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Romans 11:21

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 11:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.
Romans 11:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.
19Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.
22Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God`s goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive tree?
← Romans 11:20Romans 11:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For if God spared not the natural branches, etc..] That is, executed his righteous judgments, inflicted due punishment upon the Jews, unchurched them, and stripped them of those privileges they enjoyed in a church state; who were the natural descendants of Abraham; were naturally, and as born into the world, in a national church state and in that national covenant God made with that people; to whom belonged a national adoption, in which sense they were the sons of God, his firstborn; they were chosen by him as a special and peculiar people, to very great favours and privileges; they were Christ's own, he came of them according to the flesh, and was particularly sent unto them, and ministered…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For if God spared not the natural branches--sprung from the parent stem. take heed lest he also spare not thee--a mere wild graft. The former might, beforehand, have been thought very improbable; but, after that, no one can wonder at the latter.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For if God ... - If God did not refrain from rejecting the Jews who became unbelievers, assuredly he will not refrain from rejecting you in the same circumstances. It may be supposed that he will be quite as ready to reject the ingrafted branches, as to cast off those which belonged to the parent stock. The situation of the Gentiles is not such as to give them any security over the condition of the rejected Jew. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Be not highminded, but fear - We may observe, this fear is not opposed to trust, but to pride and security. Romans 11:22”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“if God: Rom 11:17, Rom 11:19, Rom 8:32; Jer 25:29, Jer 49:12; Co1 10:1-12; Pe2 2:4-9; Jde 1:5 Romans 11:22”
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Related study paths

Read Romans 11 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification