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 he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved by men. 19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things which one may edify another. For the sake of food destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing by which thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in what he approveth.

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

• ofἕνεκαheneka heneken heineken · because ofG1752
• foodβρῶμαbrōma · foodG1033
• destroyκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
• notμήmē · notG3361
• workἔργονergon · workG2041
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• indeedμένmen · on the other handG3303
• pureκαθαρόςkatharos · cleanG2513
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• eatethἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068
• withδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• offenceπρόσκομμαproskomma · stumbling blockG4348

Cross-references for Romans 14:20

• Romans 14:15But if thy brother is grieved with thy food, now walkest thou not in love. Destroy not him with thy food, for whom Christ died.
• Matthew 18:6But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
• 1 Corinthians 6:12All things are lawful to me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
• 1 Corinthians 8:8But food commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
• 1 Corinthians 10:31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
• Ephesians 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
• Philippians 1:6Being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
• Romans 14:14I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean by itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
• Matthew 15:11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
• Acts 10:15And the voice spoke to him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
• 1 Timothy 4:3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by them who believe and know the truth.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours should become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Give no offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to 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