Romans 11:16 Meaning and Explanation
“For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul uses two images, dough and a tree, to say that a holy beginning makes the whole holy: the consecrated firstfruit hallows the lump, and a holy root hallows the branches.
What Does Romans 11:16 Mean?
Paul offers two pictures drawn from everyday life and from the offerings of Israel. When the first portion of dough was set apart to God, the whole batch was regarded as consecrated; and a tree's character flows from its root into its branches.
Both images point back to the patriarchs, the holy root from which Israel grew. God's covenant with the fathers still sanctifies their descendants. The verse reassures the reader that God's purposes have deep roots; what He set apart long ago He does not abandon, and the branches remain bound to their source.
Romans 11:16 in the Original Language
aparche (ἀπαρχή), 'firstfruit' -- the first portion offered to God, consecrating the whole.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 11:16
What does Romans 11:16 mean?
Paul uses two images, dough and a tree, to say that a holy beginning makes the whole holy: the consecrated firstfruit hallows the lump, and a holy root hallows the branches.