Romans 11:21

King James Version

For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For if God spared not the naturall branches, take heede, least he also spare not thee.

Christian Standard Bible®
because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Hebrew Names Version
for if God didn't spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Darby Translation
if God indeed has not spared the natural branches; lest it might be he spare not thee either.

Easy-to-Read Version
If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, he will not let you stay if you stop believing.

Amplified Bible
for if God did not spare the natural branches [because of unbelief], He will not spare you either.

American Standard Version
for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.

Berean Standard Bible
For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.

Contemporary English Version
If God cut away those natural branches, couldn't he do the same to you?

Complete Jewish Bible
For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly won't spare you!

International Standard Version
For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly will not spare you either.

Etheridge Translation
If Aloha spared not them who were branches by nature, (take heed) lest he spare not thee.

Murdock Translation
For if God spared not the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

King James Version (1611)
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heede least hee also spare not thee.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For seyng that God spared not the naturall braunches [take heede] lest it come to passe, that he spare not thee.

English Revised Version
for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.

Lexham English Bible
For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Literal Translation
For if God did not spare the natural branches, fear that it may be He will not spare you either.

New Century Version
If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, then he will not let you stay if you don't believe.

New English Translation
For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

New King James Version
For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

New Living Translation
For if God did not spare the original branches, he won't spare you either.

New Revised Standard
For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, if, God, hath not spared, the natural branches, neither, thee, will he spare!

Douay-Rheims Bible
For if God hath not spared the natural branches, fear lest perhaps also he spare not thee.

George Lamsa Translation
For if God did not spare the natural branches, it may well be he will not spare you.

Good News Translation
God did not spare the Jews, who are like natural branches; do you think he will spare you?

Webster's Bible Translation
For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Be not high-minded, but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed left he also spare not thee.

Weymouth's New Testament
Do not be puffed up with pride. Tremble rather--for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but drede thou, for if God sparide not the kyndli braunchis, lest perauenture he spare not thee.

World English Bible
for if God didn't spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Revised Standard Version
For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Be not hye mynded but feare seynge that God spared not the naturall braunches lest haply he also spare not the.

Update Bible Version
for if God didn't spare the natural branches, lest neither will he spare you.

Young's Literal Translation
for if God the natural branches did not spare -- lest perhaps He also shall not spare thee.

Bible in Basic English
For, if God did not have mercy on the natural branches, he will not have mercy on you.

New American Standard Bible
for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Be not thou hye mynded, but feare, seynge God hath not spared the naturall braunches, lest he also spare not the.

Mace New Testament (1729)
lest God should not spare you, since he did not spare even the natural branches.

THE MESSAGE
If God didn't think twice about taking pruning shears to the natural branches, why would he hesitate over you? He wouldn't give it a second thought. Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God—ruthless with the deadwood, gentle with the grafted shoot. But don't presume on this gentleness. The moment you become deadwood, you're out of there.

New Life Bible
God did not keep the first branches (who are the Jews) on the tree. Then watch, or He will not keep you on the tree.

Simplified Cowboy Version
If God didn't hesitate to cut his own people off, don't think you are somehow immune if you turn your back.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

Legacy Standard Bible
for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

Contextual Overview

¹ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, ³ Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. ⁴ But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. ⁵ Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. ⁶ And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. ⁷ What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. ⁸ (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. ⁹ And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: ¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if God: Romans 11:17, Romans 11:19, Romans 8:32, Jeremiah 25:29, Jeremiah 49:12, 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, 2 Peter 2:4-9, Jude 1:5

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:20 - will not spare Isaiah 30:14 - he shall not Ezekiel 5:11 - neither shall Hebrews 3:12 - Take

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For if God spared not the natural branches,.... That is, executed his righteous judgments, inflicted due punishment upon the Jews, unchurched them, and stripped them of those privileges they enjoyed in a church state; who were the natural descendants of Abraham; were naturally, and as born into the world, in a national church state and in that national covenant God made with that people; to whom belonged a national adoption, in which sense they were the sons of God, his firstborn; they were chosen by him as a special and peculiar people, to very great favours and privileges; they were Christ's own, he came of them according to the flesh, and was particularly sent unto them, and ministered among them; wherefore, if, at last, God did not spare this people, though he had for a long time done it, but stirred up all his wrath against them, they disbelieving his Son, rejecting and despising the Messiah, and salvation by him, this should awaken the fear, care, and caution of the Gentiles in a church state, lest if they behave not well, he should deal in like manner with them:

take heed lest he also spare not thee; for whatever was done to the Jews in former or latter times, are written for the instruction and admonition of Gentiles; and the use they are to make thereof is, to be careful and cautious, lest by imbibing principles derogatory from the grace of God and glory of Christ, or by an unbecoming walk and conversation they provoke the Lord to unchurch them as he has done the Jews before them; and which they may the rather fear, since the Jews were the natural branches, and they formerly strangers and aliens.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For if God ... - If God did not refrain from rejecting the Jews who became unbelievers, assuredly he will not refrain from rejecting you in the same circumstances. It may be supposed that he will be quite as ready to reject the ingrafted branches, as to cast off those which belonged to the parent stock. The situation of the Gentiles is not such as to give them any security over the condition of the rejected Jew.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. For if God spared not the natural branches — If He, in his infinite justice and holiness, could not tolerate sin in the people whom he foreknew, whom he had so long loved, cherished, miraculously preserved and blessed; take heed lest he also spare not thee. Be convinced that the same righteous principle in him will cause him to act towards you as he has acted towards them, if you sin after the similitude of their transgression; and to this, self-sufficiency and self-confidence will soon lead you. Remember, therefore, the rock whence you were hewn, and the hole of the pit whence ye were digged. Depend incessantly on God's free grace, that ye may abide in his favour.