Romans 11:15-17

Expanded Bible

¹⁵ [^LFor] If ·God’s rejection of Israel [^Ltheir loss/rejection] meant he ·became friends with [was reconciled to] the world, what will Israel’s acceptance mean? It will be like ·bringing the dead back to life [life from the dead].

¹⁶ If the ·first piece of bread is offered to God [^Lfirstfruits are holy; ^Cthe dough made from the first crops harvested], then the whole ·loaf [batch; ^Llump of dough] is made holy. If the roots of a tree are holy, then the tree’s branches are holy too [^Csince Abraham and the patriarchs were God’s chosen people, so were their Jewish descendants].

¹⁷ It is as if some of the branches from an olive tree [^Csymbolizing Israel] have been broken off. You Gentiles are like the branch of a wild olive tree that has been ·joined [grafted] to that first tree. You now share the ·strength and life [nourishment; ^Lrich/fat root] of the first tree [^Cthe Gentiles now share in the rich blessings promised to Israel through their “root,” Abraham and the patriarchs].