Romans 11 17

Romans 11:17 kjv

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Romans 11:17 nkjv

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

Romans 11:17 niv

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

Romans 11:17 esv

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

Romans 11:17 nlt

But some of these branches from Abraham's tree ? some of the people of Israel ? have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive tree.

Romans 11 verses

Romans 11 17 Meaning

Romans 11:17 declares that if some natural branches of God's chosen people, Israel, were broken off due to unbelief, and the Gentiles, previously likened to a wild olive shoot, were then grafted in among the remaining true branches, they now share in the spiritual blessings and covenantal benefits that flow from the foundational promises given to Israel, symbolized as the root and richness of the olive tree. It underscores the spiritual adoption of Gentiles into God's saving plan, yet firmly ties their blessings to the ongoing covenant heritage originating with Israel.

Romans 11 17 Context

Romans chapters 9-11 form a continuous theological discourse concerning God's faithfulness to Israel despite their widespread rejection of the Messiah. Chapter 11, specifically, addresses the question of whether God has permanently cast away His people. Paul argues vehemently that a remnant of Israel remains chosen by grace (Rom 11:1-6) and that Israel's present "stumbling" has resulted in salvation coming to the Gentiles, thereby serving a redemptive purpose of provoking Israel to jealousy (Rom 11:7-12).

The immediate context for verse 17 is the introduction of the powerful agricultural metaphor of the olive tree (Rom 11:16), which symbolizes God's covenant people and the source of spiritual blessing. The root represents the foundational covenant promises, particularly those to Abraham and the patriarchs, through which salvation is conveyed. The "natural branches" are the people of Israel. Verse 17 directly begins the exposition of how some of these branches (unbelieving Jews) were removed, and "wild branches" (Gentiles) were included. The historical context reflects the tensions within the early Roman church between Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul addresses Gentile arrogance ("boasting") towards Jewish Christians and emphasizes that the Gentiles' inclusion is entirely dependent on Israel's spiritual heritage, not a displacement of it. This verse lays the groundwork for a crucial warning against Gentile pride and presumption in subsequent verses.

Romans 11 17 Word analysis

• And if: Signifies a condition that is assumed to be true in the argument. It logically extends from the prior statement about the holy root and its holy branches.
• some: Greek: tines (τινὲς). Not all of Israel, but a portion of them. This is crucial for Paul's argument that God has not rejected Israel entirely, consistent with his idea of a remnant.
• of the branches: Refers to individual Israelites. The metaphor extends from the olive tree, symbolizing people or a collective. In this context, it implies those within Israel who rejected Jesus as Messiah.
• were broken off: Greek: execlasthesan (ἐξεκλάσθησαν), past tense. A definitive action, emphasizing divine judgment due to unbelief. It conveys separation or removal from the life-giving flow of the tree's root. This imagery suggests God's sovereign hand in judging unfaithfulness, cutting off unfruitful elements.
• and you: Directly addresses the Gentile believers, clearly distinguishing them from "some of the branches" (Israel).
• being a wild olive tree: Greek: agrielaios (ἀγριέλαιος), "wild olive." In the ancient world, wild olive trees produced inferior fruit compared to cultivated ones. This underscores the natural spiritual barrenness and outsider status of Gentiles before Christ, devoid of the covenant promises of Israel. This contrasts sharply with the "natural branches" from a cultivated olive.
• were grafted in: Greek: enekentristhes (ἐνεκετρίσθης). A technical agricultural term. This refers to the act of joining a scion (Gentile believer) from one tree onto the rootstock of another (covenant Israel). This process provides a way for the scion to receive nourishment from the root, allowing it to grow and bear fruit it otherwise couldn't. It signifies a radical, miraculous inclusion. The normal practice was to graft cultivated scions onto wild rootstock for hardiness, but here, wild onto cultivated highlights God's unconventional grace.
• among them: Refers to the remaining "natural branches"—believing Jews, the remnant. It implies a coexistence and shared spiritual identity within the singular olive tree, rather than a total replacement.
• and share the root: Greek: systou tou rizēs (συστὸ τῆς ῥίζης), implies a joint participation. "Root" symbolizes the foundational covenantal blessings and promises given to Abraham and the patriarchs (Rom 4), which are the source of life for the entire tree. These are the promises of salvation, blessings, and divine presence.
• and the fatness: Greek: tēs piotētos (τῆς πιότητος), meaning "richness" or "nourishment." This refers to the spiritual benefits and sustenance derived from the covenant promises embodied by the root—the life-giving sap and blessings. It's the full inheritance of grace and spiritual nourishment available through participation in God's saving plan.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• And if some of the branches were broken off: This phrase acknowledges a partial, not total, rejection within Israel. The act of "breaking off" highlights divine judgment upon specific, unbelieving individuals within the broader Israelite covenant community. It signifies separation from the covenant blessings for those who actively reject Christ.
• and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them: This powerfully contrasts the Gentile's former spiritual state ("wild olive tree" – outside the covenant, spiritually unfruitful by nature) with their new position of inclusion. Being "grafted in among them" emphasizes that Gentiles are not establishing a new, separate covenant, but are incorporated into the existing, ongoing covenant heritage, co-existing with the believing remnant of Israel. It portrays their inclusion as an act of sovereign grace.
• and share the root and the fatness of the olive tree: This declares the profound spiritual reality for Gentiles. They are now participants in the ancient covenant promises (the "root"—Abraham, the patriarchs, the Abrahamic covenant itself) and all the spiritual benefits ("fatness"—God's blessings, Christ's salvation, the Spirit's life) that flow from that covenant. Their spiritual life and salvation are not independent but intrinsically linked to Israel's divinely chosen heritage. It warns against any thought of self-sufficiency or superiority on the part of the Gentiles.

Romans 11 17 Bonus section

The image of a "wild olive tree" being grafted into a "cultivated" or "good" olive tree is an inversion of typical agricultural practices of Paul's time. Usually, good scions (branches) are grafted onto hardy wild rootstock to strengthen them, or undesirable cultivated branches might be cut out. The reversal here—a wild branch grafted onto a good rootstock—highlights the supernatural and unexpected nature of God's grace in bringing Gentiles into the covenant. It's an act of divine power and mercy, going against the "natural" order to accomplish His greater purposes. This makes the grace extended to the Gentiles even more remarkable and leaves no room for human boasting, as they were "by nature" spiritually unfruitful before this divine intervention. This underscores that their inclusion is solely due to God's gracious election and not any inherent merit of their own.

Romans 11 17 Commentary

Romans 11:17 is a pivotal verse in Paul's olive tree allegory, clarifying the spiritual standing of Gentile believers relative to Israel. The verse unequivocally states that while a portion of natural Israel was dislodged due to their unbelief, God, in His sovereign grace, extended an unprecedented invitation to Gentiles. These "wild" branches, naturally outside the cultivated heritage of God's covenant, are grafted into the sacred stock, symbolizing their incorporation into the Abrahamic covenant and the spiritual community it represents. Their engrafting is not a replacement but an inclusion "among" the remaining faithful Jewish believers. Crucially, the verse asserts that Gentiles now derive all their spiritual life and blessings—the "root and the fatness"—from this original Israelite root. This establishes an essential theological truth: Gentile salvation is not separate from or superior to Israel's covenant, but is deeply rooted in and dependent upon it. It serves as a stern warning against any Gentile triumphalism, fostering humility and acknowledging Israel's irreplaceable role in God's redemptive plan.