Luke 6:43

“For ¹  no good tree bears bad ²  fruit, nor again ³  does a bad tree bear good fruit,

Ps 92:12-14; Isa 5:4; Isa 61:3; Jer 2:21; Mt 3:10; Mt 7:16-20; Mt 12:33

¹ tn The explanatory connective γάρ (gar) is often dropped from translations, but the point of the passage is that one should be self-corrective and be careful who one follows (vv. 41-42), because such choices also reflect what the nature of the tree is and its product.

² tn Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying both “fruit” and “tree,” can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28).

³ tc Most mss, especially later ones (A C D Θ Ψ 33 Ï lat sy sa), lack the adverb πάλιν (palin, “again”) here. Its presence is attested, however, by several good witnesses (Ì⁷⁵ א B L W Ξ Ë^1,13 579 892 1241 2542).