Gentile believers should not feel superior to Jewish unbelievers, the branches that God has broken off the tree (Israel; Romans 11:17; Romans 11:19). Gentile believers might conclude that their salvation is what was responsible for the continuing existence of Israel (cf. Romans 11:14). Really it is God"s faithfulness in honoring the Abrahamic Covenant that is responsible for that. [source][source][source]
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
1God has not cast off all Israel 7Some were elected, though the rest were hardened 16There is hope of their conversion 18The Gentiles may not exult over them; 26for there is a promise of their salvation 33God's judgments are unsearchable
Greek Commentary for Romans 11:18
Glory not over the branches [μη κατακαυχω των κλαδων] Genitive case after κατα kata Present middle imperative second person singular of κατακαυχαομαι katakauchaomai with negative μη mē “stop glorying” or “do not have the habit of glorying over the branches.” The conclusion of the preceding condition. [source]
Gloriest [κατακαυχασαι] Late form αεσαι ̇aesai retaining ς s Not thou (ου συ ou su). Very emphatic position. The graft was upon the stock and root, though each affected the other. [source]
Not thou [ου συ] Very emphatic position. The graft was upon the stock and root, though each affected the other. [source]
The branches [] Of the olive-tree generally, Jewish Christians and unbelieving Jews. Not those that are broken off, who are specially indicated in Romans 11:19. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:18
Romans 2:17Restest upon the law [επαναπαυηι νομωι] Late and rare double compound, in lxx and once in the Didache. In N.T. only here and Luke 10:6 which see. It means to lean upon, to refresh oneself back upon anything, here with locative case It is the picture of blind and mechanical reliance on the Mosaic law. Gloriest in God (καυχασαι εν τεωι kauchāsai en theōi). Koiné{[28928]}š vernacular form for καυχαι kauchāi (καυχαεσαι καυχασαι kauchaesaiκαυχαομαι kauchāsai) of κατακαυχασαι kauchaomai as in Romans 2:23; 1 Corinthians 4:7 and δοκιμαζεις τα διαπεροντα katakauchāsai in Romans 11:18. The Jew gloried in God as a national asset and private prerogative (2 Corinthians 10:15; Galatians 6:13). Approvest the things that are excellent Originally, “Thou testest the things that differ,” and then as a result comes the approval for the excellent things. As in Philemon 1:10 it is difficult to tell which stage of the process Paul has in mind. Instructed out of the law (κατηχεω katēchoumenos ek tou nomou). Present passive participle of katēcheō a rare verb to instruct, though occurring in the papyri for legal instruction. See note on Luke 1:4 and note on 1 Corinthians 14:19. The Jew‘s “ethical discernment was the fruit of catechetical and synagogical instruction in the Old Testament” (Shedd). [source]
Romans 2:17Gloriest in God [καυχασαι εν τεωι] Koiné{[28928]}š vernacular form for καυχαι kauchāi (καυχαεσαι καυχασαι kauchaesaiκαυχαομαι kauchāsai) of κατακαυχασαι kauchaomai as in Romans 2:23; 1 Corinthians 4:7 and δοκιμαζεις τα διαπεροντα katakauchāsai in Romans 11:18. The Jew gloried in God as a national asset and private prerogative (2 Corinthians 10:15; Galatians 6:13). [source]
James 2:13Glorieth against [κατακαυχαται] Present middle indicative of the old compound verb κατακαυχαομαι katakauchaomai to exult over (down), in N.T. only here, James 3:14; Romans 11:18. Only mercy can triumph over justice with God and men. “Mercy is clothed with the divine glory and stands by the throne of God” (Chrysostom). See Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7. [source]
What do the individual words in Romans 11:18 mean?
notboast overthebranchesIfnowyou boast against [them]notyoutherootsupportbuttherootyou
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Singular
Root: κατακαυχάομαι
Sense: to glory against, to exult over, to boast one’s self to the injury (of a person or thing).
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Singular
Root: κατακαυχάομαι
Sense: to glory against, to exult over, to boast one’s self to the injury (of a person or thing).
Greek Commentary for Romans 11:18
Genitive case after κατα kata Present middle imperative second person singular of κατακαυχαομαι katakauchaomai with negative μη mē “stop glorying” or “do not have the habit of glorying over the branches.” The conclusion of the preceding condition. [source]
Late form αεσαι ̇aesai retaining ς s Not thou (ου συ ou su). Very emphatic position. The graft was upon the stock and root, though each affected the other. [source]
Very emphatic position. The graft was upon the stock and root, though each affected the other. [source]
Of the olive-tree generally, Jewish Christians and unbelieving Jews. Not those that are broken off, who are specially indicated in Romans 11:19. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 11:18
Late and rare double compound, in lxx and once in the Didache. In N.T. only here and Luke 10:6 which see. It means to lean upon, to refresh oneself back upon anything, here with locative case It is the picture of blind and mechanical reliance on the Mosaic law. Gloriest in God (καυχασαι εν τεωι kauchāsai en theōi). Koiné{[28928]}š vernacular form for καυχαι kauchāi (καυχαεσαι καυχασαι kauchaesaiκαυχαομαι kauchāsai) of κατακαυχασαι kauchaomai as in Romans 2:23; 1 Corinthians 4:7 and δοκιμαζεις τα διαπεροντα katakauchāsai in Romans 11:18. The Jew gloried in God as a national asset and private prerogative (2 Corinthians 10:15; Galatians 6:13). Approvest the things that are excellent Originally, “Thou testest the things that differ,” and then as a result comes the approval for the excellent things. As in Philemon 1:10 it is difficult to tell which stage of the process Paul has in mind. Instructed out of the law (κατηχεω katēchoumenos ek tou nomou). Present passive participle of katēcheō a rare verb to instruct, though occurring in the papyri for legal instruction. See note on Luke 1:4 and note on 1 Corinthians 14:19. The Jew‘s “ethical discernment was the fruit of catechetical and synagogical instruction in the Old Testament” (Shedd). [source]
Koiné{[28928]}š vernacular form for καυχαι kauchāi (καυχαεσαι καυχασαι kauchaesaiκαυχαομαι kauchāsai) of κατακαυχασαι kauchaomai as in Romans 2:23; 1 Corinthians 4:7 and δοκιμαζεις τα διαπεροντα katakauchāsai in Romans 11:18. The Jew gloried in God as a national asset and private prerogative (2 Corinthians 10:15; Galatians 6:13). [source]
Better, a root. It is not the only root. In Paul only metaphorically. See Romans 11:16, Romans 11:17, Romans 11:18. [source]
Present middle indicative of the old compound verb κατακαυχαομαι katakauchaomai to exult over (down), in N.T. only here, James 3:14; Romans 11:18. Only mercy can triumph over justice with God and men. “Mercy is clothed with the divine glory and stands by the throne of God” (Chrysostom). See Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7. [source]