Romans 11:16 kjv
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:16 nkjv
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:16 niv
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:16 esv
If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:16 nlt
And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy ? just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.
Romans 11 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 15:19-21 | When you eat of the bread of the land, you shall present a contribution to the LORD... Of the first of your dough... | Law of firstfruit dough offering, sanctifying the whole. |
| Lev 23:10-14 | Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you... | Firstfruits of the harvest hallows the rest. |
| Ex 23:19 | The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God. | Mandate to offer firstfruits. |
| Deut 26:1-11 | When you come into the land...you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground... | Liturgical confession with firstfruits offering. |
| Rom 9:4-5 | They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants... and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. | Israel's unique privileges, representing the "holy root". |
| Rom 11:1 | I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! | God has not utterly cast away Israel. |
| Rom 11:28-29 | As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but as regards election, they are beloved... | God's irrevocable calling and covenant for Israel. |
| Gen 12:1-3 | Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country... and I will make of you a great nation...” | The Abrahamic covenant, foundational promise. |
| Isa 11:1-2 | There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. | Messianic prophecy, Christ from Israel's root. |
| Isa 11:10 | In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire... | Gentile inclusion through Israel's root. |
| Jer 11:16 | The LORD once called you ‘A green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit.’ | Israel portrayed as a thriving olive tree. |
| Hos 9:10 | Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel... as the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. | Israel as God's early blessing/firstfruit. |
| Zech 4:11-14 | What are these two olive trees on the right and the left...These are the two anointed ones... | Symbolic representation of anointed leaders of Israel. |
| Rom 4:16-17 | That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace...for the father of us all... | Abraham as the spiritual father for all believers. |
| Gal 3:7-9 | Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham... | Spiritual children connected to Abraham by faith. |
| Eph 2:12-13 | Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ... strangers to the covenants of promise... | Gentiles alienated, now brought near to Israel's heritage. |
| Col 2:6-7 | Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him... | Believers metaphorically rooted in Christ. |
| Heb 12:15-16 | See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up... | Root's influence on outcome (negative example). |
| 1 Cor 15:20-23 | But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. | Christ as ultimate firstfruit guaranteeing resurrection. |
| James 1:18 | Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. | Believers as a "kind of firstfruits." |
| Jer 31:36-37 | If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then also the offspring of Israel shall cease... | God's enduring covenant with Israel's descendants. |
| Gen 17:7 | And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations... | The perpetual Abrahamic covenant for Israel. |
| 1 Cor 7:14 | For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. | Principle of holiness by association, distinct context. |
| Heb 8:6-13 | But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent as the covenant he mediates... | New Covenant flows from God's larger plan for Israel. |
| Rom 15:12 | And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles...” | Reiteration of Christ as the root, universal ruler. |
Romans 11 verses
Romans 11 16 Meaning
Romans 11:16 states a principle of spiritual continuity and inherent connection within God's chosen people, Israel. It uses two parallel agricultural metaphors. First, if the consecrated portion of the dough (the "firstfruit") is set apart for God, then the entire batch (the "lump") is also considered set apart. Second, if the foundation of a tree (the "root") is holy, then its descendants (the "branches") share in that holy status. In this context, the "firstfruit" and "root" primarily refer to the patriarchs of Israel—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and the enduring covenant God made with them. Their consecrated status guarantees that Israel as a nation, represented by the "lump" and "branches," retains a fundamental, covenanted relationship with God, assuring their future hope and restoration despite their current spiritual condition.
Romans 11 16 Context
Romans 11:16 is situated within Paul's sustained argument in Romans chapters 9-11 concerning God's faithfulness to Israel. Having grieved over Israel's widespread unbelief (Rom 9-10) and the consequent inclusion of Gentiles, Paul addresses the question: Has God completely cast off His chosen people? Chapter 11 strongly asserts "By no means!" (Rom 11:1). Paul explains that a faithful Jewish "remnant" still exists, chosen by grace (Rom 11:1-10), and that Israel's stumble led to Gentile salvation, which in turn is intended to provoke Israel to jealousy and ultimate restoration (Rom 11:11-15). Verse 16 serves as a pivotal theological underpinning for Paul's upcoming warning to Gentile believers against spiritual arrogance (Rom 11:17-24) and for his prophetic vision of Israel's future, full salvation (Rom 11:25-32). It establishes that Israel, despite current partial hardening, retains a special, consecrated status due to God's original, holy calling and covenant with their ancestors.
Romans 11 16 Word analysis
- For if (Εἰ γὰρ - Ei gar): The conjunction "gar" ("for") grounds this verse in the preceding declaration, providing a logical premise or supporting reason for Paul's overall argument that God has not rejected Israel. "Ei" ("if") introduces a condition or generally accepted truth within a common understanding.
- the firstfruit (ἡ ἀπαρχὴ - hē aparchē): This term refers to the initial consecrated portion of a harvest or dough offering in Jewish law (e.g., Num 15:19-21). In this context, it symbolizes the consecrated beginning of Israel's covenant with God, specifically referencing the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) whom God set apart.
- is holy (ἁγία - hagia): This term signifies "set apart," "consecrated," or "sanctified" by God for His divine purposes. It describes a covenantal status of dedication and sacredness, bestowed by God's election, rather than necessarily indicating moral perfection in every individual.
- the lump is also holy (καὶ τὸ φύραμα - kai to phyrama): The "lump" represents the entire mass of dough, symbolizing the nation of Israel as a whole, including all its subsequent generations. The principle is that the sanctification of the "firstfruit" extends to and determines the inherent covenantal status of the entire body it represents.
- and if the root is holy (καὶ εἰ ἡ ῥίζα ἁγία - kai ei hē rhiza hagia): The "root" is another powerful metaphor for the origin, source, or foundational lineage. Like the "firstfruit," it refers to Israel's holy ancestral line and the Abrahamic Covenant. Its "holiness" highlights God's irrevocable choice and the enduring nature of His covenant.
- so are the branches (καὶ οἱ κλάδοι - kai hoi kladoi): The "branches" symbolize the descendants, or successive generations, of the nation of Israel. This conveys that the covenantal holiness of their ultimate origin (the "root") imparts a foundational status to the entire nation, even those currently "broken off" due to unbelief, implying their eventual re-grafting.
- Words-group Analysis (the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy / the root is holy, so are the branches): These two parallel, axiomatic statements underscore a fundamental principle: the consecrated status of the origin confers a corresponding sacred status on the whole. Paul employs this dual analogy to emphatically assert the continuing, covenantal holiness of the nation of Israel, established through God's unchangeable promises to their holy forefathers. This foundational holiness serves as a theological guarantee of Israel's future, full restoration and God's enduring faithfulness to His ancient people.
Romans 11 16 Bonus section
This verse emphasizes a significant principle of corporate solidarity and the enduring impact of ancestral covenant. It suggests that God's perspective on a people is profoundly influenced by its consecrated origins and foundational relationships, not solely by the contemporary actions of every individual. This distinction between covenantal holiness and individual saving faith is crucial, showing that while not every individual Jew is currently in right standing with God through Christ, the people of Israel still possess a distinct and divinely ordained status. This persistent calling serves as a powerful testament to God's steadfastness and the unchangeable nature of His gifts and call to Israel (Rom 11:29), providing comfort to Jewish believers and fostering humility among Gentiles, reminding all that God's redemptive timeline encompasses generations and sovereignly orchestrates history towards the ultimate fulfillment of His purposes for all His creation.
Romans 11 16 Commentary
Romans 11:16 profoundly reveals God's unshakeable faithfulness to His covenant people, Israel. By declaring that the "firstfruit" and "root" are holy, Paul points to Israel's patriarchs and the irrevocable divine call that initiated their national existence. This consecration confers a perpetual covenantal holiness upon the entire nation ("lump" and "branches"), irrespective of their present widespread disobedience. While this corporate holiness does not guarantee individual salvation without faith, it forms the theological basis for God's ultimate intention to restore Israel as a nation. It serves as a vital reminder to Gentile believers against spiritual pride, emphasizing that their salvation is interconnected with and flows from this holy heritage. The verse underpins God's larger redemptive plan, ensuring Israel's future while cautioning against any premature pronouncement of their complete and final rejection.