Romans 14:21
New International Version
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

New Living Translation
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

English Standard Version
It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

Berean Standard Bible
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

Berean Literal Bible
It is good neither to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything in which your brother stumbles.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

New American Standard Bible
It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles.

NASB 1995
It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

NASB 1977
It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

Legacy Standard Bible
It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

Amplified Bible
It is good [to do the right thing and] not eat meat or drink wine, or do anything that offends your brother and weakens him spiritually.

Christian Standard Bible
It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble.

American Standard Version
It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth.

Contemporary English Version
It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord.

English Revised Version
It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The right thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that causes another Christian to have doubts.

Good News Translation
The right thing to do is to keep from eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that will make other believers fall.

International Standard Version
The right thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that makes your brother stumble, upset, or weak.

Majority Standard Bible
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble or to be hindered or weakened.

NET Bible
It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

New Heart English Bible
It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, or do anything by which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.

Webster's Bible Translation
It 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.

Weymouth New Testament
The right course is to forego eating meat or drinking wine or doing anything that tends to your brother's fall.

World English Bible
It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
[It is] not right to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to [do anything] in which your brother stumbles, or is made to fall, or is weak.

Berean Literal Bible
It is good neither to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything in which your brother stumbles.

Young's Literal Translation
Right it is not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything in which thy brother doth stumble, or is made to fall, or is weak.

Smith's Literal Translation
Good not to eat flesh, nor drink wine, nor in what thy brother stumbles, or is offended, or is weak.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is good not to eat flesh, and not to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother is offended, or scandalized, or made weak.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It is good to refrain from eating meat and from drinking wine, and from anything by which your brother is offended, or led astray, or weakened.

New American Bible
it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

New Revised Standard Version
it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
It is better that we neither eat meat nor drink wine nor do any other thing whereby we cause our brother to stumble.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For it is good that we do not eat flesh, neither drink wine, neither anything by which our brother is subverted.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do any thing by which your brother stumbles, or is ensnared, or is made weak.

Godbey New Testament
it is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles.

Haweis New Testament
It is laudable not to eat flesh, or to drink wine, nor to do any thing whereby thy brother is stumbled, or scandalized, or weakened.

Mace New Testament
it is better to abstain from flesh, and wine, and every thing whereby your brother is in danger of falling off.

Weymouth New Testament
The right course is to forego eating meat or drinking wine or doing anything that tends to your brother's fall.

Worrell New Testament
It is good, neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby your brother stumbles.

Worsley New Testament
It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do any thing at which thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or weakened.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Law of Love
20Do 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. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble. 22Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. / Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God— / as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 8:9-12
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. / For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? / So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. ...

1 Corinthians 10:23-24
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. / No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

1 Corinthians 9:19-22
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. / To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. / To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. ...

Matthew 18:6-7
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. / Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

1 Corinthians 6:12
“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 8:8
But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

1 Corinthians 10:28-29
But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience— / the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. / Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from every form of evil.

1 John 2:10
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.

Mark 9:42
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.

Leviticus 19:14
You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

good.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:1,2
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves…

1 Corinthians 8:13
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

whereby.

Romans 14:13
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Malachi 2:8
But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

Matthew 16:23
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

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Romans 14
1. Men may not condemn one another for disputable matters;
13. but must take heed that they give no offense in them;
15. which the apostle proves unlawful by many reasons.














It is better
The phrase "It is better" suggests a moral or ethical preference, indicating a choice that aligns with higher spiritual principles. In the Greek, the word used is "kalon," which can mean good, noble, or honorable. This sets the tone for the verse, emphasizing that the actions being discussed are not merely about personal freedom but about choosing what is spiritually beneficial for the community.

not to eat meat
The act of eating meat, particularly in the context of the early church, often involved meat that had been sacrificed to idols. The Greek word for meat here is "kreas," which refers to flesh. Historically, this was a contentious issue among early Christians, as some believers felt that eating such meat was participating in idolatry. Paul is advising that abstaining from meat is preferable if it prevents causing spiritual harm to others.

or drink wine
Wine, or "oinos" in Greek, was a common beverage in biblical times, often used in celebrations and religious ceremonies. However, its consumption could lead to excess and stumbling for those who struggled with self-control or who associated it with pagan rituals. Paul is advocating for sensitivity to the conscience of others, suggesting that refraining from wine is a loving act if it helps maintain the spiritual integrity of the community.

or to do anything
This phrase broadens the scope beyond just meat and wine, encompassing any action that might lead another believer into sin or confusion. The Greek word "ti" translates to "anything," indicating that the principle of love and consideration for others should govern all aspects of a believer's life. This reflects the comprehensive nature of Christian love, which seeks the well-being of others in all circumstances.

to cause your brother to stumble
The word "stumble" comes from the Greek "proskomma," meaning a stumbling block or an obstacle. In the context of Christian community, a "brother" refers to a fellow believer. The imagery here is of a path where one might trip and fall, symbolizing spiritual harm or regression. Paul is urging believers to prioritize the spiritual health of their community, even if it means sacrificing personal liberties. This reflects the heart of Christian ethics, where love and edification of others take precedence over individual rights.

(21) It is good neither to eat flesh.--These direct, clear, incisive sentences are as characteristic of the style of the Apostle (when he is dealing with moral questions of present urgency, and not with the abstract problems of theology) as the generous impulse which prompts them is of his heart.

Any thing--i.e., to do anything; all three words have to be supplied.

Or is offended, or is made weak.--There is a remarkable division of authority for the omission or retention of these words, the Sinaitic and Alexandrine MSS. with the Paris rescript being on the one side, and the Vatican, with the Graeco-Latin Codices, on the other; and the versions pretty nearly divided. Here internal evidence comes in, and decides us to omit the words as most probably a gloss.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[It is] better
καλὸν (kalon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.

not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

to eat
φαγεῖν (phagein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat.

meat
κρέα (krea)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2907: Flesh; plur: pieces of flesh, kinds of flesh. Perhaps a primary word; meat.

[or]
μηδὲ (mēde)
Conjunction
Strong's 3366: And not, not even, neither…nor. From me and de; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor.

drink
πιεῖν (piein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4095: To drink, imbibe. A prolonged form of pio, which poo occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe.

wine
οἶνον (oinon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3631: Wine. A primary word (yayin); 'wine'.

[or to do anything]
μηδὲ (mēde)
Conjunction
Strong's 3366: And not, not even, neither…nor. From me and de; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor.

[to cause]
(hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

brother
ἀδελφός (adelphos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

to stumble.
προσκόπτει (proskoptei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4350: From pros and kopto; to strike at, i.e. Surge against; specially, to stub on, i.e. Trip up.


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NT Letters: Romans 14:21 It is good to not eat meat (Rom. Ro)
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