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

1Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

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 on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.
• 1 Corinthians 10:25So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience.
• Galatians 2:12When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.
• 1 Timothy 4:4Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.
• Hebrews 9:10For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.
• Hebrews 13:9So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
• Romans 14:22You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.
• Genesis 1:29Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.
• Genesis 9:3I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables.
• Proverbs 15:17A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.
• Daniel 1:12“Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said.

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