Romans 11:18

Romans 11:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
• New International Version (NIV)do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Context of Romans 11:18

16If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well. 17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;

Romans 11:18 word by word

μὴ κατακαυχῶ τῶν κλάδων· εἰ δὲ κατακαυχᾶσαι, οὐ σὺ τὴν ῥίζαν βαστάζεις ἀλλ᾽ ἡ ῥίζα σέ.Read the interlinear

• do not be arrogantκατακαυχάομαιkatakauchaomai · to boastG2620
• the branchesκλάδοςklados · branchG2798
• but ifεἰei · ifG1487
• it is not you who supportsβαστάζωbastazō · to carryG941
• the rootῥίζαrhiza · rootG4491

Cross-references for Romans 11:18

• Romans 11:20Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
• Romans 3:27Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
• 1 Kings 20:11Then the king of Israel replied, “Tell him, ‘He who straps on his weapons had better not boast like one who takes them off.’”
• Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
• Matthew 26:33But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away!”
• Luke 18:9Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
• 1 Corinthians 10:12Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.
• Romans 4:16For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
• Zechariah 8:20“The Lord of armies says this: ‘It will yet turn out that peoples will come, that is, the inhabitants of many cities.
• John 10:16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd.
• Galatians 3:29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
• Ephesians 2:19So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

Commentaries on Romans 11:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Boast not against the branches - While you are ready to acknowledge that you were included in the covenant made with Abraham, and are now partakers of the same blessings with him, do not exult over, much less insult, the branches, his present descendants, whose place you now fill up, according to the election of grace: for remember, ye are not the root, nor do ye bear the root, but the root bears you. You have not been the means of deriving any blessing…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Boast not … - The tendency of people is to triumph over one that is fallen and rejected. The danger of pride and boasting on account of privileges is not less in the church than elsewhere. Paul saw that some of the Gentiles might be in danger of exultation over the fallen Jews, and therefore cautions them against it. The ingrafted shoot, deriving all its vigor and fruitfulness from the stock of another tree, ought not to boast against the branches. But if…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. 18You do not support the root, but the root supports you: When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, most of its members were not Jewish. This was common in many early Christian communities. Because Gentiles had become the majority, some began to boast about their place in God’s people. Some also looked down on Jews and on Israel’s religious heritage. Paul corrects this attitude. He reminds Gentile believers that they share in God’s blessings only because they…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-1817-18. And if--rather, "But if"; that is, "If notwithstanding this consecration of Abraham's race to God. some of the branches--The mass of the unbelieving and rejected Israelites are here called "some," not, as before, to meet Jewish prejudice (see on Ro 3:3, and on "not all" in Ro 10:16), but with the opposite view of checking Gentile pride. and thou, being a wild olive, wert--"wast" grafted in among them--Though it is more usual to graft the superior…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 11:18

• Boasting
• Gentiles
• Grafting
• Humility
• Olive
• Pride
• Reprobacy
• Salvation

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