Romans 11:17 Meaning and Explanation
“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;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul pictures Gentile believers as a wild olive shoot grafted into the cultivated tree, sharing its nourishing root in place of branches that were broken off.
What Does Romans 11:17 Mean?
Paul develops the image of the olive tree. Some natural branches, unbelieving Israelites, were broken off, and Gentile believers, like a shoot from a wild olive, were grafted into the cultivated tree to share its life.
The picture is one of astonishing inclusion. The wild branch now draws on the rich sap of the root, the covenant promises given to the fathers. Gentile believers are not a separate tree but partakers of an ancient, nourishing life, brought near by God's kindness into a heritage not originally their own.
Romans 11:17 in the Original Language
enkentrizo (ἐγκεντρίζω), 'graffed in' -- to graft a shoot into a tree so it shares the host's life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 11:17
What does Romans 11:17 mean?
Paul pictures Gentile believers as a wild olive shoot grafted into the cultivated tree, sharing its nourishing root in place of branches that were broken off.