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Romans 11:16

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Romans 11:16

Verse 16 of 36

Scripture focus

For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches.

Romans 11:16 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Romans 11:16

Theological / Devotional

For. Gr. de. Rather, “and,” “now.”

Firstfruit. Here, of dough. Paul is alluding to the ceremony, described in Num. 15:19-21, of dedicating a portion of the dough to God. The offering of the first fruits hallowed the entire lump of dough. The first fruit represents the first of the gospel harvest among the Jews (see AA 377).

Lump. Gr. phurama, literally, “that which is mixed,” here, “dough.”

Also holy. That is, the entire lump — those who would subsequently become members of the Christian church.

Root. Paul uses a second metaphor to express the same idea. If the root is holy, so is the entire tree (see above under “also holy”). He pictures Israel as a tree.

By SdaBc