God’s Word Translation
Romans 11:21
21If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you, either.
Romans 11:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
- New International Version (NIV)For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Context of Romans 11:21
19“Well,” you say, “Branches were cut off so that I could be grafted onto the tree.” 20That’s right! They were broken off because they didn’t believe, but you remain on the tree because you do believe. Don’t feel arrogant, but be afraid. If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you, either. 22Look at how kind and how severe God can be. He is severe to those who fell, but kind to you if you continue to hold on to his kindness. Otherwise, you, too, will be cut off ⌞from the tree⌟. 23If Jewish people do not continue in their unbelief, they will be grafted onto the tree again, because God is able to do that.
Read all of Romans 11Romans 11:21 word by word
εἰ γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τῶν κατὰ φύσιν κλάδων οὐκ ἐφείσατο, μή πως οὐδὲ σοῦ φείσεται.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·κατάkata · according toG2596
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- sparedφείδομαιpheidomai · to spareG5339
- notοὐou · noG3756
- theκλάδοςklados · branchG2798
- naturalφύσιςphusis · natureG5449
- lestμήπωςmēpōs mē pōs · so thatG3381
- alsoοὐδέoude · norG3761
- theeσύsu · youG4771
Cross-references for Romans 11:21
- Romans 11:17But some of the olive branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place. You get your nourishment from the roots of the olive tree.
- Romans 8:32God didn’t spare his own Son but handed him over ⌞to death⌟ for all of us. So he will also give us everything along with him.
- Jeremiah 25:29I am going to bring disaster on the city that is named after me. Do you think you’ll go unpunished? You will not go unpunished! I’m declaring war on all those who live on earth, declares the Lord of Armies.’
- Jeremiah 49:12This is what the Lord says: If those who don’t deserve to drink from the cup still drink from it, why should you go unpunished? You won’t go unpunished. You must drink from it.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that all our ancestors ⌞who left Egypt⌟ were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea.
- 2 Peter 2:4God didn’t spare angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, where he has secured them with chains of darkness and is holding them for judgment.
- Jude 1:5I want to remind you about what you already know: The Lord once saved his people from Egypt. But on another occasion he destroyed those who didn’t believe.
Commentaries on Romans 11:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21For if God spared not the natural branches - If He, in his infinite justice and holiness, could not tolerate sin in the people whom he foreknew, whom he had so long loved, cherished, miraculously preserved and blessed; take heed lest he also spare not thee. Be convinced that the same righteous principle in him will cause him to act towards you as he has acted towards them, if you sin after the similitude of their transgression; and to this…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21For if God - If God did not refrain from rejecting the Jews who became unbelievers, assuredly he will not refrain from rejecting you in the same circumstances. It may be supposed that he will be quite as ready to reject the ingrafted branches, as to cast off those which belonged to the parent stock. The situation of the Gentiles is not such as to give them any security over the condition of the rejected Jew.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. 17-24In Paul’s extended metaphor, God’s special olive tree represents the people of God. This image would have been familiar to his readers. The olive tree was the most common fruit tree in the Mediterranean region. It was also already used as a symbol for Israel in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 11:16; Hosea 14:5–6). Paul describes non-Jewish (gentile) Christians as branches from a wild olive tree because they were not originally part of God's people.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 11:21
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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