The Meaning of Matthew 3:10 Explained

Matthew 3:10

KJV: And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

YLT: and now also, the axe unto the root of the trees is laid, every tree therefore not bearing good fruit is hewn down, and to fire is cast.

Darby: And already the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.

ASV: And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  now  also  the axe  is laid  unto  the root  of the trees:  therefore  every  tree  which bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit  is hewn down,  and  cast  into  the fire. 

What does Matthew 3:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 3:1-12 - The Herald Prepares The Way
Matthew's Gospel heralds the Kingdom. We are allowed to see and listen to the forerunner, whose voice again awoke the hearts of men with prophetic utterance after a silence of four hundred years. He leaps into the arena with the suddenness of Elijah.
His message was twofold-the need for repentance and the announcement of the nearness of the Kingdom; it thrilled his generation with a strange wonder and interest. All of the southern part of the country seemed to empty itself into the Jordan valley. Yes, if a man is not a reed shaken by the wind, not effeminate in court dress, not a copy but an original, who speaks what he sees and knows of God, men will come to Him in every age.
To us also John the Baptist must come, if we shall properly appreciate the Redeemer. We must expose ourselves to the fire, the ax, the winnowing-fan, that we may learn what we really are and come, like Paul, to reckon our own righteousness as loss, if only we may win Christ and be found in Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 3

1  John preaches: his office, life, and baptism
7  He reprimands the Pharisees,
13  and baptizes Jesus in Jordan

Greek Commentary for Matthew 3:10

Is the axe laid [η αχινη κειται]
This verb κειται — keitai is used as the perfect passive of τιτημι — tithēmi But the idea really is, “the axe lies at (προς — pros before) the root of the trees.” It is there ready for business. The prophetic present occurs also with “is hewn down” and “cast.” [source]
Is laid [καῖται]
Not, is applied, as “She layeth her hands to the spindle” (Proverbs 31:19), but is lying. [source]
Is hewn down and east []
The present tense is graphic, denoting what is to happen at once and certainly. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 3:10

2 Corinthians 11:12 That I may cut off occasion [ινα εκκοπσω την απορμην]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and first aorist active subjunctive of εκκοπτω — ekkoptō old verb to cut out or off (Matthew 3:10; Matthew 5:30). See note on 2 Corinthians 5:12 for απορμην — aphormēn [source]
1 Timothy 6:10 A root of all kinds of evil [ριζα]
A root Old word, common in literal (Matthew 3:10) and metaphorical sense (Romans 11:11-18). Field (Ot. Norv.) argues for “the root” as the idea of this predicate without saying that it is the only root. Undoubtedly a proverb that Paul here quotes, attributed to Bion and to Democritus Present middle participle of ης — oregō (see note on 1 Timothy 3:1) with genitive απεπλανητησαν — hēs (which). Have been led astray First aorist passive indicative of εαυτους περιεπειραν — apoplanaō old compound verb, in N.T. only here and Mark 13:22. Have pierced themselves through (περιπειρω — heautous periepeiran). First aorist active (with reflexive pronoun) of late compound περι — peripeirō only here in N.T. Perfective use of οδυναις πολλαις — peri (around, completely to pierce). With many sorrows Instrumental case of odunē (consuming, eating grief). In N.T. only here and Romans 9:2. [source]
Hebrews 12:11 It yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness [καρπὸν εἰρηνικὸν ἀποδίδωσιν δικαιοσύνης]
Perhaps with a suggestion of recompense for the long-suffering and waiting, since ἀποδιδόναι often signifies “to give back.” The phrase ἀποδιδόναι καρπὸν only here and Revelation 22:2. Καρπὸν fruitwith διδόναι togive, Matthew 13:8; Mark 4:8: with ποιεῖν tomake or produce, often in Synoptic Gospels, as Matthew 3:8, Matthew 3:10; Matthew 7:17; Luke 3:8; Luke 6:43, etc.: with φέρειν tobear, always and only in John, John 12:24; John 15:2, John 15:4, John 15:5, John 15:8, John 15:16: with βλαστάνειν tobring forth, James 5:18. Ἑιρηνικός peaceablein N.T. Only here and James 3:17, as an epithet of wisdom. Quite often in lxx of men, the heart, especially of words and sacrifices. The phrase καρπός εἰρηνικός peaceablefruit (omit the ), N.T.oolxx. The phrase fruit of righteousness, Philemon 1:11; James 3:18, and lxx, Proverbs 3:9; Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:2; Amos 6:13: comp. Psalm 1:3; Psalm 57:11. The genitive of righteousness is explicative or appositional; fruit which consists in righteousness or is righteousness. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 3:10 mean?

Already now the ax to the root of the trees is applied every therefore tree not producing fruit good is cut down and into [the] fire is thrown
ἤδη δὲ ἀξίνη πρὸς τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται πᾶν οὖν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκόπτεται καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται

ἤδη  Already 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἤδη  
Sense: now, already.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἀξίνη  ax 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀξίνη  
Sense: an axe.
ῥίζαν  root 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ῥίζα  
Sense: a root.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δένδρων  trees 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: δένδρον  
Sense: a tree.
κεῖται  is  applied 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κεῖμαι  
Sense: to lie.
πᾶν  every 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
δένδρον  tree 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: δένδρον  
Sense: a tree.
ποιοῦν  producing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
καρπὸν  fruit 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: καρπός  
Sense: fruit.
καλὸν  good 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: καλός  
Sense: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.
ἐκκόπτεται  is  cut  down 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐκκόπτω  
Sense: to cut out, cut off.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
πῦρ  [the]  fire 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πῦρ  
Sense: fire.
βάλλεται  is  thrown 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: βάλλω 
Sense: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.