The Sermon on the Mount, invisible and visible, worthwhile and worthless,
Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Every tree not producing fine fruit is cut off and into a fire it is tossed.
Jesus is quoting John the Baptist here, the end of Matthew 3:10. The Greek from that verse is shown below Jesus's verse.
The negative here is one of thought and desire. The sense is that producing fine fruit is a matter of opinion, which is interesting. The "produce" is not an active verb, but a participle, that is, an adjective describing the tree.
In Greek, Jesus chose verb forms that could be either passive or the middle voice for the verbs translated as "hewn/cut down" and "cast/thrown.". The middle voice is one where the subject acts on itself. It is as though Jesus wished to express the idea that the tree brings this fate upon itself as much as something being done to it.
Being tossed into the fire is not simply a form of destruction. In Jesus's use of the concept, it is a productive and useful act. For more about the meaning of "fire" in Christ's work, read the end of this article on light and fire.
We can develop the abilities to be productive, or we can produce something out of our destruction.
Matthew 7:19 πᾶν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκόπτεται καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται.
Matthew 3:10 ...πᾶν οὖν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκόπτεται καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται
Every tree that(IW) bringeth(WW,WF) not forth good(CW) fruit is hewn(CW) down, and cast(CV) into the(IW) fire.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- -- The word translated as "bringeth forth" means "make" or "produce."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "bringeth forth" is not an active verb but a participle, "making" or "producing."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The word translated as "good" is more like "beautiful" in this context. It is a different "good" than above.
- CV - Confusing Voice - The verb "hewn" here is translated as passive but it could be the middle voice.
- CV - Confusing Voice - The verb "cast" here is translated as passive but it could be the middle voice.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
Every tree that (IW) does not bear(WW, WF)) good(CW) fruit is cut(CV) down and thrown(CV) into the(IW) fire.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- -- The word translated as "bear" means "make" or "produce."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "bear" is not an active verb but a participle, "making" or "producing."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The word translated as "good" is more like "beautiful" in this context. It is a different "good" than above.
- CV - Confusing Voice - The verb "cut" here is translated as passive but it could be the middle voice.
- CV - Confusing Voice - The verb "thrown" here is translated as passive but it could be the middle voice.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
Every - The word translated as "every" is one word meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. The idea here is that this rule applies to all trees.
tree - The word for "tree" most commonly means fruit-bearing trees. The tree was a symbol for the naturally productive assets of nature as opposed to fields which must be planted each year.
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source.
bringeth - (WW, WF) Again, the Greek word translated as "bringeth forth" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "rendering" as service. This word is a participle.
not - The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" to do something, not that it isn't done. The use of it to modify the verb "bringeth forth" raises the question of in whose opinion the fruit is bad. Read simply, it personalizes the tree, saying that "it didn't want to produce."
forth - This word comes from the preceding verb.
good - (CW) The word translated as "good" means "good", "beautiful", "noble," or "of good quality." This is a different word than the word translated as "good" above. See this article on "good" and this one on "evil."
fruit; - The word translated as "fruit" primary meaning is "fruit", "seed," or "offspring," but its secondary meaning is "returns," specifically, "profit," as we would say "fruit of our labors."
is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense and passive from of the verb, which is expressed here as an adjective.
hewn down, - (CV) The word translated as "is hewn down" means various forms of being "cut off," an idea that has a range of meanings similar to those in English from being hindered to being chopped down or ended. This is the same word used in Matthew 5:30, to describe cutting off a hand that trips you up. What is really interesting is the form of this verb which is not clearly passive ("hewed down") but in a form where the tree could be acting on itself, "it cuts itself out of".
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
cast - (CV) The word translated as "cast" has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." Again, this verb is in the passive or middle voice.
into - -- The word translated as "into" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
fire. - The Greek word for "fire" means "fire", or, more precisely "pyre", which is the word we get from the Greek. It also means a funeral fire or sacrificial fire. It is part of a common Greek phrase which means to come to nothing or to be consumed. In other words, those trees that produce nothing of value will end up coming to nothing.
Every - The word translated as "every" is one word meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. The idea here is that this rule applies to all trees.
tree - The word for "tree" most commonly means fruit bearing trees. The tree was a symbol for the naturally productive assets of nature as opposed to fields which must be planted each year.
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source.
does -- This helping verb is used to create commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in English, but the Greek could be either a question or a statement.
not - The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" to do something, not that it isn't done. The use of it to modify the verb "bringeth forth" raises the question of in whose opinion the fruit is bad. Read simply, it personalizes the tree, saying that "it didn't want to produce."
bear - (WW, WF) Again, the Greek word translated as "bear" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "rendering" as service. This word is a participle.
good - (CW) The word translated as "good" means "good", "beautiful", "noble," or "of good quality." This is a different word than the word translated as "good" above. See this article on "good" and this one on "evil."
fruit; - The word translated as "fruit" primary meaning is "fruit", "seed," or "offspring," but its secondary meaning is "returns," specifically, "profit," as we would say "fruit of our labors."
is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense and passive from of the verb, which is expressed here as an adjective.
cut down, - (CV) The word translated as "cut down" means various forms of being "cut off," an idea that has a range of meanings similar to those in English from being hindered to being chopped down or ended. This is the same word used in Matthew 5:30, to describe cutting off a hand that trips you up. What is really interesting is the form of this verb which is not clearly passive ("hewed down") but in a form where the tree could be acting on itself, "it cuts itself out of".
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
thrown - (CV) The word translated as "thrown " has a number of meanings revolving around "throw" as we do in English with both "throw" and "toss." Again, this verb is in the passive or middle voice.
into - -- The word translated as "into" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
fire. - The Greek word for "fire" means "fire", or, more precisely "pyre", which is the word we get from the Greek. It also means a funeral fire or sacrificial fire. It is part of a common Greek phrase which means to come to nothing or to be consumed. In other words, those trees that produce nothing of value will end up coming to nothing.
πᾶν (adj sg neut nom) "Every" is from pas, which means "all", "the whole", "every", "anyone", "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way", "on every side", "in every way," and "altogether."
δένδρον [9 verses](noun sg neut nom) "Tree" is from dendron (more commonly spelled dendreon), which means "tree", "fruit-tree", "tall plants (such as rattan)" "stick," and "timber."
μὴ (partic) "Not" is from me, which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.
ποιοῦν (part sg pres act neut nom) "Bringeth forth" is from poieo, which means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready," and "to do." -
καρπὸν (noun sg masc acc) "Fruit" is from karpos, which means "fruit", "the fruits of the earth", "seed", "offspring", "returns for profit," and "reward."
καλὸν (adj sg masc acc) "Good" is from kalos, which means "beautiful", "good", "of fine quality", "noble," and "honorable." It is most often translated as "good" juxtaposed with "evil" in the New Testament, but the two ideas are closer to "wonderful" and "worthless", "noble" and "base."
ἐκκόπτεται [5 verses](3rd sg pres ind mp) "Is hewn down" is ekkopto, which means "to cut out", "to knock off", "to beat off [in battle]", "to hinder", "to break open", "to win [in throwing dice]", "to fell", "to scuttle [ships]," "to erase [an inscription]," "to come to a stop", "to stamp a coin", "to pause," or "to cut off." It is also a metaphor for "to make an end of."
καὶ (conj) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."
εἰς (prep) "Into" is from eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)", "until (of time)", "as much as (of measure or limit)", "as far as (of measure or limit)", "towards (to express relation)", "in regard to (to express relation)", "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."
πῦρ (noun sg neut acc) "Fire" is from pyr (pur), which means "fire", "sacrificial fire", "funeral fire", "hearth-fire", "lightning", "the light of torches," and "heat of fever."
βάλλεται. (3rd sg pres ind mp) "Cast" is ballo, which means "to throw", "to let fall," "to cast," "to put", "to pour", "to place money on deposit", "push forward or in front [of animals]", "to shed", "to place", "to pay,"to throw [of dice,]" "to be lucky", "to fall", "to lay as foundation", "to begin to form", "to dash oneself with water," and "to bathe."
Is the tree making a choice or are people judging it? Since the tree is chopping itself down and throwing itself into the fire, it is making a choice. Interestingly, there is a sense that it is gambling here. Two of main verbs here "hew" and "cast" both have meaning in playing dice, "win" and "throw [being lucky]".
As a metaphor for human life, this tree is the part of our lives that produce something, for good or ill.This makes sense because the "tree" is simply a metaphor for the production of people. The bad trees are the "false prophets" in Matthew 7:15. However, you could also read it as saying that the tree didn't produce, in the opinion of others.