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| Mt 3:9 | Mt 3:10 | Mt 3:11 | Mt 3:12 | Mt 3:13 | Mt 3:14 | Mt 3:15 | Mt 3:16 | Mt 3:17 |
Bible References
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. (Matthew 3:10 KJV)
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. (Matthew 3:10 ASV)
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. (Matthew 3:10 DBY)
Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. (Matthew 3:10 WEB)
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. (Matthew 3:10 YLT)
Interlinear KJV
Mt 3:10 And /de/ now /ede/ also /kai/ the axe /axine/ is laid /keimai/ unto /pros/ the root /rhiza/ of the trees: /dendron/ therefore /oun/ every /pas/ tree /dendron/ which bringeth /poieo/ not /me/ forth /poieo/ good /kalos/ fruit /karpos/ is hewn down, /ekkopto/ and /kai/ cast /ballo/ into /eis/ the fire. /pur/
Albert Barnes’ Commentary
Verse 10. The axe is laid unto the root of the trees. Laying the axe at the root of a tree is intended to denote that the tree is to be cut down. It was not merely to be trimmed, to be cut about the limbs, but the very tree itself was to be struck. That is, a searching, trying kind of preaching has been commenced. A kingdom of justice is to be set, up. Principles and conduct are to be investigated. No art, no dissimulations, are to be successful. Men are to be tried by their lives, not by birth, or profession. They who are not found to bear this test, are to be rejected. The very root shall feel the blow, and the fruitless tree shall fall. This is a beautiful and very striking figure of speech, and a very direct threatening of future wrath. John regarded them as making a fair and promising profession, as trees do in blossom. But he told them, also, that they should bear fruit as well as flowers. Their professions of repentance were not enough. They should show, by a holy life, that their profession was genuine.
{s} “hewn” Joh 15:6