Matthew 12:34

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

O generation {G1081} of vipers {G2191}, how {G4459} can ye {G1410}, being {G5607} evil {G4190}, speak {G2980} good things {G18}? for {G1063} out of {G1537} the abundance {G4051} of the heart {G2588} the mouth {G4750} speaketh {G2980}.

You snakes! How can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what overflows from the heart.

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

Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Commentary

Matthew 12:34 captures a powerful and challenging rebuke from Jesus Christ to the Pharisees, who were accusing Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. This verse serves as a profound statement on the direct connection between a person's inner spiritual condition and their outward expressions, particularly their words.

Context

This verse is delivered in the midst of a heated exchange between Jesus and the religious leaders. Following Jesus' miraculous healing of a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute (Matthew 12:22), the Pharisees, unable to deny the miracle, attributed His power to Satan (Matthew 12:24). Jesus exposes their spiritual blindness and hypocrisy, culminating in this sharp condemnation and the subsequent warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Key Themes

  • The Revelation of the Heart: Jesus asserts that words are not merely external sounds but are direct indicators of the heart's true state. What we say reveals what we truly believe, value, and harbor within. This is a core teaching on the power of speech.
  • Hypocrisy Exposed: The Pharisees' outward piety contrasted sharply with their venomous accusations and evil intentions. Jesus calls them a "generation of vipers," a term also used by John the Baptist, highlighting their inherent corruption despite their religious claims.
  • The Source of Good and Evil: The verse teaches that good words cannot come from an evil heart, just as a corrupt tree cannot bear good fruit (Matthew 7:18). The wellspring of all human actions, including speech, is the heart.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "generation of vipers" translates from the Greek gennēma echidnōn (γέννημα ἐχιδνῶν). Echidna refers to a venomous snake, emphasizing the poisonous, deceitful, and destructive nature of their words and intentions. It signifies that they are offspring of a corrupt spiritual lineage. The word "abundance" (Greek: perisseumatos - περισσεύματος) implies an overflowing surplus. What is truly abundant in the heart—whether good or evil—will inevitably overflow and manifest in speech, much like a cup overflowing when full. This highlights the deep connection between inner character and outward expression in Christian living.

Practical Application

Matthew 12:34 challenges believers to examine the true condition of their hearts. Our words have immense power, reflecting our inner spiritual health. If our speech is consistently negative, critical, or unloving, this verse urges us to look inward and address the root issues in our hearts. It underscores the importance of guarding our hearts above all else, as Proverbs 4:23 advises. By allowing God's Word and the Holy Spirit to transform us from within, our words can become a source of life, blessing, and truth, truly reflecting a heart filled with God's goodness, as further elaborated in Luke 6:45. This KJV Bible verse serves as a powerful reminder for self-reflection and spiritual growth.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 6:45 (43 votes)

    A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

  • Matthew 15:18 (41 votes)

    But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

  • Ephesians 4:29 (18 votes)

    Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

  • 1 Samuel 24:13 (16 votes)

    As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

  • James 3:5 (15 votes)

    Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

  • James 3:8 (15 votes)

    But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

  • 1 John 3:10 (12 votes)

    In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.