ROM 11:11-24

The Ingrafting of the Gentiles

11I ask, then, did they stumble so as to fall? Absolutely not! But by their false step, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.

12Now if their false step means riches for the world, and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean!

13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

14in hopes that somehow I might make my own people jealous and save some of them.

15For if their rejection means reconciliation for the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

16If the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and came to share in the rich root of the olive tree,

18do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

19You will say, then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."

20That is true. They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand only by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear.

21For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

22Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

23And even they, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

24For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

In the world it was spoken into

In this passage, Paul addresses the Gentile audience in Rome, drawing on agricultural imagery familiar to both Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures. The metaphor of grafting wild olive branches into a cultivated olive tree would resonate with listeners familiar with horticulture, a common practice in the Mediterranean world. Cultivated olive trees were highly valued for their fruit, while wild olive trees were seen as inferior and unproductive. Paul uses this metaphor to illustrate the relationship between Israel (the cultivated tree) and the Gentiles (the wild branches). The concept of (trespass or false step) and (failure or defeat) would evoke the Jewish understanding of Israel’s stumbling in faithfulness, while also highlighting the unexpected inclusion of Gentiles into God’s covenant. The Roman audience, living in a society structured by patronage and hierarchy, would understand the tension between inclusion and exclusion, as well as the idea of provoking jealousy to restore relationship. Paul’s argument reflects the broader Jewish hope of Israel’s restoration while affirming the Gentile mission.

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How other translations render this

ROM 11:11

KJV: I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
BSB: I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.
Koinōnos: I ask, then, did they stumble so as to fall? Absolutely not! But by their false step, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.

ROM 11:12

KJV: Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
BSB: But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
Koinōnos: Now if their false step means riches for the world, and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean!

ROM 11:13

KJV: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
BSB: I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
Koinōnos: Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

ROM 11:14

KJV: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
BSB: in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
Koinōnos: in hopes that somehow I might make my own people jealous and save some of them.

ROM 11:15

KJV: For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
BSB: For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Koinōnos: For if their rejection means reconciliation for the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

ROM 11:16

KJV: For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
BSB: If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Koinōnos: If the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

ROM 11:17

KJV: And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
BSB: Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,
Koinōnos: But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and came to share in the rich root of the olive tree,

ROM 11:18

KJV: Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
BSB: do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Koinōnos: do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

ROM 11:19

KJV: Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
BSB: You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”
Koinōnos: You will say, then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.

ROM 11:20

KJV: Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, 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.
Koinōnos: That is true. They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand only by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear.

ROM 11:21

KJV: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
BSB: For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either.
Koinōnos: For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

ROM 11:22

KJV: Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
BSB: Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Koinōnos: Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

ROM 11:23

KJV: And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
BSB: And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
Koinōnos: And even they, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

ROM 11:24

KJV: For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
BSB: For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
Koinōnos: For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ROM 11:11

trespass:The word translated 'trespass' here refers to a false step or blunder, an error that leads to a fall, rather than a deliberate act of rebellion.

ROM 11:12

failure:The term translated 'failure' carries the sense of a defeat or a loss, particularly in a contest or struggle, rather than simply not succeeding.

ROM 11:17

a wild olive tree:The phrase 'a wild olive tree' refers to an uncultivated, untamed olive tree, distinct from the domesticated, fruit-bearing variety.

ROM 11:22

severity:The word translated 'severity' describes a cutting off or decisiveness, often used in contexts of strictness or harshness, not just a general seriousness.