Romans 11:20
in Romans 11That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
KJV
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
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This verse in Romans 11
Commentary
5 notes on this verseWell; because of unbelief, etc. - This statement is all true; but then, consider, why is it that they were cast out? Was it not because of their unbelief? And you stand by faith: you were made partakers of these blessings by faith; be not high-minded; let this humble, not exalt you in your own estimation; for if the blessings were received by faith, consequently not by works; and if not by works, you have no merit; and what you have received is through the mere mercy of God.
This site's exposition
Branches were broken off
on Romans 11:19-22
Paul lets the Gentile say it, that branches were broken off so he could be grafted in, and verse 20 grants the fact while breaking the pride. Both the breaking and the standing turn on faith. Verse 22 holds kindness and severity together, and the warning runs at full strength to the grafted branch.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
They were broken off for unbelief, and thou standest by faith - Both conditionally, not absolutely: if absolutely, there might have been room to boast. By faith - The free gift of God, which therefore ought to humble thee.
Consider, (1.) "How they were broken off. It was not undeservedly, by an act of absolute sovereignty and prerogative, but because of unbelief. " It seems, then, it is possible for churches that have long stood by faith to fall into such a state of infidelity as may be their ruin.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Well--"Be it so, but remember that" because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest--not as a Gentile, but solely by faith--But as faith cannot live in those "whose soul is lifted up" (Hab 2:4).
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καλῶς· | kalos | Rightly so; | G2573 → | |
| τῇ | tea | by the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀπιστίᾳ | apistia | unbelief | G570 → | 10 times |
| ἐξεκλάσθησαν, | exeklasthesan | they were broken off, | G1575 → | 3 times |
| σὺ | su | you yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πίστει | pistei | by faith | G4102 → | 242 times |
| ἕστηκας. | hestekas | have stood. | G2476 → | 153 times |
| μὴ | me | Not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ὑψηλὰ | hupsela | high | G5308 → | |
| φρόνει | phronei | do be minded | G5426 → | 26 times |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| φοβοῦ· | phobou | do be afraid; | G5399 → | 95 times |
καλῶς·Rightly so;
kalosG2573 →
τῇby the
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἀπιστίᾳunbelief
apistiaG570 →10 times
ἐξεκλάσθησαν,they were broken off,
exeklasthesanG1575 →3 times
σὺyou yourself
suG4771 →2973 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
πίστειby faith
pisteiG4102 →242 times
ἕστηκας.have stood.
hestekasG2476 →153 times
μὴNot
meG3361 →1066 times
ὑψηλὰhigh
hupselaG5308 →
φρόνειdo be minded
phroneiG5426 →26 times
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
φοβοῦ·do be afraid;
phobouG5399 →95 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
Philippians 2:12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 1:5–10
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
- Luke 13:23–24
“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Hebrews 4:11
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
- 1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
- 2 Peter 1:5–10
Through
1 Corinthians 10:12So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
it leads to
- 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.
- 2 Peter 3:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Romans

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
