ROM 11:17 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) But if some of the branches were broken off, and you non-Jews who are like a wild, olive tree were grafted into them and so you too were able to share in the growth of the olive tree that was sourced in the root,

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive branch, were grafted into them, and became partakers with them of the richness of the root of the olive tree,

UST Indeed, God has removed some of the Jewish people from his people, as a farmer breaks unfruitful branches off of an olive tree. But, God has made you non-Jewish people who trust in Jesus part of his people, as a farmer grafts wild olive branches into a cultivated tree. You also share together in benefitting from being part of God‘s people, as grafted branches share in the nutrition in the olive tree root.

BLB But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and have become a fellow-partaker of the fatness of the root of the olive tree,

AICNT But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and have become a partaker of the root and the richness of the olive tree,

OEB Some, however, of the branches were broken off, and you, who were only a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and came to share with them the root which is the source of the richness of the cultivated olive.

CSB Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree,

NLT But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.

NIV If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

CEV You Gentiles are like branches of a wild olive tree made to be part of a cultivated olive tree. You have taken the place of some branches that were cut away from it. And because of this, you enjoy the blessings that come from being part of that cultivated tree.

ESV But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

NASB But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,

LSB But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,

2DT If some of the branches have been snapped off, you—being a wild olive shoot—were grafted into them and share a common life in the sap of the olive tree’s root,

WEBBE But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in amongst them and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree,

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(16-18)Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy, there’s bound to be some holy fruit. Some of the tree’s branches were pruned and you wild olive shoots were grafted in. Yet the fact that you are now fed by that rich and holy root gives you no cause to gloat over the pruned branches. Remember, you aren’t feeding the root; the root is feeding you.

NET Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root,

LSV And if certain of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and became a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree—

FBV Now if some of the branches have been broken off, and you—a wild olive shoot—have been grafted in, and have shared with them the benefit of nourishment from the olive tree's roots,

TCNT Now if some of the branches have been broken off, and yoʋ, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in among them and have become a fellow partaker of the [fn]root and richness of the olive tree,

11:17 root and richness ¦ rich root CT

T4T God has rejected many of the Jews [MET], like branches of a tree are broken off {like people break off dead branches of a tree}. And each of you non-Jews whom God has accepted is like [MET] a branch of a wild/uncultivated olive tree that was {that someone} grafted among the branches (OR, onto one of the branches) that were left on a cultivated olive tree. God has caused you to benefit from how he blessed our(exc) first Jewish ancestors, as branches benefit from the nutritious sap from the roots of a cultivated olive tree [MET].

LEB Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although you[fn] were a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the root of the olive tree’s richness,

11:17 *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were”) which is understood as concessive

NRSV But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree,

NKJV And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

NAB But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place and have come to share in the rich root of the olive tree,

BBE But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, an olive-tree of the fields, were put in among them, and were given a part with them in the root by which the olive-tree is made fertile,

Moff Supposing some of the branches have been broken off, while you have been grafted in like a shoot of wild olive to share the rich growth of the olive-stem,

Wymth And if some of the branches have been pruned away, and you, although you were but a wild olive, have been grafted in among them and have become a sharer with others in the rich sap of the root of the olive tree,

ASV But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;

DRA And if some of the branches be broken, and thou, being a wild olive, art ingrafted in them, and art made partaker of the root, and of the fatness of the olive tree,

YLT And if certain of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wast graffed in among them, and a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree didst become —

Drby Now if some of the branches have been broken out, and thou, being a wild olive tree, hast been grafted in amongst them, and hast become a fellow-partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree,

RV But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;
(But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou/you, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst/did become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree; )

SLT And if certain of the young shoots were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in them, and wert a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Wbstr And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive-tree, art ingrafted among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree;

KJB-1769 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;
(And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou/you, being a wild olive tree, were graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; )

KJB-1611 And if some of the branches bee broken off, and thou being a wilde oliue tree wert graffed in [fn]amongst them, and with them partakest of the roote and fatnesse of the Oliue tree:
(And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou/you being a wild olive tree were graffed in amongst them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the Olive tree:)

11:17 Or, for them.

Bshps And yf some of the brauches be broken of, and thou beyng a wylde Oliue tree, wast graft in among them, & made partaker of the roote and fatnesse of the Oliue tree:
(And if some of the branches be broken of, and thou/you being a wild Olive tree, wast graft in among them, and made partaker of the root and fatness of the Olive tree:)

Gnva And though some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wilde Oliue tree, wast graft in for them, and made partaker of the roote, and fatnesse of the Oliue tree.
(And though some of the branches be broken off, and thou/you being a wild Olive tree, wast graft in for them, and made partaker of the root, and fatness of the Olive tree. )

Cvdl But though some of ye braunches now be broke, and thou, wha thou wast a wylde olyue tre,art grafte in amonge them, and made partaker of the rote and sappe of the olyue tre,
(But though some of ye/you_all branches now be broke, and thou/you, what thou/you wast a wild olive tree,art grafte in among them, and made partaker of the root and sap of the olive tree,)

TNT Though some of the brauuches be broken of and thou beynge a wylde olyue tree arte graft in amonge them and made parttaker of the rote and fatnes of the olyve tree
(Though some of the brauuches be broken of and thou/you being a wild olive tree art graft in among them and made parttaker of the root and fatnes of the olive tree )

Wycl What if ony of the braunchis ben brokun, whanne thou were a wielde olyue tre, art graffid among hem, and art maad felowe of the roote, and of the fatnesse of the olyue tre,
(What if any of the branches been broken, when thou/you were a wild olive tree, art graffid among hem, and art made fellow of the root, and of the fatness of the olive tree,)

Luth Ob aber nun etliche von den Zweigen zerbrochen sind, und du, da du ein wilder Ölbaum warest, bist unter sie gepfropfet und teilhaftig worden der Wurzel und des Safts im Ölbaum,
(Whether but now several from the branches(n) broken are, and you(sg), there you(sg) a wilder olive_tree were, are under they/she/them gepfropfet and participating been the/of_the root(n) and the Safts in_the olive_tree,)

ClVg Quod si aliqui ex ramis fracti sunt, tu autem cum oleaster esses, insertus es in illis, et socius radicis, et pinguedinis olivæ factus es,[fn]
(That when/but_if some from branches fracti are, you(sg) however when/with oleaster esses, insertus you_are in/into/on to_them, and socius radicis, and pinguedinis olives became you_are, )

11.17 Cum oleaster esses, insertus, etc. ANSELM. Videamus quemadmodum et ipse Dominus prænuntiet insertionem oleastri et fractionem ramorum, etc., usque ad quod Dominus prædixit faciendum Socius. In spe promissionis: hoc contra morem. Bona enim arbor in non bonam inseri solet, hic non bona in bonam.

11.17 Since oleaster esses, insertus, etc. ANSELM. Seeamus how/just_like and exactly_that/himself Master beforenuntiet insertedonem oleastri and fractionem branches, etc., until to that Master predicted to_be_done Socius. In with_hope of_promise: this on_the_contrary custom. Bona because arbor in/into/on not/no good inseri usually, this/here not/no good(s) in/into/on good.

UGNT εἰ δέ τινες τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ ἀγριέλαιος ὢν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ συνκοινωνὸς τῆς ῥίζης τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου,
(ei de tines tōn kladōn exeklasthaʸsan, su de agrielaios ōn enekentristhaʸs en autois, kai sunkoinōnos taʸs ɽizaʸs taʸs piotaʸtos taʸs elaias egenou,)

SBL-GNT Εἰ δέ τινες τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ ἀγριέλαιος ὢν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ συγκοινωνὸς τῆς ⸀ῥίζης τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου,
(Ei de tines tōn kladōn exeklasthaʸsan, su de agrielaios ōn enekentristhaʸs en autois kai sugkoinōnos taʸs ⸀ɽizaʸs taʸs piotaʸtos taʸs elaias egenou,)

RP-GNT Εἰ δέ τινες τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ ἀγριέλαιος ὢν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ συγκοινωνὸς τῆς ῥίζης καὶ τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου,
(Ei de tines tōn kladōn exeklasthaʸsan, su de agrielaios ōn enekentristhaʸs en autois, kai sugkoinōnos taʸs ɽizaʸs kai taʸs piotaʸtos taʸs elaias egenou,)

TC-GNT Εἰ δέ τινες τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ ἀγριέλαιος ὢν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ [fn]συγκοινωνὸς τῆς ῥίζης [fn]καὶ τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου,
(Ei de tines tōn kladōn exeklasthaʸsan, su de agrielaios ōn enekentristhaʸs en autois, kai sugkoinōnos taʸs ɽizaʸs kai taʸs piotaʸtos taʸs elaias egenou, )

11:17 συγκοινωνος ¦ συνκοινωνος TH WH

11:17 και ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 11:11–24: Do not be arrogant toward Jews who do not believe in Jesus

In this section, Paul asked his readers if God has rejected the Jews forever. He answered his own question, indicating that God has not. At that time many Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ/Messiah. As a result, God made the message about Jesus known to people who were not Jews. But God will one day include the Jews and save them through Jesus too.

Paul then spoke directly to the believers who were not Jews. He said that he boasted about his ministry to the non-Jews so as to make the Jews jealous of the results of his ministry among the Gentiles. Then maybe some would be curious and begin believing in Jesus. When God accepts their faith in Jesus, it will be like they rose from the dead.

Paul then used some metaphors to illustrate his point that God has not rejected forever the Jews who, at that time, did not believe in Jesus as the Christ. He showed that if some Jews were holy, then all were, in the same way that a part of a batch of dough represents the whole batch. And the branches of a tree that is holy are themselves holy, even if they have been broken off to allow branches from a different tree to be joined into the trunk. He used the picture of the branches of that different tree to represent the believers who were not Jews.

He reminded the believers who were not Jews of God’s kindness toward them. He told them to always be mindful of that kindness rather than being proud of themselves. He warned them that God is able to do to them as he did to the Jews who do not believe in Jesus, if they became proud of themselves.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Do not look down on Jews who have not accepted Jesus as the Christ

Many Gentiles believing in Jesus will make the Jews want that blessing too

11:17a

Now if some branches have been broken off,

And if some of the/those branches have been broken off,
God has broken some of the branches at the trunk of the tree and removed them.

Now: Beginning with this verse, Paul made a new point using the metaphor of a tree. In some languages an “and,” another connecting word or phrase, or no conjunction would better indicate that meaning. For example:

And

It is as if… (NCV)

If… (NIV)

if: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part. See how you translated this word in 11:16a.

some branches have been broken off: This clause is passive. 11:20–21 indicate that God broke them off. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

someone broke off some of the branches

God broke off some of the branches

some branches: In the figure of speech here, these branches represent Jews who did not believe in Jesus. If a literal translation would refer only to actual branches, you may want to:

Translate this phrase literally and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
In this verse, these branches represent Jews who did not believe in Jesus.
Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
some of the branches, namely, the unbelieving Jews

have been broken off: This phrase refers to breaking the branch at or near the trunk of the tree so that it is no longer attached to the tree. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

were broken away

were broken at the trunk and removed

11:17b

and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others

and you^(sing), as wild olive branches, were joined to that tree among the remaining branches,
And he took you^(plur), like someone cutting and tying wild olive branches into that cultivated tree, and joined you to God’s people.

you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

someone/God grafted you in, even though you were a wild olive shoot

you: This pronoun is singular. Paul used it to speak to each believer, and he implied believers who are not Jews. In some languages a singular you would only be used in a letter addressed to one person. If that is true in your language, use the plural you.

The meaning of this word is emphasized in the Greek. For example:

you yourself/yourselves

You now who are GentilesKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

as for you who are not JewsWestern Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation on TW.

a wild olive shoot: This phrase describes the word “you,” referring here to Gentile believers. It also indicates a contrast to the other branches of this olive tree. In this figure of speech, the olive tree is God’s chosen people.Schreiner (page 604). Before Jesus came to earth as the Christ/Messiah, God’s chosen people were the Jews and they believed in God because of their culture, history, prophecies, stories, and instruction written in their holy book, what we now call the Old Testament. Jews who do not believe in Jesus are like the branches broken off. The Gentiles who believe in Jesus are like wild olive tree branches, in that in the past they were not nurtured by God and his Word. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

being a wild olive (NASB)

even though you are from a wild olive tree

wild olive shoot: Here the word wild refers to something that people do not usually plant and take care of. Here it is in contrast to the same kind of plant that people plant and take care of. A wild olive tree grows well but produces few olives. A cultivated olive produces many olives but is easily damaged. But the word wild indicates that the Gentiles did not have the same relationship with God as the Jews did, where he taught, encouraged, and corrected them. Here are other ways to translate this word:

untamed olive tree

olive tree from the wilderness

olive: The olive tree produces a small oval fruit. The fruit contains oil, which was used in cooking and burned in lamps for light.

Many languages will borrow this name and spell it as the people who speak their language would say it.

shoot: The Greek word refers to the olive tree in a general way. Normally a branch is grafted. But separating the branch from the wild olive tree is not the focus of the figure of speech here. That is probably why the BSB uses the word shoot. Here the word shoot refers to a new growth on a plant, but the fact that it is new is not important here. Use the usual word for the part of the plant that is grafted here. For example:

branch (GNT)

piece of a wild olive tree

have been grafted in: This phrase refers to taking part of one plant and connecting it to another plant so that the new piece will continue to live and grow. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

joined to (NCV)

stuck onUma Back Translation on TW.

caused it to grow thereWestern Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation on TW.

among the others: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as among the others:

It refers to the branches that were not broken off from the cultivated olive tree (11:16). For example, the Kankanaey Back Translation says:
you would join the original branches that were left (BSB, NIV, NJB, ESV, NASB, KJV, NET, REB)
It indicates that the wild olive shoots replace the branches of the cultivated olive tree which were broken off. For example:
in their place (RSV) (RSV, NABRE, GW, CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it fits the context better.Moo, Longenecker, Cranfield, Dunn, Schreiner, and Jewett support interpretation (1).

11:17c

to share in the nourishment of the olive root,

and you are sharing with them in the rich root of the olive tree,
And so you share in the abundantly providing root of the olive tree with the other branches.

to share: The Greek word here refers to someone who participates in something with someone else. Here grafted wild olive branches and the natural branches all receive sap from the tree and its roots.

in the nourishment of the olive root: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the nourishment is more literally “the root of the richness.” There is a textual issue here about this phrase:

Some Greek manuscripts have the words of-the root of-the richness. It indicates that there is one part of the olive tree, which is also described as having nourishment. (BSB, NIV, NJB, NASB, NRSV, NABRE, ESV, NLT, GW, NET)
Some Greek manuscripts have the words of-the root and of-the richness. It indicates that there are two parts of the olive tree mentioned here. For example:
the root and fatness of the olive tree (KJV) (KJV, REB)
Some Greek manuscripts have the words of-the richness. For example:
the richness of the olive tree (RSV) (RSV, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because the Greek NT 5 recommends it as most likely the original text here.

nourishment of the olive root: The Greek text is literally “root of the richness.” It indicates that the root of the tree abundantly supplies what the branches need. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

rich root (NABRE)

the growth-causing sap which comes from its rootKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

root: Many scholars believe the root refers to Abraham or perhaps Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as in 11:16.

Many English versions translate literally and so do not interpret this figure of speech in their translation. Many scholars also translate literally. If you explained this word in 11:16, you should not need to explain it again here.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

εἰ

Here, if indicates that this verse and the next verse are one conditional sentence. You may need to adjust the words to divide these verses into separate sentences.

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ

Paul is speaking as if this were a hypothetical possibility, but he means that it is actually true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might misunderstand and think that what Paul is saying is not certain, then you can translate his words as an affirmative statement. Alternate translation: [since]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

εἰ & τινες τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν, σὺ δὲ ἀγριέλαιος ὢν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ συνκοινωνὸς τῆς ῥίζης τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου

if & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ τινές τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν σύ δέ ἀγριέλαιος ὤν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς καί συγκοινωνός τῆς ῥίζης τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου)

Paul continues using the metaphor of a tree to speak about how God rejected unbelieving Jews and accepted non-Jews to be part of his people instead. The olive tree represents God’s people. The branches that were broken off represent Jews who don’t believe in Jesus. The wild olive branch represents non-Jewish people who believe in Jesus. The richness represents the blessings God gives his people. The root represents either the ancestors of the Israelites (as in the previous verse) or the Jewish people in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this metaphor as a simile. See also the discussion of this metaphor in the General Notes for this chapter. Alternate translation: [if some of the Jews were rejected, like branches are broken off of a tree, and you, being foreigners were joined to God’s people as wild olive branches are grafted onto a tree, and you received the blessings of the first Israelites as part of God’s people, as branches receive the nutrients of the root of the olive tree]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τινες τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν & ἐνεκεντρίσθης & συνκοινωνὸς & ἐγένου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ τινές τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν σύ δέ ἀγριέλαιος ὤν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς καί συγκοινωνός τῆς ῥίζης τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The context of chapters 9–11 indicates that God did the action. Alternate translation: [God broke off some of the branches … God grafted … God made to be partakers with them]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

σὺ

Even though Paul is writing to a group of people, non-Jewish Christians, you is singular throughout this verse. If the singular form would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural forms of you in your translation.

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτοῖς & συνκοινωνὸς

them & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ τινές τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν σύ δέ ἀγριέλαιος ὤν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς καί συγκοινωνός τῆς ῥίζης τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου)

In this verse them refers to the Jewish people who believe in Jesus. It does not refer to the branches that were broken off. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [the believing Jewish people … partakers with those Jews who believe]

Parallel ROM 11:17

Section 11:11–24: Do not be arrogant toward Jews who do not believe in Jesus

11:17a

11:17b

11:17c