Romans 11:17

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

And if - rather, 'But if'-q.d., 'If, notwithstanding this consecration of Abraham's race to God,'

Some of the branches. The mass of the unbelieving and rejected Israelites are here called "some," not, as before, to meet Jewish prejudice (see the note at , and on "not all," in ), but with the opposite view of checking Gentile pride.

And thou, being a wild olive tree, wert ('wast') graffed in among them. Though it is more usual to graft the superior cutting upon the inferior stem, the opposite method, which is intended here, is not without example.

And with them partakest ('wast made partaker'-along with the branches left, the believing remnant)

Of the root and fatness of the olive tree (the rich grace secured by covenant to the true seed of Abraham):