Romans 11:18
in Romans 11do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.
KJV
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
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This verse in Romans 11
Commentary
3 notes on this verseBelieve me: as often as I see synagogues, I always have in my mind that which is said by the apostle, that we ought not to exult over the olive tree whose branches were broken, but to fear; since if the natural branches were cut off, how much more should we, who are grafted in from the wild olive, fear lest we become like our fathers, "a generation crooked and provoking, a generation which did not direct its heart, and whose spirit was not held faithful with God."
This site's exposition
a wild olive shoot
on Romans 11:17-18
The Gentile believer is grafted in among the natural branches, into a tree he did not plant. The stock is the covenant of the patriarchs. The root supports the branches, and verse 18 forbids the Gentile boast that the church has replaced Israel.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Boast not against the branches - While you are ready to acknowledge that you were included in the covenant made with Abraham, and are now partakers of the same blessings with him, do not exult over, much less insult, the branches, his present descendants, whose place you now fill up, according to the election of grace: for remember, ye are not the root, nor do ye bear the root, but the root bears you.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| κατακαυχῶ | katakaucho | do boast | G2620 → | |
| τῶν | ton | over the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κλάδων· | kladon | branches; | G2798 → | 11 times |
| εἰ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| κατακαυχᾶσαι, | katakauchasai | you boast against [them], | G2620 → | |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| σὺ | su | you yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ῥίζαν | rhizan | root | G4491 → | 17 times |
| βαστάζεις | bastazeis | support | G941 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ῥίζα | rhiza | root | G4491 → | 17 times |
| σέ. | se | you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
κατακαυχῶdo boast
katakauchoG2620 →
τῶνover the
tonG3588 →19766 times
κλάδων·branches;
kladonG2798 →11 times
εἰIf
eiG1487 →508 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
κατακαυχᾶσαι,you boast against [them],
katakauchasaiG2620 →
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
σὺyou yourself
suG4771 →2973 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ῥίζανroot
rhizanG4491 →17 times
βαστάζειςsupport
bastazeisG941 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
ῥίζαroot
rhizaG4491 →17 times
σέ.you.
seG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
it leads to
- Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
- Isaiah 2:11–12
The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
- Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
- Proverbs 11:2
Through
1 Corinthians 10:12So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
it leads to
- Romans 11:20
That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
- 2 Peter 3:17
Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
- Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- 1 Corinthians 8:2
The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
- Matthew 26:40–41
Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.
- Romans 11:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Romans
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jerome, Homily 11, on Psalm 77; John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans and Robert Haldane, Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans.