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Romans 14:21

14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

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It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.

It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.

14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

What does Romans 14:21 mean?

Romans 14:21 is a verse in the book of Romans, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include καλός (kalos), μή (me), ἐσθίω (phago). It connects to 17 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Greek interlinear

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It
is
goodκαλόςkalos/kal-os'/G2570of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from 18, which is properly intrinsic):--X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.
neitherμήme/may/G3361a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
to
eatἐσθίωphago/fag'-o/G5315a primary verb (used as an alternate of 2068 in certain tenses); to eat (literally or figuratively):--eat, meat.
flesh,κρέαςkreas/kreh'-as/G2907perhaps a primary word; (butcher's) meat:--flesh.
norμηδέmede/may-deh'/G3366from 3361 and 1161; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor:--neither, nor (yet), (no) not (once, so much as).
to
drinkπίνωpino/pee'-no/G4095pio pee'-o, which (together with another form) poo po'-o occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe (literally or figuratively):--drink.
wine,οἶνοςoinos/oy'-nos/G3631a primary word (or perhaps of Hebrew origin (3196)); "wine" (literally or figuratively):--wine.
norμηδέmede/may-deh'/G3366from 3361 and 1161; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor:--neither, nor (yet), (no) not (once, so much as).
any
thing
wherebyἐνen/en/G1722a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
thyσύsou/soo/G4675genitive case of 4771; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.
brotherἀδελφόςadelphos/ad-el-fos'/G80from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1):--brother.
stumbleth,προσκόπτωproskopto/pros-kop'-to/G4350from 4314 and 2875; to strike at, i.e. surge against (as water); specially, to stub on, i.e. trip up (literally or figuratively):--beat upon, dash, stumble (at).
ore/ay/G2228a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles. Compare especially 2235, 2260, 2273.
is
offended,G4624
ore/ay/G2228a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles. Compare especially 2235, 2260, 2273.
is
made
weak.ἀσθενέωastheneo/as-then-eh'-o/G770from 772; to be feeble (in any sense):--be diseased, impotent folk (man), (be) sick, (be, be made) weak.

Commentary on Romans 14:21

HENRY_FULL · Romans 14:21
. He infers thence the infinite wisdom and sovereignty of God, with the adoration of which he concludes this chapter and subject, ver. 33-36 . The State of the Jews; The State of the Gentiles; The Gentiles Warned; The Future Conversion of the Jews. ( a. d. 58.) 1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, a

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 44:15

And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? divine: or, make trial?

Exodus 32:1

And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Numbers 16:15

And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

Nehemiah 9:30

Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. forbear: Heb. protract over them in thy: Heb. in the hand of thy prophets

Jeremiah 18:19

Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.

Luke 4:1

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

John 4:1

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

John 4:11

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Acts 3:17

And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:30

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Romans 9:6

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Romans 9:23

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

1 Corinthians 6:2

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Philippians 1:22

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

Hebrews 1:1

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

1 Peter 1:2

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Topics

CharitablenessCommandmentsConscienceExpediencyOffenceSelf-DenialStrifeTemptationWine

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Romans 14:21.

Matthew 6:31

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

2 Corinthians 4:2

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. dishonesty: Gr. shame

John 6:53

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Luke 1:15

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Luke 12:19

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Luke 13:26

Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luke 7:33

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

Mark 15:23

And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

Frequently asked questions

What does Romans 14:21 say?

Romans 14:21 (King James Version) reads: "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."

Is Romans 14:21 in the Old or New Testament?

Romans 14:21 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Romans.

Reflect

As you read Romans 14:21, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Romans 14:21
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