Psalms 92:12-14

92:12 The godly ¹  grow like a palm tree;

they grow high like a cedar in Lebanon. ² 

92:13 Planted in the Lord’s house,

they grow in the courts of our God.

92:14 They bear fruit even when they are old;

they are filled with vitality and have many leaves. ³ 

Isaiah 5:4

5:4 What more can I do for my vineyard

beyond what I have already done?

When I waited for it to produce edible grapes,

why did it produce sour ones instead?

Isaiah 61:3

61:3 to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,

by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,

oil symbolizing joy, ⁴  instead of mourning,

a garment symbolizing praise, ⁵  instead of discouragement. ⁶ 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, ⁷ 

trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor. ⁸ 

Jeremiah 2:21

2:21 I planted you in the land

like a special vine of the very best stock.

Why in the world have you turned into something like a wild vine

that produces rotten, foul-smelling grapes? ⁹ 

Matthew 3:10

3:10 Even now the ax is laid at ¹⁰  the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:16-20

7:16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered ¹¹  from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? ¹²  7:17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad ¹³  tree bears bad fruit. 7:18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 7:20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.

Matthew 12:33

Trees and Their Fruit

12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad ¹⁴  and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit.

¹ tn The singular is used in a representative sense, with the typical godly person being in view.

² sn The cedars of the Lebanon forest were well-known in ancient Israel for their immense size.

³ tn Heb “they are juicy and fresh.”

⁴ tn Heb “oil of joy” (KJV, ASV); NASB, NIV, NRSV “the oil of gladness.”

⁵ tn Heb “garment of praise.”

⁶ tn Heb “a faint spirit” (so NRSV); KJV, ASV “the spirit of heaviness”; NASB “a spirit of fainting.”

⁷ tn Rather than referring to the character of the people, צֶדֶק (tsedeq) may carry the nuance “vindication” here, suggesting that God’s restored people are a testimony to his justice. See v. 2, which alludes to the fact that God will take vengeance against the enemies of his people. Cf. NAB “oaks of justice.”

⁸ tn Heb “a planting of the Lord to reveal splendor.”

⁹ tc Heb “I planted you as a choice vine, all of it true seed. How then have you turned into a putrid thing to me, a strange [or wild] vine.” The question expresses surprise and consternation. The translation is based on a redivision of the Hebrew words סוּרֵי הַגֶּפֶן (sure haggefen) into סוֹרִיָּה גֶּפֶן (soriyyah gefen) and the recognition of a hapax legomenon סוֹרִיָּה (soriyyah) meaning “putrid, stinking thing.” See HALOT 707 s.v. סוֹרִי.

¹⁰ sn Laid at the root. That is, placed and aimed, ready to begin cutting.

¹¹ tn Grk “They do not gather.” This has been simplified to the passive voice in the translation since the subject “they” is not specified further in the context.

¹² sn The statement illustrates the principle: That which cannot produce fruit does not produce fruit.

¹³ tn Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying “tree” in both v. 17 and 18, can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).

¹⁴ tn Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying both “tree” and “fruit,” can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).