Bible Strands
Romans 11:21
For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses Gentile believers who have been grafted in, warning them against arrogance after explaining how Jewish natural branches were broken off due to unbelief.
The words — φύσιν (phusin) translates literally as “nature” and κλάδων (kladōn) as “branches,” forming the phrase “natural branches” that identifies the original Israelite recipients of God’s covenant promises.
The thread — The pattern of divine non-sparing for the fallen recurs in Jeremiah 25:29, Jeremiah 49:12, and 2 Peter 2:4, where God’s judgment begins with those closest to Him or who initially escape punishment.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to abandon arrogance and maintain reverent fear, explicitly warning that continued unbelief will result in being cut off just as the natural branches were.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 25:29 For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’
- Jeremiah 49:12 For this is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for you must drink it too.
- 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
- Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Romans 11:19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”
- Jude 1:5 Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.
- Romans 11:17 Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,
- 1 Corinthians 10:1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.