The Meaning of Romans 11:20 Explained

Romans 11:20

KJV: Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

YLT: by unbelief they were broken off, and thou hast stood by faith; be not high-minded, but be fearing;

Darby: Right: they have been broken out through unbelief, and thou standest through faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:

ASV: Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Well;  because of unbelief  they were broken off,  and  thou  standest  by faith.  Be  not  highminded,  but  fear  {5737}: 

What does Romans 11:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Romans 11:13-24 - Others Grafted In By Faith
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, though centuries might pass, those sure guarantees would be abundantly fulfilled. Notice his expressions: how much more their fullness, Romans 11:12; what shall the receiving of them be, but from the dead? Romans 11:15; God is able to graft them in again, Romans 11:23; all Israel shall be saved, Romans 11:26; that He might have mercy upon all, Romans 11:32. He realized, however, that Israel must temporarily make way for the ingathering of the Church, in which there is neither Jew nor Greek; and that when the Church has been formed and gathered to its Lord, then the time for the ingathering of the Jewish people will have arrived.
Let us see to it that we Gentiles understand our position as being permitted to partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree, Romans 11:17. Christ was the root of that tree, and it is from His rich nature that all the freshness and fatness, all the quickening and energy, all the love and grace of the Hebrew Scriptures and heritage of promises were gained. Whatever Israel had, we may have. Let us go up and possess the land! [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 11

1  God has not cast off all Israel
7  Some were elected, though the rest were hardened
16  There is hope of their conversion
18  The Gentiles may not exult over them;
26  for there is a promise of their salvation
33  God's judgments are unsearchable

Greek Commentary for Romans 11:20

Well [καλως]
Perhaps ironical, though Paul may simply admit the statement (cf. Mark 12:32) and show the Gentile his real situation. [source]
By unbelief [τηι απιστιαι]
Instrumental case with both contrasted words (by unbelief, by belief). [source]
- by faith [πιστει]
Instrumental case with both contrasted words (by unbelief, by belief). [source]
Well [καλῶς]
Admitting the fact. Thou art right. Compare Mark 12:32. Some take it as ironical. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:20

Romans 11:23 If they continue not in their unbelief [εαν μη επιμενωσι τηι απιστιαι]
Third class condition with the same verb used in Romans 11:22 of the Gentile. Locative case of απιστιαι — apistiāi here (same form as the instrumental in Romans 11:20). [source]
Galatians 5:7 Well [καλῶς]
Bravely, becomingly, honorably to yourselves and to the church. Often in Paul. See Romans 11:20; 1 Corinthians 7:37, 1 Corinthians 7:38; 2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 4:17; Philemon 4:14. [source]
Galatians 5:10 Will be - minded [φρονήσετε]
The word denotes a general disposition of the mind rather than a specific act of thought directed at a given point. Comp. Philemon 3:15, Philemon 3:19; Philemon 4:2; Romans 8:5; Romans 11:20; 1 Corinthians 13:11: and φρόνημα mind Romans 8:6, Romans 8:7, Romans 8:27. In Class. often with εὖ well καλῶς honorably ὀρθῶς rightly κακῶς mischievously Τά τινος φρονεῖν is to be of one's party. [source]
1 Timothy 6:17 Be not highminded [μὴ ὑψηλοφρονεῖν]
The verb N.T.oolxx, oClass. Comp. Romans 11:20; Romans 12:16. [source]
1 Timothy 1:13 Though I was [οντα]
Concessive participle agreeing with με — me Blasphemer (βλασπημον — blasphēmon). Old word either from βλαχ — blax (stupid) and πημη — phēmē speech, or from βλαπτω — blaptō to injure. Rare in N.T. but Paul uses βλασπημεω — blasphēmeō to blaspheme in Romans 2:24. Persecutor So far found only here. Probably made by Paul from διωκω — diōkō which he knew well enough (Acts 22:4, Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14.; Galatians 1:13, Galatians 1:23; Philemon 3:6; 2 Timothy 3:12). Injurious (υβριστην — hubristēn). Substantive, not adjective, “an insolent man.” Old word from υβριζω — hubrizō in N.T. only here and Romans 1:30. I obtained mercy First aorist passive indicative of ελεεω — eleeō old verb. See 2 Corinthians 4:1; Romans 11:30. Ignorantly (αγνοων — agnoōn). Present active participle of αγνοεω — agnoeō “not knowing.” Old verb (Romans 2:4). In a blindness of heart. In unbelief See Romans 11:20, Romans 11:25. [source]
1 Timothy 1:13 Persecutor [διωκτης]
So far found only here. Probably made by Paul from διωκω — diōkō which he knew well enough (Acts 22:4, Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14.; Galatians 1:13, Galatians 1:23; Philemon 3:6; 2 Timothy 3:12). Injurious (υβριστην — hubristēn). Substantive, not adjective, “an insolent man.” Old word from υβριζω — hubrizō in N.T. only here and Romans 1:30. I obtained mercy First aorist passive indicative of ελεεω — eleeō old verb. See 2 Corinthians 4:1; Romans 11:30. Ignorantly (αγνοων — agnoōn). Present active participle of αγνοεω — agnoeō “not knowing.” Old verb (Romans 2:4). In a blindness of heart. In unbelief See Romans 11:20, Romans 11:25. [source]
1 Timothy 1:13 I obtained mercy [ελεητην]
First aorist passive indicative of ελεεω — eleeō old verb. See 2 Corinthians 4:1; Romans 11:30. Ignorantly (αγνοων — agnoōn). Present active participle of αγνοεω — agnoeō “not knowing.” Old verb (Romans 2:4). In a blindness of heart. In unbelief See Romans 11:20, Romans 11:25. [source]
1 Timothy 1:13 In unbelief [εν απιστιαι]
See Romans 11:20, Romans 11:25. [source]
1 Timothy 6:17 That they be not high-minded [μη υπσηλοπρονειν]
Present active infinitive with negative in indirect command after παραγγελλε — paraggelle “not to be high-minded.” Only instance of the word save some MSS. of Romans 11:20 (for μη υπσηλαπρονει — mē hupsēlaphronei) and a scholion on Pindar. Have their hope set (ηλπικεναι — ēlpikenai). Perfect active infinitive of ελπιζω — elpizō On the uncertainty of riches Literary Koiné{[28928]}š word Cf. Romans 6:4. Riches have wings. But on God (αλλ επι τεωι — all' epi theōi). He alone is stable, not wealth. Richly all things to enjoy “A lavish emphasis to the generosity of God” (Parry). Απολαυσις — Apolausis is old word from απολαυω — apolauō to enjoy, in N.T. only here and Hebrews 11:25. [source]
Hebrews 11:31 Them that believed not [τοῖς ἀπειθήσασιν]
Rend. “them that were disobedient.” Simple disbelief is expressed by ἀπιστεῖν, ἀπιστία :disbelief as it manifests itself in disobedience, by ἀπειθεῖν. Ἁπειθεῖν is ἀπιστεῖν on its active side. See on John 3:36, and comp. Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:6, Hebrews 4:11; Romans 11:30, Romans 11:32, contrasting with Romans 11:20, Romans 11:23. Ἁπειθεῖν here describes the failure to be persuaded that God had given the land to the Israelites, and the consequent refusal to surrender Jericho. Rahab's faith is shown Joshua 2:9-11. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 11:20 mean?

Rightly so by the unbelief they were broken off you however - by faith stand Not high be minded but be afraid
καλῶς τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἐξεκλάσθησαν σὺ δὲ τῇ πίστει ἕστηκας μὴ ὑψηλὰ φρόνει ἀλλὰ φοβοῦ

καλῶς  Rightly  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: καλῶς  
Sense: beautifully, finely, excellently, well.
τῇ  by  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀπιστίᾳ  unbelief 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀπιστία 
Sense: unfaithfulness, faithless.
ἐξεκλάσθησαν  they  were  broken  off 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐκκλάω  
Sense: to break off, to cut off.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τῇ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πίστει  by  faith 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
ἕστηκας  stand 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἵστημι  
Sense: to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set.
ὑψηλὰ  high 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὑψηλός  
Sense: high, lofty.
φρόνει  be  minded 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: φρονέω  
Sense: to have understanding, be wise.
φοβοῦ  be  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Singular
Root: φοβέομαι 
Sense: to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away).