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You poisonous snakes
John speaks of the religious leaders as if they were poisonous snakes. Poisonous snakes are dangerous and represent evil. Alternate translation: “You are evil like poisonous snakes!” (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
God will cut down every tree that does not bear good fruit, and he will throw them into the fire
John speaks of the religious leaders as if they were trees that bear bad fruit. This metaphor means God is ready to punish sinners. Alternate translation: “God has his axe and he is ready to cut down and burn any tree that grows bad fruit” or “As a person gets his axe ready to cut down and burn a tree that grows bad fruit, God is ready to punish you for your sins” (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
God will cut down every tree that does not bear good fruit, and he will throw them into the fire
This means: He will judge them person who does not do good deeds and punish them.
every tree that does not bear good fruit
John is not really talking about trees. This is an expression that compares good fruit to good actions and attitudes that come from God.
John fulfilled what the prophets had said, “See, I will soon send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way.”
In some languages it would be more natural to use an indirect quote for this sentence, such as: John fulfilled what the prophets had said. They told of God's promise to send his messenger ahead of Jesus to prepare his way.
John fulfilled
This could mean John was doing what the prophet said God’s messenger would do.
See
This could be translated as: “Look and see” or “Pay attention!”
my messenger
This could mean I, Yahweh, will send my messenger.
ahead of you
In this phrase, the word you refers to the Messiah.
prepare your way
God’s messenger will prepare the people to listen to the Messiah.