Christian Standard Bible
Romans 14:2
2One person believes he may eat anything, while one who is weak eats only vegetables.
Romans 14:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
- New International Version (NIV)One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
- English Standard Version (ESV)One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Context of Romans 14:2
1Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters. One person believes he may eat anything, while one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not judge one who does, because God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand.
Read all of Romans 14Romans 14:2 word by word
ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forμένmen · on the other handG3303
- oneὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- believethπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- that he may eatφαγεῖνphagō · to eatG5315
- all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- anotherδέde · thenG1161
- who is weakἀσθενέωastheneō · be weak: weakG770
- eatethἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068
- herbsλάχανονlachanon · plantG3001
Cross-references for Romans 14:2
- Romans 14:14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.
- 1 Corinthians 10:25Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience,
- Galatians 2:12For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party.
- 1 Timothy 4:4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
- Hebrews 9:10They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.
- Hebrews 13:9Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.
- Romans 14:22Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
- Genesis 1:29God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you,
- Genesis 9:3Every creature that lives and moves will be food for you; as I gave the green plants, I have given you everything.
- Proverbs 15:17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
- Daniel 1:12“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Commentaries on Romans 14:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2One believeth that he may eat all things - He believes that whatsoever is wholesome and nourishing, whether herbs or flesh - whether enjoined or forbidden by the Mosaic law - may be safely and conscientiously used by every Christian. Another, who is weak, eateth herbs - Certain Jews, lately converted to the Christian faith, and having as yet little knowledge of its doctrines, believe the Mosaic law relative to clean and unclean meats to be still in force…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2For one believeth - This was the case with the Gentiles in general, who had none of the scruples of the Jew about the propriety of eating certain kinds of meat. Many of the converts who had been Jews might also have had the same view as the apostle Paul evidently had while the great mass of Jewish converts might have cherished these scruples. May eat all things - That is, he will not be restrained by any scruples about the lawfulness of certain meats…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The weak in faith apparently believed that they should eat only vegetables. This belief likely came from a desire to maintain Jewish ritual purity while living in a pagan culture. These Jewish Christians were following an example found in the book of Daniel. Daniel and his friends refused the rich food and wine offered by the king of Babylon (Daniel 1:3–16). Other Jewish writings show a similar concern. Devout Jews living in pagan cultures often limited…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. one believeth that he may eat all things--See Ac 10:16. another, who is weak, eateth herbs--restricting himself probably to a vegetable diet, for fear of eating what might have been offered to idols, and so would be unclean. (See 1Co 8:1-13).Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 14:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries