{First fruit} (aparch(885c)). See on 氣Co 15:20,23|. The
metaphor is from  Nu 15:19f . The LXX has aparch(886e) phuramatos,
first of the dough as a heave offering. {The lump} (	o
phurama). From which the first fruit came. See on 消:21|.
Apparently the patriarchs are the first fruit. {The root} (h(880a)riza). Perhaps Abraham singly here. The metaphor is changed, but
the idea is the same. Israel is looked on as a tree. But one must
recall and keep in mind the double sense of Israel in  9:6f .
(the natural and the spiritual).