KJV: O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
YLT: 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.
Darby: Offspring of vipers! how can ye speak good things, being wicked? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
ASV: Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
| γεννήματα | Offspring |
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Parse: Noun, Vocative Neuter Plural Root: γένημα Sense: that which has been born or begotten. |
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| ἐχιδνῶν | of vipers |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural Root: ἔχιδνα Sense: a viper, offspring of vipers. |
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| πῶς | how |
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Parse: Adverb Root: πῶς Sense: how, in what way. |
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| δύνασθε | are you able |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural Root: δύναμαι Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom. |
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| ἀγαθὰ | good things |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: ἀγαθός Sense: of good constitution or nature. |
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| λαλεῖν | to speak |
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Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: ἀπολαλέω Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound. |
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| πονηροὶ | evil |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: πονηρός Sense: full of labours, annoyances, hardships. |
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| ὄντες | being |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
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| ἐκ | Out of |
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Parse: Preposition Root: ἐκ Sense: out of, from, by, away from. |
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| περισσεύματος | abundance |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: περίσσευμα Sense: abundance, in which one delights. |
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| τῆς | of the |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| καρδίας | heart |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: καρδία Sense: the heart. |
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| στόμα | mouth |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: στόμα Sense: the mouth, as part of the body: of man, of animals, of fish, etc. |
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| λαλεῖ | speaks |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἀπολαλέω Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound. |
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Greek Commentary for Matthew 12:34
These same terrible words the Baptist had used to the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to his baptism (Matthew 3:7). But these Pharisees had deliberately made their choice and had taken Satan‘s side. The charge against Jesus of being in league with Satan reveals the evil heart within. The heart “spurts out” (εκβαλλει ekballei) good or evil according to the supply (treasure, τησαυρου thēsaurou) within. Matthew 12:33 is like Matthew 7:17-19. Jesus often repeated his crisp pungent sayings as every teacher does. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 12:34
But the translation is feeble. The word means to throw or fling out. The good or evil things come forth out of the treasure of the heart (Matthew 12:34). “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” The issues of the heart are thrown out, as if under pressure of the abundance within. [source]
Jesus (Matthew 12:34; Matthew 23:33) will use the same language to the Pharisees. Broods of snakes were often seen by John in the rocks and when a fire broke out they would scurry No doubt the Pharisees and Sadducees winced under the sting of this powerful indictment. [source]
Plummer thinks that the second half of the sermon begins here as indicated by Luke‘s insertion of “And he spake Jesus repeated these sayings on various occasions as every teacher does his characteristic ideas. So Luke 6:40; Matthew 10:24, Luke 6:45; Matthew 12:34. [source]
In a similar saying repeated later. Matthew 12:34. has the verb εκβαλλει ekballei (throws out, casts out), a bolder figure. “When men are natural, heart and mouth act in concert. But otherwise the mouth sometimes professes what the heart does not feel” (Plummer). [source]
Certainly they can “understand” It was like a bombshell in spite of the preliminary preparation. Your will to do Present active indicative of τελω thelō and present active infinitive, “Ye wish to go on doing.” This same idea Jesus presents in Matthew 13:38 (the sons of the evil one, the devil) and Matthew 23:15 (twofold more a son of Gehenna than you). See also 1 John 3:8 for “of the devil” He even called them “broods of vipers” as Jesus did later (Matthew 12:34). A murderer Old and rare word (Euripides) from αντρωπος anthrōpos man, and κτεινω kteinō to kill. In N.T. only here and 1 John 3:15. The Jews were seeking to kill Jesus and so like their father the devil. Stood not in the truth Since ουκ ouk not ουχ ouch is genuine, the form of the verb is εστεκεν esteken the imperfect of the late present stem στηκω stēkō (Mark 11:25) from the perfect active εστηκα hestēka (intransitive) of ιστημι histēmi to place. No truth in him Inside him or outside (environment). The devil and truth have no contact. When he speaketh a lie Indefinite temporal clause with οταν hotan and the present active subjunctive of λαλεω laleō But note the article το to “Whenever he speaks the lie,” as he is sure to do because it is his nature. Hence “he speaks out of his own” For he is a liar Old word for the agent in a conscious falsehood See 1 John 1:10; Romans 3:4. Common word in John because of the emphasis on αλητεια alētheia (truth). And the father thereof (και ο πατηρ αυτου kai ho patēr autou). Either the father of the lie or of the liar, both of which are true as already shown by Jesus. Autou in the genitive can be either neuter or masculine. Westcott takes it thus, “because he is a liar and his father (the devil) is a liar,” making “one,” not the devil, the subject of “whenever he speaks,” a very doubtful expression. [source]
Present active indicative of τελω thelō and present active infinitive, “Ye wish to go on doing.” This same idea Jesus presents in Matthew 13:38 (the sons of the evil one, the devil) and Matthew 23:15 (twofold more a son of Gehenna than you). See also 1 John 3:8 for “of the devil” He even called them “broods of vipers” as Jesus did later (Matthew 12:34). A murderer Old and rare word (Euripides) from αντρωπος anthrōpos man, and κτεινω kteinō to kill. In N.T. only here and 1 John 3:15. The Jews were seeking to kill Jesus and so like their father the devil. Stood not in the truth Since ουκ ouk not ουχ ouch is genuine, the form of the verb is εστεκεν esteken the imperfect of the late present stem στηκω stēkō (Mark 11:25) from the perfect active εστηκα hestēka (intransitive) of ιστημι histēmi to place. No truth in him Inside him or outside (environment). The devil and truth have no contact. When he speaketh a lie Indefinite temporal clause with οταν hotan and the present active subjunctive of λαλεω laleō But note the article το to “Whenever he speaks the lie,” as he is sure to do because it is his nature. Hence “he speaks out of his own” For he is a liar Old word for the agent in a conscious falsehood See 1 John 1:10; Romans 3:4. Common word in John because of the emphasis on αλητεια alētheia (truth). And the father thereof (και ο πατηρ αυτου kai ho patēr autou). Either the father of the lie or of the liar, both of which are true as already shown by Jesus. Autou in the genitive can be either neuter or masculine. Westcott takes it thus, “because he is a liar and his father (the devil) is a liar,” making “one,” not the devil, the subject of “whenever he speaks,” a very doubtful expression. [source]
“Some multitude (or pile) of dry twigs” Laid (επιτεντος epithentos). So genitive absolute again with second aorist active participle of επιτιτημι epitithēmi to place upon. Few things show Paul to better advantage than this incident. By reason of the heat Old word, only here in N.T. Ablative case with απο apo (from the heat). The viper was in a state of torpor in the bundle of sticks. The heat wakened him. A viper (εχιδνα echidna). The old word used by the Baptist of the Pharisees (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7) and by Jesus also (Matthew 12:34; Matthew 23:33). It is objected that there is little wood in the island today and no vipers, though Lewin as late as 1853 believes that he saw a viper near St. Paul‘s Bay. But the island now has 1, 200 people to the square mile and snakes of any kind have a poor chance. The viper has also disappeared from Arran as the island became more frequented (Knowling). Ramsay thinks that the small constrictor (Coronella Austriaca) which still exists in the island may be the “viper,” though it has no poison fangs, but clings and bites. The natives thought that it was a poisonous viper. Fastened on his hand First aorist active indicative of καταπτω kathaptō to fasten down on with the genitive case. Old verb, here only in N.T. Cf. Mark 16:18. [source]
Old word, only here in N.T. Ablative case with απο apo (from the heat). The viper was in a state of torpor in the bundle of sticks. The heat wakened him. A viper (εχιδνα echidna). The old word used by the Baptist of the Pharisees (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7) and by Jesus also (Matthew 12:34; Matthew 23:33). It is objected that there is little wood in the island today and no vipers, though Lewin as late as 1853 believes that he saw a viper near St. Paul‘s Bay. But the island now has 1, 200 people to the square mile and snakes of any kind have a poor chance. The viper has also disappeared from Arran as the island became more frequented (Knowling). Ramsay thinks that the small constrictor (Coronella Austriaca) which still exists in the island may be the “viper,” though it has no poison fangs, but clings and bites. The natives thought that it was a poisonous viper. Fastened on his hand First aorist active indicative of καταπτω kathaptō to fasten down on with the genitive case. Old verb, here only in N.T. Cf. Mark 16:18. [source]
The old word used by the Baptist of the Pharisees (Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7) and by Jesus also (Matthew 12:34; Matthew 23:33). It is objected that there is little wood in the island today and no vipers, though Lewin as late as 1853 believes that he saw a viper near St. Paul‘s Bay. But the island now has 1, 200 people to the square mile and snakes of any kind have a poor chance. The viper has also disappeared from Arran as the island became more frequented (Knowling). Ramsay thinks that the small constrictor (Coronella Austriaca) which still exists in the island may be the “viper,” though it has no poison fangs, but clings and bites. The natives thought that it was a poisonous viper. [source]
Perfect passive indicative of old verb πλατυνω platunō to broaden, from πλατυς platus broad. In N T. only here and Matthew 23:5 (cf. phylacteries). Hence his freedom of speech for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). [source]
Late word from περισσευω perisseuō like περισσεια perisseia (2 Corinthians 8:2) Cf. Matthew 12:34. Want (υστερημα husterēma). Late word from υστερεω hustereō to be in want. See also 2 Corinthians 9:12; Luke 21:4 (cf. υστερησις husterēsis in Mark 12:44). [source]