New English Translation
Romans 11:21
21For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.
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
19Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. 22Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God – harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And even they – if they do not continue in their unbelief – will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
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 11:17Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root,
- Romans 8:32Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?
- Jeremiah 25:29For take note, I am already beginning to bring disaster on the city that I call my own. So how can you possibly avoid being punished? You will not go unpunished! For I am proclaiming war against all who live on the earth. I, the Lord who rules over all, affirm it!’
- Jeremiah 49:12For the Lord says, “If even those who did not deserve to drink from the cup of my wrath must drink from it, do you think you will go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must certainly drink from the cup of my wrath.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea,
- 2 Peter 2:4For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment,
- Jude 1:5Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not 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
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