Romans 14:2

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 people who are weak in faith, but don’t get into an argument over differences of opinion. Some people believe that they can eat all kinds of food. Other people with weak faith believe that they can eat only vegetables. 3People who eat all foods should not despise people who eat only vegetables. In the same way, the vegetarians should not criticize people who eat all foods, because God has accepted those people. 4Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? The Lord will determine whether his servant has been successful. The servant will be successful because the Lord makes him successful.

Romans 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 14:14The Lord Jesus has given me the knowledge and conviction that no food is unacceptable in and of itself. But it is unacceptable to a person who thinks it is.
• 1 Corinthians 10:25Eat anything that is sold in the market without letting your conscience trouble you.
• Galatians 2:12He ate with people who were not Jewish until some men James had sent ⌞from Jerusalem⌟ arrived. Then Cephas drew back and would not associate with people who were not Jewish. He was afraid of those who insisted that circumcision was necessary.
• 1 Timothy 4:4Everything God created is good. Nothing should be rejected if it is received with prayers of thanks.
• Hebrews 9:10These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things.
• Hebrews 13:9Don’t get carried away by all kinds of unfamiliar teachings. Gaining inner strength from God’s kindness is good for us. This strength does not come from following rules about food, rules that don’t help those who follow them.
• Romans 14:22So whatever you believe about these things, keep it between yourself and God. The person who does what he knows is right shouldn’t feel guilty. He is blessed.
• Genesis 1:29God said, “I have given you every plant with seeds on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with seeds. This will be your food.
• Genesis 9:3Everything that lives and moves will be your food. I gave you green plants as food; I now give you everything else.
• Proverbs 15:17Better to have a dish of vegetables where there is love than juicy steaks where there is hate.
• Daniel 1:12“Please test us for ten days. Give us only 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

• Charitableness
• Commandments
• Conscience
• Evil
• Fellowship
• Food
• Self-Denial
• Uncharitableness
• Vegetarians

In the dictionaries

• Esteem
• Faith
• Receive
• Regard
• Revive
• Unclean
• Bible, the
• Holiness
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Paul, the Apostle

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