11:18a

This verse is the then-clause (after the if-clauses of 11:17a–c). For example:

then it is not… (New Jerusalem Bible)

do not boast over those branches: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as boast :

(1) It refers to boasting in a way that scorns someone else. For example:

do not boast against the branches (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, NET Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It refers to being arrogant toward someone else. For example:

do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches (New International Version (2011))

(New International Version (2011), Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG supports it.

11:18b

This verse begins with the conjunction that is often translated as “and” or “but.” Here it introduces something more that Paul said to those who might boast about the branches (11:18a). Some languages will see contrast to what Paul said in 11:18a, but other languages will not. For example:

But
-or-
And

If you do: The Greek is literally “if you boast.” For example:

If you do boast (Revised Standard Version)

If the Roman believers were boasting over the branches (11:18a), then they needed to heed the warning Paul wrote in 11:18c–d.

11:18c–d

remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you: The Berean Standard Bible adds the word remember. For example:

You are just a branch, not the root. (New Living Translation (2004))

But in some languages it is more natural to introduce the rest of these words with something like the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

consider this: (New International Version (2011))
-or-
think: (New Jerusalem Bible)

You do not support the root: The Greek emphasizes the word You. Here are other ways to emphasize this word:

as for you, you do not support the root
-or-
you yourself do not support the root

support: Here this word refers to providing for the needs of someone or something. Here are other ways to translate this word:

sustain (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
care for
-or-
help to live

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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