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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Romans 11:16

ROMANS—NOTE ON Romans 11:16 Two illustrations teach the same truth. The firstfruits and the root probably refer to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and the saving promises given to them. If the firstfruits and root are dedicated to God, so too are the whole lump (of dough) and the branches (that is, the Jewish people as a whole). As Paul has already explained in chs. Romans 9:1, however, not every Jewish person will be saved.

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See also Romans 11:16 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Romans 11:16. _FOR IF THE FIRST FRUIT_ BE _HOLY_] As the consecrating the first fruits to God was the means of drawing down his blessing upon the rest, so the conversion of Abraham to the true...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    FOR IF THE FIRST-FRUIT BE HOLY - The word “first-fruit” ἀπαρχή aparchē used here denotes the firstling of fruit or grain which was separated from the mass and presented as an offering to God. The J...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ISRAEL'S RESTORATION. CHAPTER 11 (“The Jewish Question”, by A. C. G., gives a complete exposition of this great chapter.) _ 1. God Hath not Cast Away His People. (Romans 11:1 .)_ 2. Israel's Apost...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE INGRAFTING OF THE GENTILES. From Romans 9:1 onwards, Paul has written as a Jew to Jews; here he turns to the other half of the Church (see Introd. § 3). ROMANS 11:13. But to you Gentiles I say. P...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE CALLUS ON THE HEART (Romans 11:1-12)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Now I speak to you Gentiles. You well know that in so far as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my office, for somehow I want to find a way to move my own flesh and blood to envy of the Genti...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    FIRSTFRUIT. See Romans 8:23. LUMP. See Romans 9:21. IS ALSO. also _is_. SO, &C. = the branches also are....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _For_ Lit., and much better, BUT, or NOW. The word marks transition to a new fact in connexion with the "receiving" of Israel; the fact of the peculiar position of Jews with regard to the Divine Promi...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΕἸ ΔῈ Ἡ�, Κ.Τ.Λ. The metaphor is from Numbers 15:20-21. ἁγία in both clauses is used in its technical sense of consecrated to GOD’s use, without immediate reference to the character of the thing or pe...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    The relative positions of Jews and Gentiles, which have just been described in brief, are now elaborated, to show that they both Stand or fall on the same principle, of GOD’s grace and man’s faith; ba...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    E. Romans 9:1 to Romans 11:36. THE REJECTION OF THE GOSPEL BY ISRAEL The theme of Romans 1:16-17 has been worked out; it has been shown that the Gospel is a power of GOD unto salvation for them that b...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΆΠΑΡΧΉ (G536) первый плод (_см._ Romans 8:23). ΦΎΡΑΜΑ (G5445) масса, ком. О раввинистической практике, основанной на Numbers 15:18f; _см._ SB, 4:665f. ΡΊΖΑ (G4491) корень,...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    FOR IF THE FIRST-FRUIT BE HOLY, &C.— _Now if,_ &c. The Apostle makes use of these allusions to shew that the patriarchs, the _root_ of the Jewish nation, being accepted by God, and the few Jewish conv...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _TEXT_ Romans 11:11-24. I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. Romans 11:12 Now if their fal...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. FOR ('BUT') IF THE FIRST-FRUIT BE HOLY, THE LUMP IS ALSO [HOLY]; AND IF THE ROOF BE HOLY, SO [ARE...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    __ Justification-National 18 The proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom, beginning in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, spread to the limits of the land (Act_1:8), and reached beyond it to...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FIRSTFRUIT] metaphor from Numbers 15:19. The 'firstfruit' and 'root' represent the patriarchs: cp. Romans 11:28; Romans 9:5. HOLY] i.e. separated as God's people for His purposes. No reference to the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ISRAEL'S REJECTION NOT FINAL. A WARNING TO THE GENTILES In this chapter St. Paul brings to an end his great exposition of God's dealings with the Jews. He has shown in Romans 9 that God is free to cho...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ST. Paul now addresses the Gentiles. They should hope for the restoration of Israel, because of the blessing it will bring the world, and because Israel still bears God's name (Romans 11:13). They sho...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    PAUL’S LETTER TO THE *ROMANS ROMANS _HILDA BRIGHT AND KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 11 GOD’S PLAN FOR *ISRAEL’S FUTURE 11:1-32 THE RESULTS OF THE *JEWS’ FAILURE TO OBEY GOD 11:1-12 V1 So, I tell you th...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (13-16) In this I am speaking to you Gentiles. It is you who will benefit by the restoration of the Jews. And this is the real reason why, as Apostle of the Gentiles, I make the most of my office. I d...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    And we have the strongest reason for believing in this reconversion of the Jews. Their forefathers were the first recipients of the promise, and what they were it is only natural to hope that their de...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (11-24) In this section the Apostle goes on to consider further the bearings of the rejection, and here, first (Romans 11:11), he considers the more hopeful side of it as regards the Jews themselves;...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 23 ISRAEL'S FALL OVERRULED, FOR THE WORLD'S BLESSING, AND FOR ISRAEL'S MERCY Romans 11:11 THE Apostle has been led a few steps backwards in the last previous verses. His face has been turned...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    OTHERS GRAFTED IN BY FAITH Romans 11:13 Paul never abandoned the hope that ultimately Israel would come back to God in Christ. He believed that God's promises pointed in that direction, and that, tho...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This discussion now gives rise to a new question, "Did God cast off His people?" They were created a nation in order that through them all the nations should be blessed. Failing to realize the divine...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (9) For if the (o) firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root (p) [be] holy, so [are] the branches. (9) The nation of the Jews being considered in their head and root, that is, i...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    If the first-fruit (see the Greek word) be holy, so also is the mass; so also the rest, the product that follows. He alludes to the offering made by the law of the first-fruit, which was to acknowled...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    God has not then, absolutely speaking, rejected His people; but it is perfectly true that He has hardened and rejected a portion of them. Yet there are two restrictions to be noted here: This chastise...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “ _But if the first-fruit be holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root be holy, so are the branches._ ” The Jewish people are _consecrated to God_ by their very origin that is to say, by the call...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    The apostle proves in this passage the perfect congruity, from the viewpoint of Israelitish antecedents, of the event which he has just announced as the consummation of Israel's history. Their future...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (12) Now if the fall of them be th...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The circumstances under which the epistle to the Romans was written gave occasion to the most thorough and comprehensive unfolding, not of the church, but of Christianity. No apostle had ever yet visi...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    16._For if the first-fruits, etc. _By comparing the worthiness of the Jews and of the Gentiles, he now takes away pride from the one and pacifies the other, as far as he could; for he shows that the G...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Hereupon the question is immediately raised, has God then rejected His people? To this Chapter 11 is the answer. The apostle gives three proofs that it is by no means the case. Firstly, he is himself...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR IF THE FIRSTFRUIT BE HOLY,.... Some by "the firstfruit" and "root" understand Christ, who is sometimes called, "the firstfruits of them that slept", 1 Corinthians 15:20, and "the root of Jesse and...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For if the firstfruit _be_ holy, the lump _is_ also _holy_ : and if the root _be_ holy, so _are_ the branches. Ver. 16. _If the firstfruit be holy_] Not with a natural, but a federal holiness, as 1 C...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    And their conversion will surely be effected, _For if the first- fruit_ of them, the patriarchs, _be holy_ He alludes to the waved sheaf, which was said to be _holy_, because it was accepted of God, i...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THE FIRST - FRUIT; the cake made from the first dough of the new harvest, which the Israelites were required to offer to the Lord, before they ate of it. See Numbers 15:20. BE HOLY; consecrated to Go...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A warning to the Gentile Christians:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FOR IF THE FIRST-FRUIT BE HOLY, THE LUMP IS ALSO HOLY; AND IF THE ROOT BE HOLY, SO ARE THE BRANCHES....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    ISRAEL YET TO BE RESTORED We have seen in Romans 9:1 that there is an election according to the grace of God in Israel: in Romans 10:1 this is shown to be on the basis of faith in contrast to law: now...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    I am talking to Gentiles - because I am the apostle to the Gentiles. I am filling my appointed office. 14 If I can provoke some Jews into returning to God and being saved (they are my kinsmen in the...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    AND IF THE FIRSTFRUIT IS HOLY, SO IS THE LUMP: AND IF THE ROOT IS HOLY, SO ARE THE BRANCHES. "FIRSTFRUIT" -'if the first piece of dough be holy, the lump is also' (NASV); 'so is the whole mass' (TCNT)...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    11-21 The gospel is the greatest riches of every place where it is. As therefore the righteous rejection of the unbelieving Jews, was the occasion of so large a multitude of the Gentiles being reconc...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Here is another argument to prove the Jews are not finally rejected, because of the covenant made with their fathers. IF THE FIRST-FRUIT BE HOLY: some make a difference between _the first-fruit, _ and...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    And if the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump: and if the root is holy, so are the branches. [Another parallelism. The apostle demonstrates the same truth, first, from the standpoint of the law of God...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Irenaeus Against Heresies Book I And that the Saviour received first-fruits of those whom He was to save, Paul declared when he said, "And if the first-fruits be holy, the lump is also holy,"[111] S...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Romans 11:16 For G1161 if G1487 firstfruit G536 holy G40 lump G5445 also G2532 and G2532 if G1487 root...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And if the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.' Paul now uses the illustration of the firstfruit and the root. The firstfruit as connected with ‘the lump...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE OLIVE TREE (11:13-24). ‘The Olive Tree' is the name of Israel specifically given to it by God. In Jeremiah we are told “YHWH called your name ‘a green olive tree', fair, with g...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD HAS ESTABLISHED A TRUE ISRAEL BASED ON THE REMNANT WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO THE MESSIAH, WITH THE FALSE ISRAEL BEING AT LEAST TEMPORARILY CAST OFF, TO BE RESTORED IF THEY TURN TO THE MESSIAH AND REJO...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD'S PURPOSE WITH REGARD BOTH TO THE JEWS AND THE GENTILES (11:1-36). Paul now carries forward the doctrine of the Israel within Israel, and evidences it again from Scripture, making clear that those...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Romans 11:16. MOREOVER, lit, ‘but,' not, ‘for.' This suggests a reason for expecting this ‘receiving' of the Jews, namely, the consecrated character impressed on this people, when they were separated...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2. _The Rejection of Israel is not Final._ In this section is presented the prospective solution of the great historical problem, discussed in this part of the Epistle. Here Paul becomes a prophet; r...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    FIRST FRUIT (απαρχη). See on 1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Corinthians 15:23. The metaphor is from Numbers 15:19. The LXX has απαρχην φυραματος, first of the dough as a heave offering.THE LUMP...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: A spiritual Israel finding salvation. National Israel blinded. Warning to Gentiles. Israel yet to be saved nationally. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Paul, Elijah, David, Abraham. CONCLUSION: The...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Romans 11:1. _Hath God cast away his people?_ The jews would say, what else can we infer? If the gentiles are now become the Israel of God, and if we are rejected for not embracing what Paul calls the...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    IF THE FIRST PIECE OF BREAD. The symbolism is taken from Numbers 15:17-21. A portion of the grain-harvest was baked into two loaves (Leviticus 23:17) which were presented to God as a sacrifice. This ...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall?_ THE REJECTION OF ISRAEL I. How occasioned. 1. They stumbled at Christ. 2. Were rejected because of their unbelief. II. How overruled. 1. F...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 11:15.—The apostle awaits a boundless effect of blessing on the world from the future conversion of the Jews, which will be as life from the dead. Romans 11:16.—FIRSTFRUIT de...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ROMANS 11:1 (4) _The_ _Jews are not finally rejected, but, through the calling of the Gentiles, will be brought into the Church at last. _St. Paul, painfully recognizing the fact of the pr...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to Romans, chapter 11. In Chapter s 9-11 Paul is dealing with a couple of subjects; one the sovereignty of God, but it is the sovereignty of God in setting aside the nation...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 7:14; Deuteronomy 18:4; Deuteronomy 26:10; Exodus 22:29;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    For [δ ε]. Better but, or now. A new paragraph begins. The first - fruit - holy. See on James 1:18; Acts 26:10. Referring to the patriarchs. Lump. See on ch. Romans 9:21. The whole body of the people...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    MISSIONS IN THE EPISTLES Romans 10:11; _Romans 11:15_ INTRODUCTORY WORDS This study as a whole will give some idea of the missionary vision as set forth in Paul's Epistles. 1. THE SCOPE OF MISSIONA...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And this will surely come to pass. For if the first fruits be holy, so is the lump — The consecration of them was esteemed the consecration of all and so the conversion of a few Jews is an earnest of...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Here the apostle produced another argument to prove the universal restoration of the Jews unto the grace and favour of God before the end of the world; and it is drawn from the covenant of God made wi...

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