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.

ROMANS 14:21KJV
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Romans 14:21 (KJV)

What does Romans 14:21 mean?

Romans 14:21 says that it is good to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble, be offended, or become spiritually weak. The verse highlights the importance of considering how your actions affect the faith and conscience of others, especially within the Christian community.

Paul is writing to the believers in Rome, addressing disagreements about what foods are acceptable to eat and whether drinking wine is appropriate. The main concern is not the food or drink itself, but the impact these choices might have on fellow believers who may have different convictions or weaker consciences. Paul encourages putting the spiritual well-being of others ahead of personal freedoms.

The Greek behind Romans 14:21

  • καλόν (kalon, "good" - G2570): This word means something that is not just morally right but also beneficial or fitting in a situation. Here, it emphasizes that choosing to abstain is a positive and considerate action.
  • σκανδαλίζεται (skandalizetai, "offended" - G4624): This Greek word carries the sense of causing someone to trip up or fall into sin. Paul is concerned about actions that might lead another believer into spiritual trouble.
  • ἀσθενεῖ (asthenei, "made weak" - G770): This word means to be weakened, especially in faith or conscience. The focus is on not undermining the spiritual strength of others by your choices.
  • κρέα (krea, "flesh" - G2907): This refers specifically to meat, which was a point of controversy in the early church, especially regarding food that may have been offered to idols.

Why Romans 14:21 matters

  • Romans 14:21 clarifies that Christian freedom is not just about personal rights, but about caring for the spiritual health of others in the community.
  • The verse helps prevent misunderstanding by showing that Paul is not making rules about food and drink for their own sake, but is concerned about love and sensitivity toward others.
  • This verse ties into the larger theme of Romans 14, where Paul urges believers to avoid judging one another and to act in ways that build up, rather than harm, the faith of others.

Where else these words appear

“flesh” Greek G2907 · used in 2 verses

  • 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.

“stumbleth” Greek G4350 · used in 8 verses

  • Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
  • Luke 4:11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
  • John 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

“wine” Greek G3631 · used in 25 verses

  • Matthew 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
  • John 2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
  • Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

“offended” Greek G4624 · used in 28 verses

  • Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
  • Matthew 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
  • Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: