Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Parallel translations
- WEB don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
- BSB do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
- 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.
- NASB 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.
- NLT But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Grafted-in Gentiles must not boast over the broken branches, since the root supports them, not the reverse.
Overview
Paul warns Gentile believers against arrogance toward Israel. They do not sustain the covenant root; rather, they are sustained by it. This humbling reminder guards the church against anti-Jewish pride and keeps the focus on God's gracious promises as the source of all spiritual life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Cor 10:12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
- Rom 11:20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
- Rom 3:27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
- Eph 2:19–20Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
- Prov 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
- John 10:16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
- Rom 4:16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
- Matt 26:33Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
- Gal 3:29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
- Zech 8:20–23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
- Luke 18:9–11And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
- 1 Kgs 20:11And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
- John 4:22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 11:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.