Romans 14:20

Romans 14:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

Context of Romans 14:20

18For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by other people. 19So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the person who eats and causes offense. 21It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles. 22The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is the one who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

Romans 14:20 word by word

μὴ ἕνεκεν βρώματος κατάλυε τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ. πάντα μὲν καθαρὰ ἀλλὰ κακὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ διὰ προσκόμματος ἐσθίοντι·Read the interlinear

• Do not tearκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
• the workἔργονergon · workG2041
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• of foodβρῶμαbrōma · foodG1033
• Allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• are cleanκαθαρόςkatharos · cleanG2513
• they are evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• for the personἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• who eatsἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068
• and causesδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• offenseπρόσκομμαproskomma · stumbling blockG4348

Cross-references for Romans 14:20

• Romans 14:15For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer walking in accordance with love. Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died.
• Matthew 18:6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.
• 1 Corinthians 6:12All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
• 1 Corinthians 8:8Now food will not bring us close to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.
• 1 Corinthians 10:31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.
• Ephesians 2:10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
• Philippians 1:6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.
• Romans 14:14I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to the one who thinks something is unclean, to that person it is unclean.
• Matthew 15:11It is not what enters the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the person.”
• Acts 10:15Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”
• 1 Timothy 4:3who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9But take care that this freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God;

Commentaries on Romans 14:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20For meat destroy not the work of God - Do not hinder the progress of the Gospel either in your own souls or in those of others, by contending about lawful or unlawful meats. And do not destroy the soul of thy Christian brother, Romans 14:15, by offending him so as to induce him to apostatize. All things indeed are pure - This is a repetition of the sentiment delivered, Romans 14:14, in different words. Nothing that is proper for aliment is unlawful to be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20For meat - By your obstinate, pertinacious attachment to your own opinions about the distinctions of meat and drinks, do not pursue such a course as to lead a brother into sin, and ruin his soul. Here is a new argument presented why Christians should pursue a course of charity - that the opposite would tend to the ruin of the brother‘s soul. Destroy not - The word here is what properly is applied to pulling down an edifice; and the apostle continues the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-23Verses 19-23 Many wish for peace, and talk loudly for it, who do not follow the things that make for peace. Meekness, humility, self-denial, and love, make for peace. We cannot edify one another, while quarrelling and contending. Many, for meat and drink, destroy the work of God in themselves; nothing more destroys the soul than pampering and pleasing the flesh, and fulfilling the lusts of it; so others are hurt, by wilful offence given. Lawful things may…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20The work of God involves both the spiritual life of other Christians and to the Christian community itself (14:15, 19). When the strong insist on doing whatever they want, they cause division. This behavior goes against God’s purpose to build a healthy and united community of believers.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. For--"For the sake of" meat destroy not the work of God--(See on Ro 14:15). The apostle sees in whatever tends to violate a brother's conscience the incipient destruction of God's work (for every converted man is such)--on the same principle as "he that hateth his brother is a murderer" (1Jo 3:15). All things indeed are pure--"clean"; the ritual distinctions being at an end. but it is evil to that man--there is criminality in the man who eateth with…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 14:20

• Charitableness
• Commandments
• Conscience
• Evil
• Expediency
• Fellowship
• Self-Denial

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Esteem
• Faith
• Receive
• Regard
• Revive
• Unclean
• Bible, the
• Defile; Defilement

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