Romans 14:3

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.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Those who know they can eat any kind of food must not feel that they are better than those who eat only vegetables. And those who eat only vegetables must not decide that those who eat all foods are wrong. God has accepted them.

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

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not. And let not him whiche eateth not iudge him that eateth. For God hath receaved him.

Hebrew Names Version
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 received him.

International Standard Version
The person who eats must not despise the person who does not eat, and the person who does not eat must not criticize the person who eats, for God has accepted him.Colossians 2:16;">[xr]

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.

New Century Version
The one who knows that it is right to eat any kind of food must not reject the one who eats only vegetables. And the person who eats only vegetables must not think that the one who eats all foods is wrong, because God has accepted that person.

Update Bible Version
Don't let him that eats set at nothing him that does not eat; and don't let him that does not eat judge him that eats: for God has received 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.

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.

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 received him.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not: and let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth; for God hath received him.

Weymouth's 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.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that etith, dispise not hym that etith not; and he that etith not, deme not hym that etith. For God hath take him to hym.

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.

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.

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

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.

Bible in Basic English
Let not him who takes food have a low opinion of him who does not: and let not him who does not take food be a judge of him who does; for he has God's approval.

Complete Jewish Bible
The one who eats anything must not look down on the one who abstains; and the abstainer must not pass judgment on the one who eats anything, because God has accepted him —

Darby Translation
Let not him that eats make little of him that eats not; and let not him that eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him.

Etheridge Translation
But let not him who eateth despise him who eateth not; and he who eateth not, let him not judge him who eateth; for Aloha hath received him.

Murdock Translation
And he that eateth, should not despise him that eateth not; and he that eateth not, should not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him.

King James Version (1611)
Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not: and let not him which eateth not, iudge him that eateth. For God hath receiued him.

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.

New Life Bible
The man who eats everything should not think he is better than the one who eats only vegetables. The man who eats only vegetables should not say the other man is wrong, because God has received him.

New Revised Standard
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.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not: and let not him which eateth not, condemne him that eateth: for God hath receiued him.

George Lamsa Translation
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.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Let not, him that eateth, despise him that eateth not, and let not, him that eateth not, judge him that eateth; for, God, hath received him.

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.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Let not hym that eateth, dispise hym that eateth not: And let not hym which eateth not, iudge hym that eateth. For God hath receaued hym.

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.

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.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
The one who eats must not despise the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not judge the one who eats, because God has accepted him.

Literal Translation
The one eating, do not despise the one not eating. And the one not eating, do not judge the one eating, for God 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.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Let not him that eateth, despyse him that eateth not: and let not him which eateth not, iudge him that eateth: for God hath receaued him.

Mace New Testament (1729)
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.

New English Translation
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 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.

Simplified Cowboy Version
You worry about you and let others make their own decisions. Quit condemning others because they don't act like you do, this goes both ways. God accepts all kinds based on their heart.

New American Standard Bible (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.

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.

Contextual Overview

¹As for the one whose faith is weak, accept him [into your fellowship], but not for [the purpose of] quarreling over his opinions. ²One man's faith permits him to eat everything, while the weak believer eats only vegetables [to avoid eating ritually unclean meat or something previously considered unclean]. ³The 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.⁴Who are you to judge the servant of another? Before his own master he stands [approved] or falls [out of favor]. And he [who serves the Master—the Lord] will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. ⁵One person regards one day as better [or more important] than another, while another regards every day [the same as any other]. Let everyone be fully convinced (assured, satisfied) in his own mind. ⁶He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord. He who eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷None of us lives for himself [for his own benefit, but for the Lord], and none of us dies for himself [but for the Lord]. ⁸If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. ⁹For Christ died and lived again for this reason, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you again, why do you look down on your [believing] brother or regard him with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God [who alone is judge].

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

despise: Romans 14:10, Romans 14:15, Romans 14:21, Zechariah 4:10, Matthew 18:10, Luke 18:9, 1 Corinthians 8:11-13

judge: Romans 14:13, Matthew 7:1, Matthew 7:2, Matthew 9:14, Matthew 11:18, Matthew 11:19, 1 Corinthians 10:29, 1 Corinthians 10:30, Colossians 2:16, Colossians 2:17

for: Acts 10:34, Acts 10:44, Acts 15:8, Acts 15:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:3 - even Leviticus 11:2 - General Leviticus 11:47 - General Luke 6:37 - Judge Romans 14:4 - he shall 1 Timothy 4:3 - to abstain James 4:11 - and judgeth

Cross-References

Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained down brimstone (flaming sulfur) and fire on Sodom and on Gomorrah from the LORD out of heaven,

Numbers 34:12
and the [eastern] boundary shall go down to the Jordan [River], and its limit shall be at the Salt (Dead) Sea. This shall be your land according to its boundaries all around.'"

Deuteronomy 3:17
the Arabah also, with the Jordan as its boundary, from Chinnereth (the Sea of Galilee) as far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea (Dead Sea), at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah on the east.

Joshua 3:16
the waters which were flowing down from above stopped and rose up in one mass a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan. Those [waters] flowing downward toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed [the river] opposite Jericho.

Psalms 107:34
A productive land into a [barren] salt waste, Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not,.... Such who had a greater degree of Gospel light and knowledge, and made use of their Christian liberty in eating any sort of food, were not to despise as they were apt to do, such as abstained therefrom on account of the ceremonial law, as weak, ignorant; superstitious, and bigoted persons; or were not to set them at naught, or make nothing of them, as the word signifies, have no regard to their peace and comfort; but, on the other hand, were to consider them as brethren in Christ, though weak; and as having a work of God upon their souls, and therefore to be careful how they grieved them, destroyed their peace, or laid stumblingblocks in their way:

and let not him which eateth not, judge him that eateth: such who thought it not their duty to eat anything, but to forbear the use of some things directed to in the law, were not to censure and condemn, as they were apt to do, those who used their liberty in these things, as profane persons, and transgressors of the law of God; but leave them to the last and righteous judgment, when every one must be accountable to God for the various actions of life: the reason used to enforce this advice on both parties is,

for God hath received him: which respects both him that eateth, and him that eateth not, him that is despised, and him that is judged; and is a reason why one should not despise, nor the other judge, because God had received both the one and the other into his heart's love and affection, into the covenant of grace, and into his family by adoption: they were received by Christ, coming to him as perishing sinners, according to the will of God; whose will it likewise was, that they should be received into church fellowship, as being no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and God had also received them into his service, and they were made willing to serve him, as well as to be saved by him; and did serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear, in righteousness and holiness; and this is the rather to be taken into the sense of this passage, because of what follows.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let not him that eateth - That is, he who has no scruples about eating “meat,” etc., who is not restrained by the Law of the Jews respecting the Clean and unclean, or by the fact that meat “may” have been offered to idols.

Despise him - Hold him in contempt, as being unnecessarily scrupulous, etc. The word “despise” here is happily chosen. The Gentile would be very likely to “despise” the Jew as being restrained by foolish scruples and mere distinctions in matters of no importance.

Him that eateth not - Him that is restrained by scruples of conscience, and that will eat only “vegetables;” Romans 14:2. The reference here is doubtless to the “Jew.

Judge him - To “judge” here has the force of “condemn.” This word also is very happily chosen. The Jew would not be so likely to “despise” the Gentile for what he did as to “judge” or condemn him. He would deem it too serious a matter for contempt. He would regard it as a violation of the Law of God, and would be likely to assume the right of judging his brother, and pronouncing him guilty. The apostle here has happily met the whole case in all disputes about rites, and dress, and scruples in religious matters that are not essential. One party commonly “despises” the other as being needlessly and foolishly scrupulous; and the other makes it a matter of “conscience,” too serious for ridicule and contempt; and a matter, to neglect which, is, in their view, deserving of condemnation. The true direction to be given in such a case is, “to the one party,” not to treat the scruples of the other with derision and contempt, but with tenderness and indulgence. Let him have his way in it. If he can be “reasoned” out of it, it is well; but to attempt to “laugh” him out of it is unkind, and will tend only to confirm him in his views. And “to the other party,” it should be said they have no “right” to judge or condemn another. If I cannot see that the Bible requires a particular cut to my coat, or makes it my duty to observe a particular festival, he has no right to judge me harshly, or to suppose that I am to be rejected and condemned for it. He has a right to “his” opinion; and while I do not “despise” him, he has no right to “judge” me. This is the foundation of true charity; and if this simple rule had been followed, how much strife, and even bloodshed, would it have spared in the church. Most of the contentions among Christians have been on subjects of this nature. Agreeing substantially in the “doctrines” of the Bible, they have been split up into sects on subjects just about as important as those which the apostle discusses in this chapter.

For God hath received him - This is the same word that is translated “receive” in Romans 14:1. It means here that God hath received him kindly; or has acknowledged him as his own friend; or he is a true Christian. These scruples, on the one side or the other, are not inconsistent with true piety; and as “God” has acknowledged him as “his,” notwithstanding his opinions on these subjects, so “we” also ought to recognise him as a Christian brother. Other denominations, though they may differ from us on some subjects, may give evidence that they are recognised by God as his, and where there is this evidence, we should neither despise nor judge them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 14:3. Let not him that eateth — The Gentile, who eats flesh, despise him, the Jew, who eateth not flesh, but herbs. And let not him, the Jew, that eateth not indiscriminately, judge - condemn him, the Gentile, that eateth indiscriminately flesh or vegetables.

For God hath received him. — Both being sincere and upright, and acting in the fear of God, are received as heirs of eternal life, without any difference on account of these religious scruples or prejudices.