Rom 11:16-17 | TNotes | STEP | 11:16 the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy: This imagery comes from Num 15:17-21 , where God commanded the Israelites to take part of their first batch of dough and set it aside as a gift. God’s promises to and blessings on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were like a down payment, guaranteeing the completion of God’s work among his people.

bNum 15:17-21►

c11:17-24►

dJer 11:16►

eHos 14:5-6►

‏ Romans 11:16-17

11:16 ^a the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy: This imagery comes from Num 15:17-21 ^b, where God commanded the Israelites to take part of their first batch of dough and set it aside as a gift. God’s promises to and blessings on Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were like a down payment, guaranteeing the completion of God’s work among his people.
Summary for Rom 11:17-24: 11:17-24 ^c In Paul’s extended metaphor, God’s special olive tree refers to the people of God. The image is a natural one, because the olive tree is the most widely cultivated fruit tree in the Mediterranean basin, and it was already used as a symbol of Israel in the Old Testament (Jer 11:16 ^d; Hos 14:5-6 ^e). Paul refers to the Gentile Christians as branches from a wild olive tree because they were not originally included among the people of God.