Devine Scripture

Romans 11:18

What does Romans 11:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 11:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 11:18 means

Gentile believers are warned not to boast over the broken-off branches. If they find themselves tempted to glory over unbelieving Jews, they must remember the order: the root bears them; they do not sustain the root. The blessings they enjoy arise from God’s prior commitments and work through Israel’s history. This reshapes identity. Gratitude, not arrogance, should mark Gentile hearts. Any sense of superiority misunderstands both grace and the storyline of redemption. The church stands by drawing life from promises God first entrusted to Israel, now fulfilled in the Messiah and extended to the nations.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Do not be uplifted in pride over the branches: because it is not you who are the support of the root, but it is by the root that you are supported.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

do not boast against the branches; and if thou dost boast, thou dost not bear the root, but the root thee!

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root: but the root thee.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

boast not against the branches; but if thou boast, [it is] not thou bearest the root, but the root thee.

Context

After describing Gentile grafting in verse 17, Paul immediately confronts the danger of pride. Verse 18 grounds humility in the source of blessing: the root. This prepares for the imagined objection in verse 19 and Paul’s corrective in verse 20, where he identifies unbelief—not ethnicity—as the reason branches were broken off, and faith—not merit—as the reason Gentiles stand. The section builds a layered warning against presumption.

v.17But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;

v.18This passage

v.19Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:12

    Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

  • Romans 11:20

    Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

  • John 4:22

    Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.

  • John 10:16

    And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.

  • Zechariah 8:20

    Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities;

  • 1 Kings 20:11

    And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his armor boast himself as he that putteth it off.

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