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Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Romans 11:20 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear;
  • BSB That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
  • NKJV Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
  • NASB Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
  • NLT Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.

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

True, but they fell through unbelief and you stand by faith; so do not be proud, but fear.

Overview

Paul concedes the point only to redirect it: the natural branches were removed because of unbelief, and Gentiles stand solely 'by faith,' not by merit. Faith therefore excludes pride and calls instead for reverent fear and humility. The verse teaches that continued standing in grace is no ground for boasting but for watchful dependence on God.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 39

  • Rom 12:16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
  • 2 Cor 1:24Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
  • 1 Cor 10:12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
  • 1 Pet 1:17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
  • Phil 2:12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
  • Rom 5:1–2Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
  • Col 2:7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
  • Hab 2:4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
  • Heb 3:12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
  • Rom 11:18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
  • 1 Tim 6:17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
  • Prov 28:14Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
  • 2 Cor 10:5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
  • Isa 66:2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
  • 2 Tim 3:3–5Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
  • Isa 2:11The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
  • 1 Pet 5:9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
  • Heb 3:19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
  • 1 Pet 5:12By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
  • 2 Th 2:4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
  • Zeph 3:11In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
  • 1 Pet 5:5–6Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
  • Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
  • Acts 13:46–47Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
  • Heb 4:6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
  • John 4:17–18The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
  • Isa 2:17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
  • Isa 7:9And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
  • Rev 18:7How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
  • Acts 18:6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
  • Ps 138:6Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
  • 1 Cor 16:13Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
  • Jas 4:6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
  • Rom 3:3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
  • Rev 3:17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
  • Heb 4:11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
  • Prov 28:26He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
  • 2 Chr 20:20And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
  • Jas 2:19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (10)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Romans videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Romans 11:20YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on RomansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 11:20 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.