## those ##

This pronoun refers to Jewish unbelievers.

## what will their reception be but life from the dead ##

"So then, how will God receive them when they believe in Christ? It will be like they have come back to life from the dead!" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

## If the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump of dough. ##

Paul is comparing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Israelites' ancestors, to the first grain to be harvested, and the Israelites who are descendants of those men to dough made from grain harvested later.(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

## If the root is holy, so are the branches ##

Paul is comparing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Israelites' ancestors, to the root of a tree, and the Israelites who are descendants of those men to the tree's branches. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

## holy ##

People who are holy belong to God and have been set apart for the purpose of serving God and bringing him glory.