Romans 14:3
New International Version
The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

New Living Translation
Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.

English Standard Version
Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

Berean Standard Bible
The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.

Berean Literal Bible
The one eating, let him not despise the one not eating; and the one not eating, let him not judge the one eating, for God has received him.

King James Bible
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

New King James Version
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

New American Standard Bible
The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

NASB 1995
The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

NASB 1977
Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.

Legacy Standard Bible
The one who eats must not view the one who does not eat with contempt, and the one who does not eat must not judge the one who eats, for God accepted him.

Amplified Bible
The one who eats [everything] is not to look down on the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not criticize or pass judgment on the one who eats [everything], for God has accepted him.

Christian Standard Bible
One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not judge one who does, because God has accepted him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him.

American Standard Version
Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Contemporary English Version
But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating. After all, God welcomes everyone.

English Revised Version
Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
People who eat all foods should not despise people who eat only vegetables. In the same way, the vegetarians should not criticize people who eat all foods, because God has accepted those people.

Good News Translation
The person who will eat anything is not to despise the one who doesn't; while the one who eats only vegetables is not to pass judgment on the one who will eat anything; for God has accepted that person.

International Standard Version
The person who eats any kind of food must not ridicule the person who does not eat them, and the person who does not eat certain foods must not criticize the person who eats them, for God has accepted him.

Majority Standard Bible
The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.

NET Bible
The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him.

New Heart English Bible
Do not let the one who eats despise the one who does not eat. Do not let the one who does not eat judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him who eateth not, judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Weymouth New Testament
Let not him who eats certain food look down upon him who abstains from it, nor him who abstains from it find fault with him who eats it; for God has received both of them.

World English Bible
Don’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
do not let him who is eating despise him who is not eating: and do not let him who is not eating judge him who is eating, for God received him.

Berean Literal Bible
The one eating, let him not despise the one not eating; and the one not eating, let him not judge the one eating, for God has received him.

Young's Literal Translation
let not him who is eating despise him who is not eating: and let not him who is not eating judge him who is eating, for God did receive him.

Smith's Literal Translation
Let not him eating despise him not eating: and let not him not eating judge him eating: for God has received him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not: and he that eateth not, let him not judge him that eateth. For God hath taken him to him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He who eats should not despise him who does not eat. And he who does not eat should not judge him who eats. For God has accepted him.

New American Bible
The one who eats must not despise the one who abstains, and the one who abstains must not pass judgment on the one who eats; for God has welcomed him.

New Revised Standard Version
Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let not him who eats despise him who eats not; and let not him who eats not judge him who eats: for God has received him also.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Let not him that eats, despise him that eats not; and let not him that eats not, judge him that eats: for God has received him.

Godbey New Testament
Let not the one eating snub the one not eating. Let not the one not eating judge the one eating; for God received him.

Haweis New Testament
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not, and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth; for God hath accepted him.

Mace New Testament
let not him that eateth, despise him that does not; and let not him that refrains, pass censure on him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Weymouth New Testament
Let not him who eats certain food look down upon him who abstains from it, nor him who abstains from it find fault with him who eats it; for God has received both of them.

Worrell New Testament
Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him that does not eat despise him that eats; for God received him.

Worsley New Testament
Let not him, that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him, that eateth not, censure him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Law of Liberty
2For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 8:8-13
But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. / 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? ...

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.

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you will be judged. / For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

1 Timothy 4:3-5
They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. / For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Galatians 5:13-15
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. / The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” / But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

Acts 10:13-15
Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” / “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” / The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Mark 7:18-19
“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, / because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)

1 Corinthians 4:3-5
I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. / My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. / Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

James 4:11-12
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. / There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

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.

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
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. ...

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.

Genesis 1:29-30
Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. / And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.


Treasury of Scripture

Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him which eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him.

despise.

Romans 14:10,15,21
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ…

Zechariah 4:10
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Matthew 18:10
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

judge.

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.

Matthew 7:1,2
Judge not, that ye be not judged…

Matthew 9:14
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

for.

Acts 10:34,44
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: …

Acts 15:8,9
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; …

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Abstains Accepted Approval Condemn Contempt Despise Eat Eateth Eats Fault Find Food God's Judge Judgment Low Opinion Received Regard Welcomed
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Abstains Accepted Approval Condemn Contempt Despise Eat Eateth Eats Fault Find Food God's Judge Judgment Low Opinion Received Regard Welcomed
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.














The one who eats everything
This phrase refers to believers who feel the freedom to eat all types of food, including those that might have been considered unclean under Old Testament law. The Greek word for "eats" is "ἐσθίω" (esthió), which simply means to consume or partake. In the early church, this was a significant issue as Jewish dietary laws were deeply ingrained in the culture. The freedom to eat everything symbolizes the liberty found in Christ, who declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). This liberty, however, is not to be used as a means to look down upon others who may have different convictions.

must not belittle
The Greek word here is "ἐξουθενέω" (exoutheneó), meaning to despise or treat with contempt. In the context of the early church, this was a call to unity and respect among believers with differing practices. The historical context shows that the early church was a melting pot of Jewish and Gentile believers, each bringing their own cultural and religious backgrounds. The admonition is clear: unity in the body of Christ should transcend dietary practices.

the one who does not
This phrase refers to those who abstain from certain foods, often due to religious convictions or adherence to Jewish dietary laws. The Greek word for "does not" is "μὴ" (mē), a simple negation. This group might include Jewish Christians who still observed the dietary laws of the Old Testament. The emphasis here is on respecting their choice and understanding that their abstention is a matter of personal conviction before God.

must not judge
The Greek word for "judge" is "κρίνω" (krinó), which means to separate, distinguish, or make a judgment. In this context, it refers to passing judgment on another's spiritual state based on their dietary practices. The historical context of the early church shows that judgment based on external practices was a common issue. Paul is urging believers to refrain from making spiritual assessments based on non-essential matters.

the one who does
This phrase again refers to those who eat all foods. The repetition emphasizes the mutual respect and acceptance that should exist between believers with differing practices. The early church was called to focus on the essentials of the faith rather than disputable matters like dietary laws.

for God has accepted him
The Greek word for "accepted" is "προσλαμβάνω" (proslambanó), meaning to receive or welcome. This is a powerful reminder that acceptance by God is not based on dietary practices but on faith in Christ. The historical context of the Roman church, with its mix of Jewish and Gentile believers, underscores the importance of this truth. God's acceptance is the ultimate standard, and believers are called to mirror this acceptance in their relationships with one another.

(3) Let not him that eateth.--The two classes of men are exposed to two opposite faults. The strong despise the weak; the weak judge the strong. In the one case there is contempt for what is thought to be narrowness and pedantry. In the other case censorious judgments are passed on what is regarded as levity and irreligion. Human nature alters very little.

God hath received him.--Strictly, received him, admitted him into His Church when he was baptised, and so took him for His own.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The [one who]
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

eats [everything]
ἐσθίων (esthiōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2068: Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat.

must not belittle
ἐξουθενείτω (exoutheneitō)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1848: To set at naught, ignore, despise. A variation of exoudenoo and meaning the same.

the [one who]
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[does not],
ἐσθίοντα (esthionta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2068: Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

the [one who]
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

does not eat [everything]
ἐσθίων (esthiōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2068: Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat.

must not judge
κρινέτω (krinetō)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.

the [one who]
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[does],
ἐσθίοντα (esthionta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2068: Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat.

for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

God
Θεὸς (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

has accepted
προσελάβετο (proselabeto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4355: (a) I take to myself, (b) I take aside, (c) I welcome. From pros and lambano; to take to oneself, i.e. Use, lead, admit.

him.
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Letters: Romans 14:3 Don't let him who eats despise him (Rom. Ro)
Romans 14:2
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