Lexical Summary egkentrizo: To graft in Original Word: ἐγκεντρίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance graft into. From en and a derivative of kentron; to prick in, i.e. Ingraft -- graff in(-to). see GREEK en see GREEK kentron HELPS Word-studies 1461 egkentrízō (from 1722 /en, "in" and kentrizō, "to prick, puncture") – properly, to engraft (insert) by making a puncture to graft a living shoot into another living plant (tree). In the NT, 1461 (egkentrízō) always refers to God combining His two redeemed ethnic groups (OT, NT believers) into one people (Heb ʽam, Gk laos). 1461 (egkentrízō) occurs six times, all in Ro 11:17-24. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1461: ἐγκεντρίζωἐγκεντρίζω (T WH ἐνκεντρίζω, see ἐν, III. 3): 1 aorist ἐνεκεντρισα; passive, 1 aorist ἐνεκεντρίσθην; 1 future ἐγκεντρισθήσομαι; to cut into for the sake of inserting a scion; to inoculate, ingraft, graft in, (Aristotle quoted in Athen. 14, 68 (p. 653 d.); Theophrastus, h., p. 2, 2, 5; Antoninus 11, 8): τινα, Romans 11:17, 19, 23, 24 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 52, 4, 5); in these passages Paul likens the heathen who by becoming Christians have been admitted into fellowship with the people for whom the Messianic salvation is destined, to scions from wild trees inserted into a cultivated stock; (cf. Beet on verse 24; B. D. under the word Topical Lexicon Agricultural BackgroundGrafting was a familiar horticultural practice in the ancient Mediterranean. A branch (scion) is inserted into the stock of another tree so that the two grow as one, enabling the scion to share the life-giving sap of the root. Ordinarily a cultivated branch is grafted into a wild stock to improve fruit quality; Paul reverses the norm—“contrary to nature” (Romans 11:24)—by picturing a wild branch receiving life from a cultivated root. His listeners knew the impossibility of a wild olive producing edible fruit without such intervention, making the metaphor striking and memorable. Biblical Usage in Romans 11 The verb occurs six times, all within Romans 11:17–24, where Paul addresses the spiritual relationship between Israel and the Gentiles. Romans 11:17: “Now if some of the branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishing sap from the olive root…” Romans 11:19: “You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’” Romans 11:23: “And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.” Romans 11:24: “For if you were cut from a wild olive tree and, contrary to nature, grafted into a cultivated one, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!” Here “grafting” illustrates God’s sovereign activity: unbelieving Israelites are broken off; believing Gentiles are inserted; and repentant Israelites can be restored. The action is God’s alone—“God is able to graft them in again.” Theological Themes 1. Union with the covenant root The “olive root” represents the patriarchal promises first entrusted to Israel (Romans 11:16). Grafting depicts the transfer of life and blessing from that root to every believer, highlighting continuity rather than replacement. 2. Grace that overcomes nature The Gentile branch is “wild,” unable to bear cultivated fruit on its own. Its new life is entirely a product of divine grace, not inherent worth (Romans 11:24). Salvation is therefore by faith, not ethnicity or works. 3. Humility and holy fear Because grafting is reversible (Romans 11:22), Gentiles are warned against arrogance. Perseverance in faith keeps the branch united; pride and unbelief invite removal. 4. Hope for Israel The same verb promises Israel’s future restoration: “they will be grafted in.” The metaphor safeguards God’s faithfulness to His ancient people while affirming the present inclusion of the nations. Relation to Old Testament Promises Prophecies of Gentile inclusion (Isaiah 11:10; Hosea 2:23) and Israel’s future renewal (Jeremiah 31:31-34) converge in this image. The Abrahamic covenant—“all nations will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3)—is realized by grafting outsiders into the covenant tree. Yet the natural branches retain a rightful place that God will honor “when the full number of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). Implications for the Church 1. Unity in diversity One tree, many branches: Jewish and Gentile believers share one root and one sap. Ethnic distinctions are not erased but harmonized under Christ. 2. Missional balance The Church is called both to evangelize the nations and to provoke Israel to jealousy (Romans 11:14), anticipating her regrafting. 3. Persevering faith Continuing reliance on the root is essential. Doctrine, worship, and life must remain rooted in the apostolic gospel or risk spiritual severance. Pastoral and Missional Application • Cultivate humility: Every believer rests on a root he did not plant. Eschatological Outlook The repeated future tense—“will be grafted in” (Romans 11:23-24)—anticipates a climactic regathering of Israel, leading to “life from the dead” (Romans 11:15). The present grafting of Gentiles foreshadows that consummation, assuring believers of God’s unfailing purpose to unite all things in Christ. Related Concepts Vine and branches (John 15:1-8); being “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3-14); the “one new man” (Ephesians 2:11-22); fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Forms and Transliterations εγκείσθητι εγκεντρίσαι ἐγκεντρίσαι εγκεντρισθήσονται ἐγκεντρισθήσονται εγκεντρισθώ ἐγκεντρισθῶ εγκισσήσαι εγκισσήσωσι εγκλείσαι εγκλεισθήναι ενεκεντρισθης ενεκεντρίσθης ἐνεκεντρίσθης ενεκίσσων ενκεντρισαι ἐνκεντρίσαι ενκεντρισθησονται ἐνκεντρισθήσονται ενκεντρισθω ἐνκεντρισθῶ enekentristhes enekentristhēs enekentrísthes enekentrísthēs enkentrisai en'kentrísai enkentristhesontai enkentristhēsontai en'kentristhḗsontai enkentristho en'kentristhô enkentristhō en'kentristhō̂Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 11:17 V-AIP-2SGRK: ἀγριέλαιος ὢν ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς NAS: a wild olive, were grafted in among KJV: a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among INT: a wild olive tree being were grafted in among them Romans 11:19 V-ASP-1S Romans 11:23 V-FIP-3P Romans 11:23 V-ANA Romans 11:24 V-AIP-2S Romans 11:24 V-FIP-3P Strong's Greek 1461 |
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