6:45

Luke 6:45 · BSB

The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Also

Matthew 15:18 Ephesians 4:29 Matthew 12:35

Matthew 15:18 · BSB

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.

Ephesians 4:29 · BSB

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Matthew 12:35 · BSB

The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

33Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit.

35The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Read Matthew 12