Paul now uses two illustrations to explain the way in which the Gentiles have been brought into the kingdom of God. A number of translations (Revised Standard Version, New English Bible, An American Translation*) connect verse 16 with the previous paragraph, but others (Good News Translation, Jerusalem Bible) introduce a new paragraph here. It is certainly legitimate to introduce a new paragraph, since the sentence introduces a new and important idea.

First piece of bread (literally “first portion”) translates a technical term used in Jewish religious vocabulary. It refers to the first part of the bread dough that was to be presented as a gift to God, so that the rest could be employed for common use (see Numbers 15.19, 20). So then, the word “holy” (most translations) has the specific meaning of given to God (“holy” appears as offered to God in the next part of the verse).

In view of the necessity in some languages of changing passive to active, one may restructure the first clause of verse 16 as “if anyone gives the first piece of bread to God.” Where there is an appropriate term for dough, one may employ it. A reference to the whole loaf may be merely “all of the bread” or “all of the dough.” The first two clauses of verse 16 may be modified in certain other ways—for example, “by giving to God the first piece of bread, one really dedicates to him all of the bread” or “… the whole loaf of bread.”

The last part of the verse, though using a different metaphor, has the same meaning. It is quite likely, as many commentators point out, that the first piece of bread and the roots of a tree are references to the Jewish ancestors with whom God made his original covenants. Paul is reminding the Gentiles that ultimately they owe their salvation to the Jewish people. Similar to what was suggested in the first half of this verse, the latter half may be translated as “if anyone dedicates to God the roots of a tree, then the branches also belong to him.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .