16 Now if the firstfruits are holy,(A) so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 Now if some of the branches were broken off,(B) and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them(C) and have come to share in the rich root[a] of the cultivated olive tree, 18 do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.(D) 19 Then you will say,(E) “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith.(F) Do not be arrogant, but beware,[b](G) 21 because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22 Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness(H) toward you—if you remain in his kindness.(I) Otherwise you too will be cut off.(J) 23 And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief,(K) will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from your native wild olive tree and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these—the natural branches—be grafted into their own olive tree?

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Footnotes

  1. 11:17 Other mss read the root and the richness
  2. 11:20 Lit fear

16 Now if the first fruits are holy, so also is the whole batch of dough, and if the root is holy, so also are the branches.

17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although you[a] were a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the root of the olive tree’s richness, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you boast against them, you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off in order that I could be grafted in.” 20 Well said! They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand firm because of faith. Do not think arrogant thoughts, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural[b] branches, neither will he spare you.[c] 22 See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity upon those who have fallen, but upon you the kindness of God—if you continue in his kindness, for otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And those also, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are natural branches[d] be grafted into their own olive tree?

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:17 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were”) which is understood as concessive
  2. Romans 11:21 Literally “according to nature”
  3. Romans 11:21 Some manuscripts have “perhaps he will not spare you either”
  4. Romans 11:24 Literally “by nature”