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 Living Translation (NLT)For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.

Context of Romans 14:2

1Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

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 14:14I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
• 1 Corinthians 10:25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;
• Galatians 2:12for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
• 1 Timothy 4:4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
• Hebrews 9:10concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
• Hebrews 13:9Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
• Romans 14:22Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
• Genesis 1:29And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
• Genesis 9:3Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
• Proverbs 15:17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.
• Daniel 1:12“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us 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