Romans 14:8

American Standard Version

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

King James Version (1611)
For whether we liue, we liue vnto the Lord: and whether wee die, we die vnto the Lord: whether wee liue therefore or die, we are the Lords.

King James Version
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

English Standard Version
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

New American Standard Bible
for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

New Century Version
If we live, we are living for the Lord, and if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord.

Amplified Bible
If 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.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

Legacy Standard Bible
for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

Berean Standard Bible
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Contemporary English Version
Whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord. Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord.

Complete Jewish Bible
for if we live, we live in relation to the Lord; and if we die, we die in relation to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord —

Darby Translation
For both if we should live, [it is] to the Lord we live; and if we should die, [it is] to the Lord we die: both if we should live then, and if we should die, we are the Lord's.

Easy-to-Read Version
If we live, we are living for the Lord. And if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For whether wee liue, we liue vnto the Lorde: or whether we die, we die vnto the Lorde: whether we liue therefore, or die, we are the Lords.

George Lamsa Translation
For whether we live, we live unto our LORD; and whether we die, we die unto our LORD: whether we live therefore, or die, we belong to our LORD.

Good News Translation
If we live, it is for the Lord that we live, and if we die, it is for the Lord that we die. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Lexham English Bible
For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

Literal Translation
For both if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Then both if we live, and if we die, we are the Lord's.

Bible in Basic English
As long as we have life we are living to the Lord; or if we give up our life it is to the Lord; so if we are living, or if our life comes to an end, we are the Lord's.

Hebrew Names Version
For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord's.

International Standard Version
If we live, we live to honor the Lord; and if we die, we die to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Etheridge Translation
For if we live, to our Lord we live; and if we die, to our Lord we die: and if we live, then, or if we die, our Lord's are we.

Murdock Translation
Because, if we live, to our Lord it is we live; or if we die, to our Lord it is we die. Whether we live, therefore, or whether we die, we are our Lord's.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For yf we lyue, we lyue vnto ye Lorde: And if we dye, we dye vnto the Lorde. Whether we lyue therfore, or dye, we are the Lordes.

English Revised Version
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

World English Bible
For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord's.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Whether therefore we live or die, we are the Lord's.

Weymouth's New Testament
If we live, we live to the Lord: if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For whether we lyuen, we lyuen to the Lord; and whethir we dien, we dien to the Lord. Therfor whethir we lyuen or dien, we ben of the Lord.

Update Bible Version
For whether we live, we live to the Lord; or whether we die, we die to the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

Webster's Bible Translation
For whether we live, we live to the Lord; and whether we die, we die to the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

New English Translation
If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

New King James Version
For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

New Living Translation
If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

New Life Bible
If we live, it is for the Lord. If we die, it is for the Lord. If we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

New Revised Standard
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For both, if we live, unto the Lord, we live, and, if we die, unto the Lord, we die; whether therefore we live, the Lord's, we are; or whether we die, the Lord's, we are;

Douay-Rheims Bible
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord: or whether we die, we die unto the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Revised Standard Version
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For none of vs lyveth his awne servaut: nether doeth anye of vs dye his awne servaunt. Yf we lyve we lyve to be at ye lordes will. And yf we dye we dye at ye lordes will. Whether we lyve therfore or dye we are the lordes.

Young's Literal Translation
for both, if we may live, to the Lord we live; if also we may die, to the Lord we die; both then if we may live, also if we may die, we are the Lord's;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For none of vs lyueth to himselfe, and none dyeth to him selfe. Yf we lyue, we lyue vnto the LORDE: Yf we dye, we dye vnto the LORDE. Therfore, whether we lyue or dye, we are the LORDES.

Mace New Testament (1729)
if we live, our life is appropriated to the Lord; and if we die, we die as his servants: whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's.

Simplified Cowboy Version
We live to honor God. We die to honor God. So, it doesn't matter whether we are living or dying, to it all for the Lord.

Contextual Overview

¹ But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. ² One man hath faith to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs. ³ 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. ⁴ Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand. ⁵ One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. ⁶ He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. ⁷ For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. ⁸ For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. ⁹ For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰ But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we die unto: John 21:19, Acts 13:36, Acts 20:24, Acts 21:13, Philippians 2:17, Philippians 2:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:10

we live therefore: 1 Corinthians 3:22, 1 Corinthians 3:23, 1 Corinthians 15:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, Revelation 14:13

Reciprocal: Daniel 3:28 - yielded Hosea 6:2 - we Hosea 10:1 - an empty vine John 13:13 - call Acts 2:36 - that same Romans 8:38 - that 1 Corinthians 1:2 - our Lord 1 Corinthians 12:5 - but 2 Corinthians 4:5 - Christ 2 Corinthians 5:9 - whether 2 Corinthians 5:15 - that they Galatians 2:19 - that Ephesians 4:5 - One Lord Colossians 3:23 - as Titus 2:14 - unto Revelation 1:18 - was

Cross-References

Genesis 13:10
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the Plain of the Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before Jehovah destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Jehovah, like the land of Egypt, as thou goest unto Zoar.

Genesis 14:2
that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar).

Genesis 14:3
All these joined together in the vale of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea).

Genesis 14:10
Now the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain.

Genesis 19:20
behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape thither (is it not a little one?), and my soul shall live.

Genesis 19:22
Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord,.... As natural, so spiritual life is derived from the Lord, and believers live by faith upon him, and according to his will revealed in the word; find to his honour and glory; at least they desire so to do:

and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; resigning up life unto him, whenever it is his pleasure; magnifying of him, as by life, so by death; dying to be with him, to be raised again by him, and live with him for evermore; in the faith and hope of this, the believer both lives and dies, and so glorifies Christ both in life and death: hence this conclusion follows,

whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's; by the gift of the Father to him, by his own purchase, and the power of his grace, making them willing to give up themselves to him: and hence it is, that under a sense of this, that they are his, and not their own, nor another's, they do all they do for his glory; whether they observe, or not observe a day, it is to the Lord; whether they eat, or not eat things formerly forbidden, it is to him; and whether they live or die, it is to the Lord, whose they are: and hence also it is, that they are not to be despised and set at nought, or to be judged and censured by one another, since they belong to another master, who is their Lord, and will be their Judge.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For whether we live - As long as we live.

We live unto the Lord - We live to do his will, and to promote his glory. This is the grand purpose of the life of the Christian. Other people live to gratify themselves; the Christian to do those things which the Lord requires. By “the Lord” here the apostle evidently intends the Lord Jesus, as it is evident from Romans 14:9; and the truth taught here is, that it is the leading and grand purpose of the Christian to do honor to the Saviour. It is this which constitutes his special character, and which distinguishes him from other people.

Whether we die - In the dying state, or in the state of the dead; in the future world. We are “no where” our own. In all conditions we are “his,” and bound to do his will. The connection of this declaration with the argument is this: Since we belong to another in every state, and are bound to do his will, we have no right to assume the prerogative of sitting in judgment on another. “We” are subjects, and are bound to do the will of Christ. All other Christians are subjects in like manner, and are answerable, not to us, but directly to the Lord Jesus, and should have the same liberty of conscience that we have. The passage proves also that the soul does not cease to be conscious at death. We are still the Lord’s; his even when the body is in the grave; and his in all the future world: see Romans 14:9.