That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word "Well" (or "Good") isn't just an agreement; it's an acknowledgement of a deep truth, immediately followed by a redirection. Paul uses it to affirm the factual reality of the situation, but then pivots to the crucial reasons for it – unbelief for the Jews and faith for the Gentiles – underscoring that these aren't abstract concepts but the very basis of their current standing and a call to humility.
That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is responding to an imagined objection from Gentile believers who might be boasting about their inclusion in God's people while the Jewish people have been largely set aside. He affirms the truth of their inclusion but immediately warns them against pride, reminding them that their standing comes solely through faith, just as the Jewish branches were broken off due to unbelief. This serves as a stark warning: their position is not guaranteed and they should live in humble dependence on God, not in arrogant self-assurance.
Have you ever wondered why good things happen to some and not others? This verse reveals a profound truth about God's dealings with people, a truth that calls for both humility and awe.
Paul acknowledges the truth of the situation: the natural branches (representing ethnic Israel) were broken off, and the Gentiles were grafted in.
The Cause for Breaking
It wasn't arbitrary. They were broken off because of unbelief. Their rejection wasn't a punishment for mere disobedience, but a direct consequence of refusing to believe in the Messiah.
The Ground for Standing
Conversely, the Gentiles stand by faith. This isn't about being inherently better or more deserving. It's about the means by which they have been brought into the olive tree – through faith in God's promises. This faith is itself a gift, not a ground for boasting.
The critical point is that this is not a static situation. The natural branches weren't broken off forever, and the Gentiles' standing is not guaranteed apart from continued faith.
Pride is a subtle killer of spiritual life. Paul offers a powerful, yet often overlooked, antidote to help us maintain our connection with God.
The inclusion of Gentiles was a monumental act of God's grace, bringing people from all backgrounds into His covenant family. This incredible privilege could easily lead to arrogance and a sense of superiority over those who were 'broken off'.
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The Danger of 'High-Mindedness'
Paul warns against being 'high-minded' (or 'haughty'). This isn't just a slight overconfidence; it's a dangerous elevation of self, a misplaced trust in one's own standing rather than in God's mercy. It's the temptation to look down on others and forget the very grace that brought us in.
The Role of Fear
Instead of pride, Paul calls for 'fear.' This isn't a paralyzing terror, but a reverent awe and a sober recognition of our own fragility. It's a healthy fear of God that acknowledges our dependence on Him and the real possibility of falling away if we become complacent or presume upon His grace. This fear fosters humility, watchfulness, and a continuous reliance on His faithfulness, not our own.
Understand the original words
apistia · Greek Noun
A refusal to trust or rely on God; the fundamental rejection of God's revealed truth and His Son, Jesus Christ, which separates one from covenant standing.
pistis · Greek Noun
The active response of trusting, relying on, and clinging to God and His promises; it is the means by which a person enters and maintains a right standing before God.
phobeomai · Greek Verb
A reverent, holy awe of God; it involves a humble recognition of His holiness, justice, and power, leading to a life of obedience and caution against spiritual presumption.
Paul uses the historical reality of Israel's rejection due to unbelief and the inclusion of Gentiles by faith to warn believers against pride. The olive tree metaphor emphasizes that Gentile inclusion is a gracious act, not an inherent superiority, and depends on continuous faith and humility.
c. 1850 BC
God's Covenant with Abraham
God establishes a foundational covenant with Abraham, promising to make him a great nation and bless the world through his descendants. This covenant forms the basis of Israel's unique identity and calling.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus and Law Given at Sinai
God delivers Israel from slavery in Egypt, establishes them as a nation, and gives them the Law at Mount Sinai. This event solidifies their status as God's chosen people.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The powerful Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel and deports many of its inhabitants, scattering them and leading to the loss of the ten tribes.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile of Southern Kingdom
The Neo-Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling the remaining people of the southern kingdom of Judah. This marks a devastating period of national and religious crisis.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, ministers to Israel. His rejection and crucifixion by many of the Jewish leaders and people lead to a pivotal moment in salvation history.
c. 30-60 AD— this verse
Early Gentile Conversions
Following Jesus' resurrection and the spread of the gospel through the apostles, many Gentiles begin to believe and are incorporated into the people of God, often seen as being grafted onto the olive tree of Israel's heritage.
This passage describes God's sovereignty over nations, showing how He can exalt or cast down communities based on their obedience or disobedience, mirroring the concept of branches being broken off or preserved. It emphasizes God's power to bring about judgment and restoration based on a nation's actions.
Luke 13:28-30Jesus speaks of people from all directions coming to the feast, while others who expected to enter are excluded, illustrating that heritage doesn't guarantee salvation, and those considered 'last' may become 'first.' This highlights the theme of God's grace extending to Gentiles and the potential for Jews to be excluded due to unbelief, which is central to Romans 11.
1 Corinthians 10:11-12Paul warns the Corinthians that their experiences should serve as examples, and they should not fall into the same traps of pride and disbelief that led to the downfall of Israel. This directly echoes the caution in Romans 11:20 against being high-minded, urging vigilance and humility.
Colossians 1:21-23This passage describes how believers were once alienated and enemies in their minds, but have been reconciled through Christ's death. It underscores the reality of past hostility towards God and the need for continuous adherence to the faith to remain within this reconciliation, paralleling the Gentile believer's position on faith.
vincentRomans 11:20: "Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:"
Well (καλῶς)Admitting the fact. Thou art right. Compare Mark 12:32. Some take it as ironical.
cambridgeRomans 11:20: "Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:"
20 . Well ] i.e. Well said . There is, of course, a solemn and earnest irony in the word. In terms , the Gentile Pharisee (if we may use the expression) spoke truth; for in the mysterious adjustments of the Divine Plan the rejection of Messiah by Israel was to precede, and even in a certain sense to occasion, the call of the Gentiles. But in the spirit of the words there was…
The word "Well" (or "Good") isn't just an agreement; it's an acknowledgement of a deep truth, immediately followed by a redirection. Paul uses it to affirm the factual reality of the situation, but then pivots to the crucial reasons for it – unbelief for the Jews and faith for the Gentiles – underscoring that these aren't abstract concepts but the very basis of their current standing and a call to humility.
Paul is responding to an imagined objection from Gentile believers who might be boasting about their inclusion in God's people while the Jewish people have been largely set aside. He affirms the truth of their inclusion but immediately warns them against pride, reminding them that their standing comes solely through faith, just as the Jewish branches were broken off due to unbelief. This serves as a stark warning: their position is not guaranteed and they should live in humble dependence on God, not in arrogant self-assurance.
Paul is responding to an imagined objection from Gentile believers who might be boasting about their inclusion in God's people while the Jewish people have been largely set aside. He affirms the truth of their inclusion but immediately warns them against pride, reminding them that their standing comes solely through faith, just as the Jewish branches were broken off due to unbelief. This serves as a stark warning: their position is not guaranteed and they should live in humble dependence on God, not in arrogant self-assurance.
"That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear." — The word "Well" (or "Good") isn't just an agreement; it's an acknowledgement of a deep truth, immediately followed by a redirection. Paul uses it to affirm the factual reality of the situation, but t…
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Last reviewed October 2026