Romans 14:21 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →It is good to forgo meat, wine, or anything that would make a brother stumble.
What Does Romans 14:21 Mean?
Paul states the positive counterpart to the warning. It is genuinely 'good' -- the better path -- to abstain from meat, wine, or anything else if that abstaining keeps a brother from stumbling. Freedom gladly surrendered for love's sake is itself a noble thing.
He lists three harms to avoid: causing a brother to stumble, to be offended, or to be made weak in his faith. The standard is no longer merely what is allowed but what helps. The strong believer's liberty finds its highest expression not in exercising every right but in laying some down for another's sake. This is the imitation of Christ, who held nothing back when our good required it.
Romans 14:21 in the Original Language
proskopto (προσκόπτω), 'stumbleth' -- to strike the foot against, to be tripped into sin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 14:21
What does Romans 14:21 mean?
It is good to forgo meat, wine, or anything that would make a brother stumble.