Romans 11:20

Romans 11:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
• New International Version (NIV)Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.
• English Standard Version (ESV)That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

Context of Romans 11:20

18Israel's people are like the branches that God broke off. But you must not think that you are better than those branches. Remember that you are still only a branch. You do not make the root strong. No, it is the root that holds you up and makes you strong. 19You might say, ‘God broke off the branches so that I could become part of the tree.’ That is true. God broke them off because they did not believe in Christ. God has accepted you as part of the tree because you do believe in Christ. So do not become proud. Instead, be afraid. 21God broke off the proper branches and he did not let them stay in the tree. So, if you no longer trust him, he will not let you stay either. 22So you should think about what God is like. He is kind, but he also punishes people. He has punished Israel's people, because they turned away from him. He has been kind to you. But you must continue to accept his kind gift. If you do not do that, he will break you off from his tree as well.

Romans 11:20 word by word

καλῶς· τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ τῇ πίστει ἕστηκας. μὴ ὑψηλὰ φρόνει ἀλλὰ φοβοῦ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Wellκαλῶςkalōs · wellG2573
• because of unbeliefὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• because of unbeliefἀπιστίαapistia · unbeliefG570
• they were broken offἐκκλάωekklaō · to break offG1575
• andδέde · thenG1161
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• standestἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
• by faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• Beὑψηλοφρονέωhupsēlophroneō · be arrogantG5309
• notμήmē · notG3361
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• fearφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399

Cross-references for Romans 11:20

• John 4:17The woman replied, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right when you say, “I have no husband.”
• James 2:19You believe that there is only one God. That is good! But even the demons believe that! And it makes them very afraid.
• Romans 3:3But you may say, ‘Some Jews did not believe God's messages as they should have done. Because of that, maybe God will not do what he said he would do.’
• Acts 13:46But Paul and Barnabas were not afraid of them. They said to them, ‘It was right that we first tell you who are Jews the message from God. But now you say that God's message is not true. You have shown that you do not deserve true life with God. So we will leave you now. We will go and tell this message to the Gentiles.
• Acts 18:6The Jews did not agree with Paul and they insulted him. So he shook the dirt off his clothes at them. He said to them, ‘If God punishes you, then you have caused it to happen. It will not be because of me. Now I will go to the Gentiles and I will teach them God's message.’
• Hebrews 3:12So be careful, my Christian friends. Do not refuse to trust God. That would be a very bad thing to do. Do not turn away from the God who lives for ever.
• Hebrews 4:6So we see that there is still a chance for people to go to God's place of rest. But those people who first heard God's message in the wilderness refused to obey him. As a result, they did not arrive in his special place of rest.
• Romans 5:1So we see that God has accepted us as right because we believe in him. As a result, we are friends with God, because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us.
• 2 Chronicles 20:20Early the next morning, Jehoshaphat prepared to leave with his army. They started to march to the Tekoa desert. When they were ready to leave, Jehoshaphat stood up and he said, ‘Listen to me, people of Judah and people who live in Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God. Then you will be safe. Believe the message that his prophets have spoken. Then you will win the battle.’
• Isaiah 7:9The capital city of Ephraim is Samaria. And the king of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you do not continue to trust me, you will not be strong enough to win.” ’
• 1 Corinthians 16:13Watch carefully for danger. Never stop trusting God. Continue to be brave and strong.
• 2 Corinthians 1:24We are not trying to tell you what you must believe, like masters would do. You are already strong in your spirits because you trust God. So we want to help you to be really happy.
• Colossians 2:7Get your strength from Christ himself, so that you become stronger and stronger. Continue to believe the true message that we taught you. And thank God very much for everything.
• 1 Peter 5:9But you must be strong to fight against him. Trust God completely. Remember this: Believers all over the world are having the same kind of trouble.
• Romans 11:18Israel's people are like the branches that God broke off. But you must not think that you are better than those branches. Remember that you are still only a branch. You do not make the root strong. No, it is the root that holds you up and makes you strong.
• Romans 12:16Always try to agree and to be friends with each other. Do not be proud. Be friends with people who are not important. Do not think that you know everything.

Commentaries on Romans 11:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Well; because of unbelief, etc. - This statement is all true; but then, consider, why is it that they were cast out? Was it not because of their unbelief? And you stand by faith: you were made partakers of these blessings by faith; be not high-minded; let this humble, not exalt you in your own estimation; for if the blessings were received by faith, consequently not by works; and if not by works, you have no merit; and what you have received is through…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Well - True. It is true they were broken off; but in order to show that there was no occasion for boasting, he adds that they were not rejected in order to admit others, but because of their unbelief, and that their fate should have a salutary impression on those who had no occasion for boasting, but who might be rejected for the same cause. This is an instance of remarkable tact and delicacy in an argument, admitting the main force of the remark, but…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-21Verses 11-21 The gospel is the greatest riches of every place where it is. As therefore the righteous rejection of the unbelieving Jews, was the occasion of so large a multitude of the Gentiles being reconciled to God, and at peace with him; the future receiving of the Jews into the church would be such a change, as would resemble a general resurrection of the dead in sin to a life of righteousness. Abraham was as the root of the church. The Jews…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20be afraid: In Scripture, fear often means deep respect and reverence for God. This kind of fear includes the awareness that all people will one day stand before God for judgment (see 2 Corinthians 5:11; 7:1, 11, 15; Philippians 2:12; Colossians 3:22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2119-21. Thou wilt say then--as a plea for boasting. The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 11:20

• Boasting
• Faith
• Fear of God
• Gentiles
• Grafting
• Humility
• Olive
• Pride
• Reprobacy
• Salvation
• Self-Righteousness
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Cast
• Church
• Conclude
• Dark
• Depth
• Election
• Emulation
• Grace
• Graft
• Judgment

Commentaries on Romans 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings