Romans 14:20
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 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.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.
- 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.
- WEB
- Don’t overthrow God’s work for food’s sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating.
- ASV
- Overthrow not for meat`s sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
- DARBY
- For the sake of meat do not destroy the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil to that man who eats while stumbling [in doing so].
- BLB
- Do not demolish the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed [are] clean, but [it is] evil to the man eating through a stumbling block.
- ÅB
- Riv ikke ned Guds verk for matens skyld. Alt er rent, men det er ondt for det mennesket som spiser med samvittighetsanstøt.
- OTB
- Ikke ødelegg Guds verk for matens skyld. All mat er ren, men det er galt for en person å spise noe som får noen andre til å snuble.
- B1930
- Nedbryt ikke Guds verk for mats skyld! Alt er vel rent, men det er ondt for det menneske som eter med samvittighets-anstøt;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 14:14–15
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Read in contextMatthew 18:6
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Read in contextTitus 1:15
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Read in contextActs 10:15
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Read in context1 Corinthians 10:31–33
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Read in context1 Corinthians 6:12–13
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Read in contextRomans 14:21
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.
Read in contextMatthew 15:11
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Read in context