Study it in the app“For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree and were grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?”
Forγὰρifεἰyouσὺwere cut offἐξεκόπηςfromἐκwhat isτῆςbyκατὰnatureφύσινa wild olive treeἀγριελαίουandκαὶwere grafted,ἐνεκεντρίσθηςcontrary toπαρὰnature,φύσινintoεἰςa cultivated olive tree,καλλιέλαιονhow muchπόσῳmoreμᾶλλονwill these,οὗτοιthe natural branches,οἱ κατὰ φύσινbe graftedἐγκεντρισθήσονταιinto their ownτῇ ἰδίᾳolive tree?ἐλαίᾳ
cut down
To fell something, like a tree.
Where else “exekopēs” appearsnature
What someone is by birth.
Where else “physin” appearswild olive tree
Wild olive tree: an olive that has not been cultivated.
Where else “agrielaiou” appearsgraft
Graft: insert a branch into another tree so that it grows from it.
Where else “enekentristhēs” appearscultivated olive tree
Cultivated olive tree, the olive of the garden.
Where else “kallielaion” appearshow much, how many
How much, how great; how many.
Where else “posōi” appearsmore
To a greater degree; how much more, when comparing.
Where else “mallon” appearsown
What belongs to someone; their people, their family.
Where else “idiai” appearsolive tree
The tree that bears olives, from which oil is pressed; very common in Israel.
Where else “elaiai” appears23And they too, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.
24 · This verse (above)
25For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of this mystery, so that you may not be wise in your own estimation: that a hardening in part has come upon Israel until the fullness of the nations has come in;
1. What it says
What image of the olive tree does Paul use, and what happens to the branches? (vv. 17-24)
2. What it means
Why does Paul warn the grafted-in branches not to boast? (vv. 18-21)
3. How I live it
Paul calls for humility and gratitude. What have you received that you did not earn, and how can you give thanks today?
